Business Commons^™

When Price Varies Across Otas: How Room Rate Disparity Shapes Switching Behavior And Brand Trust, Ling Ling, Chich-Chien Chen, Zvi Schwartz

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This study investigates how room rate disparity across Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) influences consumers’ switching behavior and perceptions of hotel brand integrity. Employing a scenario-based experimental design with a sample of 430 Chinese consumers, we explored price differences interact with loyalty status, price trajectory information, and brand consistency. Our findings reveal a complex non-linear inverse sigmoid relationship between rate disparity and channel switching. Contrary to expectations, loyalty membership did not reduce switching intent or increase discount thresholds. Moreover, rate disparity triggered brand integrity concerns, with brand doubt consistently exceeding switching intent. While price trajectory information did not change switching likelihood, …

Customer Perceptions Of Tipping In Minimal-Service Food Settings, Fabian R. Rodriguez Gomez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As digital payment systems and point-of-sale technologies become increasingly common, customers are encountering more frequent requests to tip in minimal-service food settings, such as coffee shops, pizza parlors, and quick-service restaurants. These changes have prompted discussions regarding the fairness of tipping, customer willingness to tip, and the growing phenomenon of tipping fatigue. The purpose of this study was to examine how employee effort, social pressure, and social obligation influence customer perceptions of tipping in minimal-service food settings.

A quantitative experimental research design was used with 328 participants recruited through the online platform Prolific. Participants were randomly assigned to scenarios manipulating …

Strategic Signaling Or Structural Friction?: How Ai Disclosure Moderates Resource-Performance Dynamics In Hotels And Restaurants, Jaewan Heo

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important strategic issue in the hospitality industry. While prior research has primarily examined AI as an operational technology that improves efficiency and service delivery, less attention has been paid to how AI-related disclosures influence investor evaluations of firm resources. This dissertation investigates whether AI-related disclosures moderate the relationship between organizational resources and financial performance in publicly traded hospitality firms.

Drawing on signaling theory and the resource-based view, this study conceptualizes AI disclosures as strategic signals that shape investor perceptions of firm capabilities and future value creation. Firm-level financial data were obtained from Compustat …

The Role Of Cultural Intelligence In Hotel Employee Engagement, Self-Efficacy, Job Satisfaction, Performance, And Intent To Stay, Meaad Eid F Almotairi

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This research examined how Cultural Intelligence enhanced hotel employees’ engagement, self-efficacy, job satisfaction, performance, and intent to stay. CQ was defined as an individual’s capability to understand, adapt to, and work effectively in culturally diverse situations. This thesis utilized a quantitative methodology based on the Job Demands–Resources (JDR) model and self-efficacy theory. The study focused on the hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia, where increasing diversity has created a need for stronger cross-cultural skills among employees. Data were collected from hotel employees and managers to examine the relationships between CQ and key employee outcomes. The findings indicated that Cultural Intelligence significantly …

Enhancing The Immersive Experience Through The Diversification Of Operational Costuming, Emma Nevitt

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This thesis will be a comparative creative project that analyzes current operational wardrobe options within immersive lands, utilizing case studies and applied research, a neutral proposed immersive land will be created with operational costuming options that provides variety to the operational wardrobe that will enhance the immersive guest experience by creating a more compelling environment through wardrobe diversity. This will be achieved through a kit-of-parts approach where staffing will have a small variety of tops, bottoms, headwear, outerwear, and accessories to create a unique look to their own wardrobe while providing narrative insight. Each piece will be designed specifically for …

Machine Learning Techniques In Tourism And Hospitality Research: A Critical Assessment, Ningqiao Li, Xiaoyi Liu, Fang Meng Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Machine learning techniques have gained increasing prominence in tourism and hospitality research for data analysis and business strategy formulation. This study systematically reviews 406 peer-reviewed articles published between 2007 and 2023, highlighting the growth of machine learning studies, the expansion of academic journal coverage, and the adoption of diverse data modalities employed in this field. More importantly, it discusses emerging research topics and associated machine learning approaches across different data modalities (i.e., numerical, textual, and image data). This study further addresses key issues and challenges in current applications and outlines future research directions in this domain. Overall, it offers an …

