Hospitality Administration and Management Commons^™

How The Mob (Museum) Was Won: Building A History Of Organized Crime In The U.S., Michael Green

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

No abstract provided.

Report On The 15th International Conference On Gambling & Risk Taking, Dean M. Macomber

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

No abstract provided.

Building The First Gaming Master’S Program: An Industry Perspective, Toni Repetti, Soyeon Jung

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

The gaming industry has dramatically expanded not only domestically and internationally, but further to the online market. This growth has caused the industry to be more complicated than ever, and face massive challenges, competition, and opportunity. Consequently, there is a need for more qualified candidates in the gaming industry. Few gaming degrees are offered at a university level and more importantly, there is currently no master’s program in gaming management in the United States. Results of this survey of 201 industry professionals show that the majority would be interested in a master’s in gaming with most preferring an online of …

Casino Games And The Central Limit Theorem, Ashok Singh, Anthony F. Lucas, Rohan J. Dalpatadu, Dennis J. Murphy

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

The central limit theorem, in simple terms, states that the probability distribution of the mean of a random sample, for most probability distributions, can be approximated by a normal distribution when the number of observations in the sample is 'sufficiently' large. Most applied statistics books recommend using the normal approximation for the probability distribution of the sample mean when the number of observations exceeds 30. It is commonly known in the discipline of statistics that larger samples will be needed when the underlying probability distribution is heavily skewed. However, the minimum number of samples needed for the CLT to yield …

Mapping The Online Gambling E-Servicescape: A Conceptual Model, Brett L. Abarbanel

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

A conceptual model is proposed that examines the potential influence of an online casino’s atmospheric cues and functional qualities on consumer behavioral response. A stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model, often used to frame other servicescape research, is adapted as the basis of the theory that the online casino environment will influence the organismic effects of cognitive and affective states, which in turn influence gamblers’ approach or avoidance behavioral intentions. Theorized elements of the virtual stimulus include high and low task-relevant cues, financial trust, and gambling value. Personal and situational factors, as well as demographic characteristics, are proposed to moderate the relationship between …

Impact Of The 2003 Illinois Gaming Tax Rate Increase On Marketing Spending, Mikael B. Ahlgren, Sarah Tanford, Ashok Singh

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

The purpose of this research is to investigate a potential consequence related to the 2003 Illinois Gaming Tax rate restructuring. Specifically, did the assessment of a higher gaming tax rate in the state of Illinois negatively impact promotional spending by an Illinois riverboat operator in an attempt to limit revenues and avoid incurring a higher tax rate? Data were contributed by a major Illinois riverboat operator and the researchers utilized an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) method for analysis of the data. The findings demonstrate that this particular operator reduced promotional spending when confronted with increases in gaming tax rates. …

Hospitality Review Volume 31 Issue 2 2013, Fiu Hospitality Review

Hospitality Review

No abstract provided.

Research Note: Biometric Technology Applications And Trends In Hotels, Anil Bilgihan Dr., Ersem Karadag, Cihan Cobanoglu, Fevzi Okumus

Hospitality Review

The purpose of this study is to investigate the biometrics technologies adopted by hotels and the perception of hotel managers toward biometric technology applications. A descriptive, cross sectional survey was developed based on extensive review of literature and expert opinions. The population for this survey was property level executive managers in the U.S. hotels. Members of American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) were selected as the target population for this study. The most frequent use of biometric technology is by hotel employees in the form of fingerprint scanning. Cost still seems to be one of the major barriers to adoption …

Characteristics Of Us Graduate Hospitality Programs, Hubert B. Van Hoof, Luorong (Laurie) Wu, Lu Zhang, Anna S. Mattila

Hospitality Review

The future of hospitality management education and research lies with its graduate programs, especially those offering research-based M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. In response to a need for additional hospitality faculty because of a growing number of programs, the number of graduate programs in the United States has increased substantially in recent years as well. This article presents an overview of graduate hospitality programs in the United States based on the following aspects: (1) program enrollments, admissions and graduation rates, (2) student profiles, (3) program duration and residency requirements, (4) financial support to graduate students, and (5) students’ career opportunities after …

Private Club Financial Performance, Raymond S. Schmidgall Ph.D., Cpa, Agnes Defranco

