Business Commons^™

Reflections On Co-Creating, Developing And Evaluating Virtual Reality Fieldtrips (Vrf): The Student’S Perspective, Catherine Gorman, Jennifer Stewart, Louise Bellew

Conference papers

To ensure graduates have the skill to work within the tourism industry, and spurred on by the paradigm shift in teaching due to Covid 19, this research focused on developing innovative solutions using technology. Using virtual assessment techniques, industry co-created evaluation, and integrated assessment, it explored how virtual field-trips can be developed as part of remote teaching methods. To provide context to the topic of sustainable tourism and technology, a student-led virtual seminar with industry was undertaken linking with TU Dublin Green Week 2021. In place of a fieldtrip using Google Earth and Screen-casto-matic, students created videos incorporating the sustainability …

Engaging With The Local: Shift In Visitor Profile At [World] Heritage Sites, Catherine Gorman

Conference papers

Engaging with the local: a shift in visitor profile at Heritage Sites

The island of Ireland has three World Heritage Sites (WHS). Two of these sites are located in the Republic of Ireland and are operated by the Office of Public Works (OPW): Skellig Micheal (inscribed 1996), and Bru Na Boinne, the Bend in the Boyne complex of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth and wider area (inscribed 1993). In 2018, Skellig Michael attracted 16,792, and the Bru Na Boinne, 321,193. Both sites have been under pressure from visitor numbers over the last number of years with Skellig Micheal, exceeding the annual …

An Examination Of The Role Of Placemaking In Tourism On The Entrepreneurial Eco System, Ziene Mottiar, Theresa Ryan

Conference papers

Place-making is a topic of increasing interest in the tourism literature as national and local governments and DMOs continue to focus on the competitiveness and attractiveness of their destination. While the focus in the entrepreneurship and innovation literature is on individual entrepreneurs, policies and networks, place is a vital element in the tourism nexus and this concept is explored in this paper. As Solfield et al. (2017, p.2) note ‘place making in tourism.. creates an identity, an image, a difference from other places’. This paper examines how place making can encourage innovation by investigating the case of the Wild Atlantic …

Catering To Diverse Visitor Requirements At Ecclesiastical Heritages: Challenges For Upholding Spiritual Values, Site Authenticity, Integrity And Identity, Vreny Enongene

Conference papers

Tourism to sacred sites is growing exponentially, with these numbers expecting to double by the year 2020 (UNWTO, 2014 and Tourism & More, 2014). According to Alen (2012), 60% of visitors to sacred places in Israel are strictly tourists as opposed to pilgrims. In addition, there is an identified changing nature and demand of these contemporary sacred site visitors, of which the typical faith-based visitor is no exception (Kartal et al., 2015). Thus, catering to the diverse requirements of these contemporary sacred site visitors, to include aspects such as the demand for satisfaction from spiritual renewal services, as well …

Walking The Paths Of Fr John Sullivan: A Potential Irish Pilgrimage Route And Trail For The Sick And Needy, Vreny Enongene, Kevin Griffin, Tony Kiely

Conference papers

Spiritual tourism is said to be growing in popularity globally, and so is the interest in the development of products and services to meet the needs and expectation of this growing market segment. Scholars are equally interested in the development of niche faith-based markets and products, as evident in the most recent international conference on niche market formation for faith-based tourism that took place in Malta on the 20^th of October 2017. However, it is equally evident on a global scale that destinations that are host to ecclesiastical heritages are increasingly developing and redeveloping new and old products respectively, …

The Importance Of Community Engagement For The Development Of Rural Sacred Sites, Vreny Enongene, Kevin Griffin

Conference papers

https://www.thric2018.ie/uploads/6/9/2/5/6925239/thric_conference_proceedings_2018.pdf

According to the partners of sacred places, there is growing evidence of the centrality of sacred places in community life www.sacredplaces.org. Crucial given their regional sustainable economic development potential (Enongene & Griffin, 2016). Thus, for both parties to tap in to these potentials, a collaborative approach, that engages all community stakeholders is essential in addressing their shared problem and providing practical and effective solutions to issues affecting their well-being. Essential given that Community engagement has been acknowledged as a powerful tool in the achievement of long-term sustainable outcomes. To buttress this argument, quite recently, there has been a …

Stakeholder Involvement: An Identified Invaluable Resource In The Management And Conservation Of Ireland's Natural Religious Heritage Croagh Patrick: Insights And Challenges, Vreny Enongene, Kevin Griffin

Conference papers

This paper seeks to explore how the concept of stakeholder involvement has been applied for the very first time in the management and conservation of the 800 years old Ireland's Holy mountain Croagh Patrick. In doing so, it explores factors that facilitate and hinder the effectiveness of this new-found partnership towards the sustainable management of this sacred natural site, which simultaneously serves as a place of pilgrimage and tourism. Crucial given scholarly demand for greater understanding of the opportunities and barriers that stakeholder involvement may entail, Woodland & Acott (2007), and even more crucial given that routes and directions for …

Technological Mediated Applications At Sacred Heritages: Usefulness And Challenges- A Managerial Perspective, Vreny Enongene

Conference papers

The rapid development of technologies introduces smartness to all organisations and communities (Buhalis, & Amaranggana, 2014. P. 553), for which sacred heritages are no exception, as evident in their increasing use of technological mediated applications towards enhancing the visitors experience and data generation. This development in the use of technological applications, has in part been triggered by the identified changing needs and expectations of contemporary sacred site visitors, as well as their importance and role in changing the nature of the consumers expectations and the nature of the visitor’s experience.