How Casino Match Play Promotions Can Hook Gamblers (And Non-Gamblers), Brent Evans, Douglas Walker

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Casino operators frequently use promotional gambling vouchers, free play and match play. In the case of free play, customers are offered gambling credits that function much like real money and patrons are able to quickly turn their promotional play into cash without risking their own money. Match play, however, can only be employed at table games and their use necessitates gamblers to wager their own funds. We conduct a thorough analysis of how match play can affect gamblers’ individual behavior. First, we assess the value of match play promotions, which we argue is ambiguous. Then, using behavioral economics concepts, we …

Gambling Behaviors, Perceptions, And Risks Among Nevada Adults, Andrea Dassopoulos

International Gaming Institute Faculty Research

This study presents a statewide assessment of gambling behaviors, perceptions, and gambling-related risk among 1,078 Nevada adults. Using a mixed-source, population-calibrated survey developed by UNLV and NORC, the research measures gambling participation, motivations, venue exposure, and attitudes toward harm, treatment, and regulation. The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) identifies substantial levels of harm: nearly half of past-year gamblers show some degree of risk, with the highest rates among younger adults, racially diverse groups, gaming and hospitality workers, and those who gamble in neighborhood bars or slot parlors. The survey also documents public beliefs about gambling addiction, youth exposure, stigma, and …

Beyond Baseball: A Case Study On The Multipurpose Venue Management Practices Of Giants Enterprises, Collette Grace Madden

Experience Industry Management

The success of sports organizations no longer relies on team performance and game attendance. Giants Enterprises utilizes many guest engagement and destination development strategies to expand the brand reach of the San Francisco Giants. The purpose of this study was to examine how Giants Enterprises has positioned Oracle Park and Mission Rock as premier event destinations beyond baseball, with a focus on best practices in event diversification, experience design, and placemaking. A case study was conducted on Giants Enterprises to analyze what event diversification, experience design, and placemaking tactics were utilized as well as their effectiveness. The results of this …

An Analytics Framework For Healthcare Expenditure Forecasting With Machine Learning, John Wang, Shubin Xu, Yawei Wang, Houda El Bouhissi

Department of Hospitality and Tourism Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The United States healthcare system relies heavily on Medicaid, which serves nearly 80 million people and accounts for a substantial share of both state and federal budgets. This study employs a range of forecasting methods, including ARIMA, Holt's linear trend, polynomial regressions (degree 2 and 4), Prophet, and piecewise linear regression, as well as machine learning models such as random forest, gradient boosting, and support vector regression, to analyze the growth of Medicaid expenditures. Using data from 1966 to 2024, the analysis identifies historical patterns and evaluates model performance with Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and related metrics to project …

From Plate To Picture: The Role Of Gastronomic Offerings In Tourism Marketing, Patricia Picazo, Sergio Moreno-Gil, Robin B. Dipietro, Forest Ma

Faculty Publications

Gastronomic offerings are key components of travel and destinations. However, scant research has focused on how gastronomic offerings are projected to tourists. Using signaling theory as a framework, this study investigated the presence of gastronomic offerings in 25,231 promotional photos to assess how the pictures represented the food offerings at resorts in five countries. Data were gathered from the brochures published by two leading tour operators in the European market, “TUI” and “Thomas Cook.” The results of content analysis showed that gastronomic offerings were often secondary to cultural and natural assets in brochures. In addition, the number of photos with …

Helping Craft Beer Hunters Make Their Next Great Beer Discovery, Mark Mitchell, Sheila Mitchell

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The number of craft beer producers and consumers in the United States has increased dramatically over the last ten years. This manuscript provides an overview of the craft beer marketplace in the United States with a focus on the craft brewers and retailers as well as the consumers who favor craft beers. Craft beer enthusiasts are a “consumption community” or, a group of consumers who share a deep involvement with the craft beer category. This study presents a list of common business practices designed to appeal to this unique consumer group.