Hospitality Review

This article reveals the median financial results for the club industry for 2011 using 24 financial ratios. The results are based on the submission of balance sheet and selected income statement numbers from 80 clubs. The ratios are reported as median results for the entire sample as well as the median results for the top and low performing clubs delineated by return on assets. The biggest differences between the two extreme groups of clubs are (1) average collection period, (2) operating cash flows to current liabilities and long-term debt, (3) fines interest earned, (4) fixed charge coverage ratio, (5) food …

Hotel Guest E-Questionnaires: Implications For Feedback And Relationships, Alfred Ogle, Nadine Henley, Michelle Rowe, Sybe Jongeling, Stephen Fanning

Hospitality Review

This paper examines the reliability and efficacy of hotel guest e-mail questionnaire compared to the paper questionnaire in the Asian Pacific context. Conducted inPerth,SingaporeandPenang, cities with mature hospitality and tourism industries and a representation of chain and independent deluxe hotels, this exploratory qualitative study examines hotelier views of e-mail guest communication derived from content analysis of guest questionnaires format and content and in-depth interviews with senior hoteliers. The findings indicated that e-questionnaires manifested as e-mails, as a direct replacement of the paper questionnaire, appear to be premature given divergent hotelier views and shortcomings in e-mail response administration. If properly executed, …

Loss Of Electricity And Refrigerated Foods: Avoiding The Danger Zone, Joseph M. Scarcelli, Douglas C. Nelson

Hospitality Review

Recent events such as Winter Storm [Hurricane] Sandy and Hurricane Katrina have demonstrated that local food supplies must last as long as possible. Current recommendations are to dispose of all refrigerated food four hours after the power is lost. The purpose of this study was to determine if it is possible to safely hold food longer than four hours without power. The results indicate that the food can be held for up to six hours if the door is not opened. If ice is added to the refrigerator, then it will take the food approximately 10 hours to reach 5°C …

An Analysis Of Compensation Patterns And Job Satisfaction Issues Of Resort Recreation Professionals, A. Scott Rood, Andrew Holdnak

Journal of Tourism Insights

Job satisfaction among recreation professionals can be affected by many internal and external conditions. This study investigated the impact of 16 variables on the job satisfaction of private sector recreation practitioners. An additional 12 variables were used to describe job responsibilities and organizational characteristics. Three construct measures were used to determine individual wage, benefit and total compensation. The sample consists of 73 complete survey responses from professional members of the Resort and Commercial Recreation Association (RCRA). Regression analysis was used to identify the significant variables related to job and compensation satisfaction. The results of this data are compared with similar …

Resort Recreation Amenity Report, Mary Wisnom

Journal of Tourism Insights

Resorts are full-service lodging facilities that offer a range of amenities and recreation facilities to emphasize a leisure experience. To date there has been no single source of information on resort amenity offerings. The purpose of the report is to provide a comprehensive look at the most recent data on resort recreation amenity facility and service offerings in the United States. The Report also serves as a source for recreation amenity comparison data for industry professionals. A review of literature identified the latest resort recreation data and a survey of resorts was implemented to supplement and enhance the industry data. …

How Bill Eadington Changed Our Lives, David G. Schwartz

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Since Bill Eadington’s death in February, we’ve come to appreciate just how influential a figure he is in today’s gaming studies world. Hundreds of academics, regulators, and gaming industry professionals have shared their stories of “How Bill Eadington changed my life.”

Examining The Link Between Poker Room Business Volume And Gaming Activity In Slot And Table Games: A Closer Look At A Key Assumption In The Full Service Theory, Anthony F. Lucas

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Results from three different Nevada hotel-casinos failed to support the popular notion that poker rooms drive business to the slot and table game areas of the casino floor. This result not only questions the validity of a key and somewhat bold operating assumption, it casts a shadow of doubt on the broader Full Service Theory, as applied to the casino floor. Additionally, this work extends Ollstein (2006) by empirically examining the relationships between the daily business volumes of poker rooms and both critical gaming centers (i.e., slots and table games). Five of six key results question the wisdom of offering …

A Diagnosis Of Inherent Problems In Enhancing Service Quality Through Internal Marketing And Organizational Identification In Macau And Singapore Casinos, Sudhir H. Kale, Sangita De

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

With spectacular growth in demand since opening the market to foreign competition, executives within the Macau casino industry have focused their attention on enhancing capacity and opening new casino properties. Meanwhile, the Singapore casino market, barely two years old, has already produced revenues comparable to the Las Vegas Strip. Despite stellar past successes, the long-term scenario for the casino industry in both Macau and Singapore could spell trouble. Specifically, service quality stands to suffer because operators have not devoted adequate thought to their service culture and internal marketing strategy. With overall capacity in Asia slated to increase significantly in the …

Economic Evidence On The Effects Of The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act On Indians And Non-Indians, Katherine Spilde Ph.D., Jonathan B. Taylor

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

When Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988, some tribal leaders perceived the state compacting provision required for casino-style gaming on tribal lands as an erosion of tribal sovereignty that could undermine their early economic development successes and disrupt a precariously successful federal-tribal relationship with regard to tribal self-determination.

