Hospitality Administration and Management Commons^™

Exploring “Smart And Green” Concepts: A New Synergy For Irish Hospitality, Yi Sheng Tan, Angela Wright

Dept. of Organisation & Professional Development Publications

The spotlight on “smart and green” has never been so bright and, within the hotel sector, emphasis on opportunities such as sustainability and digitisation are quickly shaping the agenda. This paper explores key components of the “smart and green” agenda among Irish hotels in the Republic of Ireland and how these concepts relate to their public customer image. While the multifaceted hybrid model of “smart and green” hotels is rapidly emerging as the new theme in the sustainable tourism industry, previous literature failed to address the issue in relation to a lack of uptake from Irish hoteliers. A post-positivistic paradigm …

Harvesting A New Synergy: Exploring ‘Smart And Green’ Hotels Within The Context Of The Irish Hospitality Industry, Yi Sheng Tan

Masters

Hospitality emphasizes the ability for exchange of friendly and generous reception between businesses, guests and strangers. The complex nature of future travel and tourism industry directs the converging forces towards the hospitality industry to develop progressive strategies in response to increasing economic turbulence. Within the hotel sector, particular emphasis on emerging opportunities like sustainability and digitization are quickly shaping the strategic agenda in this competitive sector. It is envisaged that the hospitality industry will differ completely from today, owing to developments in artificial intelligence and smart technology. This research has explored the key components of the overall ‘smart and green’ …

An Investigation Into The Management Of Branding In Irish Artisan Food Businesses, Daniel David Hickey

Theses

A consumer’s lifestyle is busier now then in the past and is moving towards products that reduce preparation and cooking times (Bia, 2015). The demand for value added convenience products has created opportunity for the Artisan food sector. This has lead to the expansion of food Small Medium Enterprises (SME’s) in Ireland. There were 235 specialty food producers in Ireland in 2018, a 2.7% increase on the previous year. SME’s are growing in popularity among consumers but there is very little research been completed into Irish SME’s. A 2016 study by Kennedy and Wright identified that the area is scant …

The Influence Of Employer Branding In Talent Management In The Hotel Industry, Donagh Davern, Leo Jago, Margaret Deery

Irish Business Journal

This paper aims to explore the influence of employer branding in attracting and retaining talented employees, with a particular focus on millennial staff. The paper reviews literature in the area of talent management, employer branding and the millennial generation in the hotel industry and draws on the results of interviews with hotel General Managers. At a time when there is a shortage of talent to fill available positions in the hotel industry, this paper seeks to give hoteliers an improved understanding of the concepts of talent management and employer branding and their usage in the attraction and retention of staff, …

Destination Cork : A New Frontier For The Culinary Curious Tourist, Catherine Fitzgibbon

Theses

Food is an important aspect in creating tourism destinations and can be perceived as an immensely influential attraction for tourism. There are excellent examples of destinations that brand themselves through food tourism, using this special-interest area as a strategy to develop regional tourism and ultimately, increase tourist numbers. However, not all destinations use food tourism as a strategic branding strategy. One such example is Cork in Ireland. While having an excellent food offering, food is not a primary tourism activity in the region’s destination branding strategy.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of branding Cork as …

Food Tourism In Cork’S English Market - An Authentic Visitor Experience, Lisa O'Riordan, Prof. Margaret Linehan, Aisling Ward

Irish Business Journal

Authenticity is deemed to be a crucial element in many tourism experiences. Tourism, however, is often accused of succumbing to notions of perceived authenticity to ensure commercial success, leading to misrepresentations of cultures. Food tourism, conversely, is advocated as a means of encountering genuine culture, history and lifestyle. This paper investigates the role of food tourism as an authentic representation of culture in Cork’s English Market. In-depth interviews were conducted with market traders and analysed through the grounded theory method. Results indicate that, allowing for natural evolution, food tourism is providing a platform for the continuation, sharing and development of …

Food Tourism In Ireland: An Exploration Of The Role Of Food Tourism In Cultural Sustainability, Lisa O'Riordan

Theses

Previous research proposes that food tourism is a medium through which traditions can be maintained, as well as a conduit through which authentic culture can be experienced (Fox, 2007; Henderson, 2014; Okumus et al, 2007). Food tourism is also advocated as a sustainable means of environmental, economic and sociocultural development (Everett and Aitchison, 2008; Montanari and Staniscia, 2009). The unique focus of this research study is the role food tourism plays in cultural sustainability in Ireland, specifically, in Kinsale, the English Market and Dingle. In particular, this study draws on the viewpoints of thirty three food tourism representatives on the …

Which Craft? An Investigation Into The Irish Craft Brewing Industry - Exploration And Co-Operative Context, Oliver Blackwell

Theses

This study investigates and explores the Irish craft brewing industry with a specific focus on the attitudes, experiences and perceptions of Irish craft brewers to exportation and cooperation. This rapidly growing, niche sector could be considered a microcosm or subset of the Irish brewing industry and it is a valuable contributor of diversity, innovation, creativity, employment and revenue to the Irish economy as an indigenous industry. A quantitative and qualitative mixed methods approach was adopted to triangulate data from various sources. The research comprised of a survey questionnaire to Irish craft brewers, seven semi structured one-to-one interviews and one focus …

The Domestic Death Of A Global Icon? A Situational Analysis Of The Irish Public House, Gail Cotter Buckley, Angela Wright