Leveraging Digital Sensory Marketing In Online Wine Sales – A Moderated Serial Mediation Model, Yingying Dong, Alei Fan, Chang Ma Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Purpose

Despite the importance of visual and auditory cues in marketing communications, multisensory experiences, such as visual-auditory integration, remain underexplored in sensory marketing. This research aims to fill this gap by investigating how visual cues and their interaction with auditory cues on webpages affect consumers’ responses to online wine sales.

Design/methodology/approach

This research conducted two experimental studies, revealing the crucial role of multiple visual cues in shaping consumers’ responses to online wine sales and the moderating effect of auditory cues on these relationships.

Findings

Compared with the single visual cue of text only, multiple visual cues with both text and …

Activity Trends Pre/Post Covid-19 In State Park Campgrounds, Patty Janes, Sango Otieno, A. Scott Rood

Proceedings of the Recreation Experience Community Network Research Symposium

Outdoor related activities surged both during and following COVID 19. Numerous studies support the increase of many outdoor related activities from swimming to bird watching, and biking to geocaching. Understanding the interests and habits of visitors helps organizations. The purpose of this study was to analyze the Michigan Department of Natural Resources campground visitor activity participation from before and after COVID. Nearly 40,000 campers each year were compared from 75 campground locations throughout the state of Michigan. Findings indicate the growth of many of their outdoor oriented activities from 2019 to 2024 including beach / swimming, hiking, rock hunting, and …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

Hotel Supervisor Incivility And Its Effects On Employee Productivity And Turnover Intention: The Mediating Role Of Ego Depletion, Jean Paolo Lacap, Joe Mari Fadrigalan, Edgie Eser, Mach Ronald Maigue, Princess Airene Mabulay

The South East Asian Journal of Management

Research Aims: This study examines the influence of supervisor incivility on hotel employees’ productivity and turnover intention, and further investigates the mediating role of ego depletion in these relationships.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Participants were hotel employees (N = 300) who were selected using snowball sampling. A predictive research design and partial least-squares path modelling were used to gauge the propositions of the study.

Research Findings: The results indicate that supervisor incivility has a significant impact on ego depletion, employee productivity, and turnover intention. Ego depletion was found to have a substantial effect on both employee productivity and turnover intention, and served as …

Stay To Play: Multi-Level Stakeholders And Motivation In Youth Sports Tourism, Brumby Mcleod, Ph.D., John Grady, Ph.D.

Proceedings of the Recreation Experience Community Network Research Symposium

In this study, the stay to play model of hosting elite youth sports events was investigated by exploring the various stakeholder perspectives in staging youth sport events, specifically soccer. This research explored the motivations and gaps among the event organizers, the housing authorities (booking agencies), governing bodies and leagues, as well as the destination marketing organization. This study explored the relationship, unique value proposition, and gaps between the services provided by the stay to play organizers and participants. By exploring these concepts, a better understanding of the stay to play model is achieved, and destination marketers and management associations can …

Sun, Fun, And Structure: What Resort Activity Schedules Reveal, Phileshia Dombroski, Ph.D., Kayla D. Mohney, Ed.D., Rebecca L. Moriarty, Ava Beal, Libby Scanlon, Emily Bailey, Cyan N. Kvacky

Proceedings of the Recreation Experience Community Network Research Symposium

Daily activity schedules are central to the guest experience in resort environments, guiding participation, communicating brand identity, and structuring leisure time. This mixed-method content analysis explored how resorts across the United States design and present these schedules, emphasizing accessibility and program diversity. Eighteen publicly available resort activity schedules were evaluated using accessibility tools (PAC 3, Adobe Acrobat, WCAG 2.2) and coded for 4,166 individual activities across eight categories. Findings revealed moderate adherence to accessibility standards. Most schedules met minimum font size and color contrast guidelines, but only 25% were compatible with screen readers and 80% lacked alternative text or structural …

Perceived Value Of Sport And Recreation In Aruba: Resident Perceptions Of Health, Lifestyle, And Physical Activity, Stephen L. Shapiro, Andy Gillentine, Jo-Anne Croes, John Wardlaw