In hindsight, however, the substantial growth and myriad positive impacts of the first twenty years of tribal gaming under IGRA reveal the ways that the federal regulatory framework laid out in the law resolved numerous legal dilemmas that had plagued tribal gaming expansion. It is now clear that …

The Finance And Marketing Dilemma: Do Promotional Allowances Actually Increase Revenue And Profits For Atlantic City Casinos?, Toni Repetti

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Casinos offer free items to attract new guests or to reward their loyal customers. Casino management and marketing personnel believe these promotional allowances are necessary to maintain customers and to increase revenue. Three regression models are run to determine if promotional allowances increase gross revenue, net revenue, and gross operating profit for Atlantic City casinos. Results show that with a $1 increase in promotional allowances there is a significant increase of $4.53 in gross revenue, $3.53 in net revenue, and $1.29 in gross operating profit. These results will help management better understand the effect of offering complimentaries to their customers.

To Chae Or Not To Chae, Raymond S. Schmidgall Ph.D., Cpa, James W. Damitio Ph.D. Cma

Hospitality Review

Many certifications are available in many professions. They represent a level of achievement and provide a dimension of professionalism to a resume. This article reveals the results of research covering the degree the extent of certification of members of the Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals. Further, obstacles and assists in taking the examination to become a Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) were determined. Thirty-seven percent of the respondents have earned their CHAE. The biggest obstacle to taking the exam according to 60% of the respondents who have not earned the CHAE was lack of time to prepare. The biggest assist …

Quantifying The Impacts Of The Recent Economic Crisis On Regional Tourism Industry And Economy, Yun Ying Zhong, Tadayuki Hara Ph.D.

Hospitality Review

The purpose of this study is to explore the accuracy issue of the Input-Output model in quantifying the impacts of the 2007 economic crisis on a local tourism industry and economy. Though the model has been used in the tourism impact analysis, its estimation accuracy is rarely verified empirically. The Metro Orlando area in Florida is investigated as an empirical study, and the negative change in visitor expenditure between 2007 and 2008 is taken as the direct shock. The total impacts are assessed in terms of output and employment, and are compared with the actual data. This study finds that …

Best Management Practices In Green Lodging Defined And Explained, Leonard Anthony Jackson

Hospitality Review

Best management practices in green lodging are sustainable or “green” business strategies designed to enhance the lodging product from the perspective of owners, operators and guests. For guests, these practices should enhance their experience while for owners and operators, generate positive returns on investments. Best management practices in green lodging typically starts with a clear understanding of each lodging firm’s role in society, its impact on the environment and strategies developed to mitigate negative environmental externalities generated from the production of lodging goods and services. Negative externalities of hotel operations manifest themselves in energy and water usage, waste generation and …

Restaurant Industry Perspectives On Pro-Social Rule Breaking: Intent Versus Action, Catherine R. Curtis Ph.D., Randall S. Upchurch Ph.D., Duncan Dickson Ph.D.

Hospitality Review

The resounding message extracted from the service literature is that employees serve pivotal functions in the overall guest experience. This is of course due to the simultaneous delivery of personalized service provision with resultant consumption of those services. This simultaneous delivery and consumption cycle is at times challenged by a perceived desire to accommodate guest request that may violate, to a greater or lesser degree, an organizational rule. This is important to note because increased interactions with customers enable frontline employees to have a better sense of what customers want from the company as well as from the company itself …

The Relationship Between Leisure Traveler’S Hotel Attribute Satisfaction And Overall Satisfaction, Mi Ran Kim Ph.D.