Dept. of Organisation & Professional Development Publications

The public house has formed an intrinsic part of the Irish way of life for centuries, but it may soon be gone due to changes in demographics, alcohol consumption, and other variables including psychographic and geographic factors. Changes in Irish society during the rise in affluence characteristic of the Celtic Tiger era, and applicable Government policies have all played a role in altering the Irish pub culture. This research examines the current situation of the public house market in Ireland today with an aim of recommending some viable solutions to this declining industry. Government intervention in the future will be …

An Exploration Of The Role Of Food Tourism In Sustaining Cultural Authenticity In Ireland, Lisa O'Riordan, Dr. Aisling Ward

Irish Business Journal

Authenticity is often a motivating factor for tourists. In many situations what occurs, however, is staged authenticity. Food is one of the few entities left that indicates true cultural authenticity. Food can bridge the gap between tourists and their understanding of and involvement in a place. Native cultures that are struggling to preserve their heritage and ways of life from globalising forces can use food as a defensive mechanism. This paper is part of a wider postgraduate study on food tourism and culture so will focus on the research completed to date, mainly the literature reviewed as well as initial …

An Investigation Of Work Placement In The Hotel Industry: Perceptions From Hoteliers And Students, Margaret Lenihan, Irene Sheridan

Irish Business Journal

The changing need of higher education to interface more effectively with industry has been widely documented, as has the rising awareness of those attributes which most benefit graduates seeking employment. A key way in which third-level institutions can build stronger partnerships with employers, and assist their students in postgraduate success, is through the provision of work placements. This paper presents research conducted in relation to work placement in the hotel industry, from the perspective of both hoteliers who facilitated the work placements and students who undertook placements. Primary research was conducted with both hoteliers and students. The findings from the …

An Analysis Of The Contribution Of Public Relations To The Growth Of The Ballymaloe Brand., Avril Desmond

Theses

The aim of this dissertation was to explore the public relations techniques of Ballymaloe and determine the effectiveness of these techniques on the Ballymaloe brand. Relevant literature was explored and the subjects the subjects that were encountered included public relations traditional and new media avenues.

The research methodology constituted quantitative analysis. Interviews were the primary research tools, with media analysis being used to back it up. The data was analysed using content analysis procedures.

The conclusion identified that, Ballymaloe are inadequate in implementing two way communications with their strategic publics. The research highlighted the relaxed attitude towards their public relations …

Cultural Diversity In The Hotel Industry: A Study Of Performance Management Systems, Deirdre O'Donovan

Theses

Recent years have seen a sharp increase in the numbers of people immigrating to Ireland, making Irish society much more culturally diverse than in previous decades. At present, there are approximately 420,000 migrants living in Ireland, of whom approximately 350,000 individuals are of an age to work (Central Statistics Office 2006). Consequently, Irish workforces are now more culturally diverse.

This thesis focuses on the implications of cultural diversity on performance management practices in a number of Irish hotels. Due to the large number of culturally diverse employees in the hospitality industry, the hotel sector was chosen as the focus of …

An Investigation Of Female Career Progression And Development In The Irish Hospitality Industry., Richella Ryan Devereaux

Theses

In recent years, the increasing number of women at the lower positions in the hospitality industry and their underrepresentation in top management positions has made women’s status in the industry a great concern. The purpose of this study is to examine the career progression of female graduates in the Irish hospitality industry.

A qualitative approach in the form of in-depth interviews of twenty-one female middle and senior managers in the Irish hospitality industry provided the opportunity to gain insights into their experiences and barriers faced in advancing their careers to senior management positions.

The results of the current study identify …

The Role And Significance Placed On Corporate Social Responsibility In The Hotel Industry In The South West Region Of Ireland., Shirley Millar

Theses

This research sets out to examine the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility in the context of the hotel industry, with a specific focus on Ireland and the South West Region. The study looked at the level of importance placed on CSR by both the hotel consumer and the hotel industry. The study also sought to determine the relevance of CSR as a source of competitive advantage

Interest in the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly prominent in recent years. There has been a shift in practice from companies doing good to be seen to be doing good, …

Management Challenges Of A Culturally Diverse Workforce In The Irish Hotel Sector: An Investigative Study Of Four And Five Star Hotels In Cork, Amy Jordan

Theses

In recent years Ireland has changed from a nation of emigration to one of immigration, facilitated by the Irish Celtic Tiger, the globalisation of labour markets and the erosion of labour restrictions across frontiers. Thus there is increased employee diversity in the Irish work environment, with many different races, cultures, norms, values and religions now in evidence in the Irish workforce. These changes have a significant effect on managers as the Irish workplace becomes increasingly culturally heterogeneous, and forms the basis for change in management practice.

Primary research was undertaken in the form of six interviews with hotel managers to …

An Evaluation Of Relationship Marketing And Customer Retention Practices In The Hotel Industry, Lisa Kenny

Theses

Customer relationships have received considerable attention from both academics and practitioners. It is accepted that relationship marketing is keeping, not just getting customers, (Berry, 1983). However, it has been criticised that firms frequently focus on attracting customers (the “first act”) but then pay little attention to what they should do to keep them (the “second act”) (Berry and Parasuraman, 1991). It has been demonstrated that it is far less expensive to retain a customer than to acquire a new one. The increasing emphasis of relationship marketing is based on the assumptions that building committed customer relationships results in guest satisfaction, …