Proceedings of the Recreation Experience Community Network Research Symposium

Sport and recreation play an important role in shaping community well-being, particularly in small island nations where health and tourism are integrated. This study examines how Aruban residents perceive the value of sport and recreation and how these perceptions vary based on the type of activity and children’s participation in these activities. A mixed-methods design was used across two phases. Phase I employed focus groups with residents, educators, and government stakeholders to explore themes of health, community impact, and education. Findings emphasized concerns over inactivity and identified sport and recreation as essential to promoting healthy lifestyles, sense of community, and …

Drivers Of Policy Support And Political Consumerism Behavior Among Water Recreationists, Mina Kim

Proceedings of the Recreation Experience Community Network Research Symposium

Individuals who engage in water-based recreation share a distinct bond with water quality due to their direct contact with aquatic environments during leisure activities. Increasing concerns about water quality have led to a rise in research exploring how environmental conditions and perceived risks shape environmental attitudes and conservation actions. However, it remains uncertain whether water recreationists extend their conservation efforts beyond those directly tied to their activities. To explore this issue, the present study investigates whether water-based recreationists in South Carolina support more stringent water management policies and engage in political consumerism behaviors, such as boycotting and buycotting. Data were …

From The Field To The Future: How Experiential Learning Supports Student Success, Joshua Carroll, Ph.D.

Proceedings of the Recreation Experience Community Network Research Symposium

Field Experiences are often considered extracurricular, and not always a part of traditional college programs. However, these experiences can provide unique opportunities for learning, increase student confidence, broaden student perspectives of their chosen profession, and connect students with their environments, professors, and classmates. Because these programs often require a deep commitment from faculty, administrators, and the students, it is sometimes difficult to justify the resources required to successfully implement these courses. This project sought to identify several of the impacts that a field course may have on students, and to summarize these findings into sharable data for potential college and …

How Did The Pandemic Change The Role Of Recreational Waters In Bringing Visitors? Analysis Of South Carolina Mobility Big Data, Seonjin Lee, Lori Pennington-Gray, Ph.D.

Proceedings of the Recreation Experience Community Network Research Symposium

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on nature-based recreational activities. Outdoor recreation became popular as an alternative to international travel with less risk of contagion. However, the question remains whether there was an enduring change in the role of natural resources in driving visitors. This study investigates the relevance of recreational waters, particularly lakes and beaches, to changes in patterns of domestic visitors to South Carolina between 2019 and 2023. All counties showed growth in recreational visitors, as well as diversification of visitors. However, the magnitude of the increase showed a significant difference based on geographical factors. Eight coastal …

Passenger Delight In Liminal Spaces: Uncovering The Dynamics Of Airport Airside F&B, Thorsten Merkle, Sushanta Das

ICHRIE Research Reports

The airport airside environment is a unique and highly consequential setting for consumer behavior, where passengers’ food and beverage (F&B) decisions are shaped by time pressure, emotional states, and spatial constraints. This study empirically validates two complementary frameworks - the CX Delightors Framework and the Airport Airside Consumption Model - in the U.S. context to deepen understanding of passenger behavior in this liminal space. Using survey data from 1,374 passengers across three major U.S. hub airports (DEN, PHX, SLC), we conducted principal component analyses to refine the original nine CX Delightors attributes into five robust dimensions: Hospitality & Ambiance, Value …

Sustainable Practices In The Restaurant Industry: Review 2020-2025, Joel Reynolds

ICHRIE Research Reports

This review examines sustainability practices in the restaurant industry from 2020-2025, analyzing environmental, social, economic, and technological dimensions. Using a rigorous methodology including comprehensive database searches and thematic synthesis, we identified significant fragmentation across research streams and persistent gaps between theoretical frameworks and practical implementation. Our analysis reveals how contextual factors—including geographical location and restaurant segment—significantly influence sustainability approaches, challenging universal prescriptions. The review highlights critical methodological limitations in current research, particularly regarding measurement approaches, system boundaries, and ethical considerations of technological innovations. These findings provide a foundation for developing more integrated, context-sensitive sustainability frameworks for both researchers and practitioners.