Hospitality Review

Manystudies have been conducted about hotel attributesrelated tothehotel choice decision as a part ofacustomer’s pre- purchase behavior(Dolnicar&Otter, 2003). Althoughit iscritical for hotel managerstounderstand post-trip behavior because such behaviorsmaydirectlyinfluence their futurebehavior, therearefew researchstudieswhich examine hotel attributesrelated to acustomer’spost-trip behavior.This studyteststhe relationship between leisure traveler’shotel attribute satisfaction and overall satisfaction in the post-trip behaviorperspectiveina hotel setting andexaminestherelative impactofhotel attributesatisfaction in influencing overall satisfaction. Multiple regressionwas used totestthe relationship and hotel attribute satisfaction isan important antecedent tooverall satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications ofthe studyare discussed.

Understanding Golf Country Club Members’ Loyalty: Factors Affecting Membership Renewal Decisions, Theresa N. Clem M.S., Swathi Ravichandran Mba, Ph.D., Aryn C. Karpinski Ph.D.

Hospitality Review

Many private country clubs across the United States have experienced a declining or flat membership and smaller waitlists of members wanting to join. The objective of this study was to investigate whether member involvement, service quality, and perceived value, influence member satisfaction and intention to renew membership for members of private country clubs. An online survey instrument customized for the country club industry was distributed to members of two country clubs in northeast Ohio. Results indicate that involvement level of members and perceived value impact country club members’ satisfaction and intention to renew their membership. Managerial implications are discussed.

A Comparative Study Of Customer Perceptions Regarding Green Restaurant Practices: Fast Food Vs. Upscale Casual, Robin B. Dipietro, Susan Gregory

Hospitality Review

The current exploratory study was designed to determine the impact that green restaurant practices may have on intention to visit a restaurant and willingness to pay more because of those green practices. The study analyzed a convenience sample of 260 surveys from customers in fast food restaurants and 501 surveys from customers in upscale casual restaurants in the Midwestern United States (U.S.) in order to determine if there were differences in the perception of guests regarding these types of restaurants and their green practices. The findings showed that upscale casual restaurant customers believed they are knowledgeable at a higher level …

Job Perceptions Of Citizenship Behavior And Deviance: Musings From Behind The Bar, Catherine R. Curtis Ph.D.

Hospitality Review

The purpose of this research was to examine bartender workplace behavior. This study begins with a review of the literature pertaining to the job of bartending, and positive work behavior (citizenship) and negative (deviant) workplace behavior. Data was collected by semi-structured interview. The bartenders expressed instances of both behaviors and showed support for a newly termed citizenship behavior, norm avoidance.

Qualitative Responses To Pre-Employment Drug Testing In The Foodservice Industry, Miranda Kitterlin, Lisa Moll

Hospitality Review

Employee substance abuse has long time been a topic of concern for the hospitality industry. Operating under the assumption that drug-users, and associated undesirable behavior, can be eliminated from the hiring process, many operations have adopted pre-employment drug-testing policies. Despite being represented across the industry as a major target of effort and resources, it is suggested that the perceived sensitive-nature of the subject has somewhat hindered access to qualitative information. The purpose of this research was to assess and explore the attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of both management and employees in the foodservice industry regarding pre-employment drug-testing and its impact …

Tourist See Tourist Do: The Influence Of Hollywood Movies And Television On Tourism Motivation And Activity Behavior, Daniel L. Spears, Bharath M. Josiam, Tammy Kinley, Sanjukta Pookulangara

Hospitality Review

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of Hollywood movies and television (movies/TV) on US viewer’s motivation to travel to and participate in activities featured in Hollywood movies/TV productions. A survey was administered in an online format to a convenience sample of 433 respondents via Qualtrics. Factor analysis, correlation, and regression was employed to explore relationships between the variables. Findings identified a profile of Hollywood movies/TV viewers, sources of information used to determine destination choice, and level of involvement among viewers of Hollywood movies/TV productions. Additionally, this study explored the relationships between Hollywood movies/TV productions, tourist motivations, …

Evaluating Applicability Of E-Service Quality In Online Hotel Bookings, Seung Hyun Kim, A.J. Singh, Sungsik Yoon

Hospitality Review

This study evaluates applicability of E-service quality measurements in the context of online hotel bookings. Data was collected from an online survey of undergraduate college students at two universities in the United States. The Transaction Process-based Framework (eTransQual) conceptualized by Bauer et al. (2006) was adapted, and the dimensionality of e-service quality was identified. The study identified process/reliability as the most important factor influencing overall quality of booking websites.