Beyond Compliance: Investigating The Motivational Power Of Equality, Diversity And Inclusion (Edi) In European Hospitality, Alessandro Ferrazza Dr

ICHRIE Research Reports

The base concept of this study is to explore the interrelationship between Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) practices, employee motivation and performance within the European Hospitality Industry. The research aims to identify the barriers and facilitators that shape motivational synergies stimulating performance outcomes, particularly for underrepresented employee groups. The researcher employed a mixed-methods approach underpinned by a pragmatic interpretivist framework. The findings revealed that there is wide use of discriminatory practices, limited career progression and poor work-life balance which act as significant demotivators (Siu et al., 1997). The study also reconceptualises EDI not merely as a compliance requirement, but as …

Are We Truly Diverse: Investigating The Diversity In Hospitality And Tourism Faculty Within The United States, Michael D. Caligiuri, Abigail Foster, Phillip M. Jolly, Miranda Kitterlin

ICHRIE Research Reports

Both practice and research within the hospitality and tourism field have grown increasingly concerned with issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Yet while a significant and growing body of research has looked into the drivers and effects of representation in the workplace, very little has investigated the state of diversity in hospitality and tourism faculties. This is a serious oversight, as faculty diversity has been linked to a number of individual, organizational, and societal benefits. Drawing on an in-depth investigation of the racial/ethnic and gender makeup of 57 hospitality and tourism programs in the United States, our results indicate …

The Perceptions And Receptiveness To Responsible Gambling By College Men Who Sports Bet: A Focus Group Study, Chance V. Dow, Matthew D. Andersland, Emily A. Velandia, Rory A. Pfund, James P. Whelan

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Responsible Gambling (RG) includes prevention messages aimed at mitigating harms. Research examining the experiences of college students who sports bet is lacking, hindering efforts to tailor messaging to college students. This qualitative study explored how college men who sports bet perceive and respond to existing RG messages, gathering their feedback on the characteristics of messages they find effective. Online focus groups were conducted with college men who sports bet (N = 12) using a semi-structured interview guide. The discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using an open coding Thematic Analysis approach. Codes were independently identified and analyzed resulting in …

‘High-Stakes’ Security: Current And Emerging Trends In Casino Gaming Cybersecurity, Ernest Adams, Jared Bischoff, Mehmet Erdem

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Alongside the digital evolution of the casino gaming industry, cybercrimes have emerged as a prominent threat to gaming businesses across the entire world. With the growing frequency of high-profile cyberattacks against major casino resorts and casino operators, the gaming industry has responded by implementing innovative cybersecurity strategies and resources to prevent and mitigate potential future assaults. This paper aims to examine cyber events in the gaming industry, how the industry has responded by enhancing its security posture, and what experts in the industry prioritize as security topics for future research. To accomplish this, a literature review was first performed to …

Financial Inducements In Gambling Marketing: An Information Disclosure Proposal To Inform Gamblers Of Their True Economic Value, Philip Newall, Dominic Cortis, Jamie Torrance

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Financial inducements such as free bets are frequently-used gambling marketing offers which temporarily improve a gambler’s usual pattern of risk and potential return. Previous research has shown that there are up to 15 distinct types of financial inducements in common use, and that gamblers frequently misunderstand inducements’ play-through requirements and other complex terms and conditions. The Australian government has therefore recently banned play-through requirements for inducements shown to new customers, and the Great British regulator the Gambling Commission has recently announced a maximum play-through requirement of 10 times. The present work describes an alternative and yet potentially complementary approach based …

The Effects Of Covid-19 On Mice Tourism, Gülay Cakmak, Gurel Cetin, Cemil Kilic, Erol Sozen

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

The sector of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism play an integral role in the tourism industry not only because of its volume but also per capita spending. MICE tourism is predominantly characterized by its international reach and the significant number of participants it attracts. However, Covid-19 pandemic precipitated a marked, leading to far-reaching ramifications and transformations. This study is focused on evaluating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the MICE tourism sector. It aims to explore both the anticipated and the actual shifts within the industry amidst the pandemic. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, this investigation utilized …