Thus, applying these smart tourism concept in addressing the changing …

The Problems Of Deficient Data When Planning For Religious Tourism: An Irish Case Study, Vreny Enongene, Kevin Griffin

Conference papers

This study stresses the importance of the availability of data and relevant statistics in the advancement of tourism knowledge and the enhancement of visitor experiences (pre-and post-experiences) for those particularly interested in visiting sacred sites, as well as its study. With sacred sites in the Island of Ireland as sites under study. The dearth in data and relevant statistics on religious tourism sites and their facilities, visitor numbers and their activities, management issues, and visitor experiences, at sacred sites in the Ireland of Ireland, although widely acclaimed as a country of saints and scholars, prompted the present investigation.

In arriving …

Careers In Culinary Arts, James Peter Murphy

Conference papers

The purpose of this presentation was to give individuals interested in pursuing a career in culinary arts the advice and access to education surrounding this field. Culinary arts covers the multidisciplinary field and areas of practice and study which includes culinary performing arts (cooking), gastronomy (food studies), bakery and pastry arts, food and beverage studies (bar, restaurant, barista), wine studies , food product development and health, hygiene and nutrition. So many individuals have come into this industry and gained local, national and international success.

The Study Of Traditional And Non-Traditional Marketing Communications: Target Marketing In The Events Sector., Gordon Geraghty, Ann T. Conway

Conference papers

There is a vast array of information on marketing but there is little literature on event marketing, specifically target marketing for events. The event sector is one that is constantly changing; the need to reinvent, innovate and self-disrupt is part and parcel for a sector that seeks to constantly entertain and turn a profit, so too is the marketing sector.

The research was carried out using face-to-face in-depth interviews and 1 focus group, all of which were audio recorded with the consent of the participants. The sample comprises of event and marketing professionals. The analysis focused on research’s objectives and …

Poitín – A Spirit Of Rebellion And Inspiration, James Peter Murphy

Conference papers

Abstract: Poitín is Ireland’s most ancient spirit distilled in rural locations for many centuries, its dark and chequered history continues to intrigue tourists and people alike, often referred to as Ireland’s Mescal, Cachaca or Grappa. This drink which preserved many rural communities and saved them from falling into poverty, driven underground for over 300 years it is making a significant comeback. This paper will explore the evolution of this ancient Irish spirit from its earliest mentions to its modern day popularity in the world of distilled spirits. Poitín is history in a bottle it is inextricably woven into the fabric …

Religious Heritages As Tools For Sustainable Economic Development: The Case Of Ireland’S Ecclesiastical Settlement Glendalough, Vreny Enongene, Kevin Griffin

Conference papers

Accelerating the shift towards a more sustainable sector are the priorities for the tourism industry (UNWTO, 2015). Therefore, it is against this background, that the United Nations general assembly has approved the adoption of 2017 as the international year of sustainable tourism for development, with the unique opportunity to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to the three pillars of sustainability, while raising awareness of the true dimensions of the sector which is often undervalued (UNWTO, 2015), in which the religious tourism sector is no exception. Nonetheless, within the religious tourism scholarship, the role tourism to religious heritages might …

Religious Tourism Product Bundling An Innovative Approach To Destination Marketing And Visitor Experience Management: The Case Of Early Christian Sites In The East Of Ireland, Vreny Enongene, Kevin Griffin

Conference papers

Innovation has emerged as a re-occurring theme for the sustainability and competitiveness of the tourism and hospitality industry, and for faith-based tourism, the many and on-going changes within the demographics and purchasing behavior of the religious market in the past 10-20 years (Leisure Travel Group, 2013) calls for innovative approaches to enhancing the visitor experience, and attracting visitors. As Manson suggests, either you ‘innovate or die’. In so doing, Ireland is determined to foster an innovation culture for the sustainability of the tourism industry (Failte Ireland, 2009) based on the vision that the tourism industry is expected to continually play …

The Phenomenon Of Online Reviews - Digital Headache Or Golden Opportunity For The Tourism Sector?, Jennifer Lawlor, Geraldine A. Gorham, Colin O'Connor

Conference papers

This conceptual paper presents a research agenda for tourism operators by examining the literature pertaining to the phenomenon of online reviews in the tourism sector. The objective is to examine tourist motivations for posting online reviews and their potential impact on the consumer decision making process. Furthermore, this paper seeks to explore how tourism operators may respond to, and act upon, this source of customer word-of-mouth.

Developing Craft Beer Sales Opportunities: The Beer Tasting Experience, James Peter Murphy

Conference papers

The aim of this special presentation was to offer advice to delegates and members of the hospitality and retail licensed trade industries, amateur beer appreciation clubs and tasting groups, in relation to what preparations are necessary and what pitfalls to avoid when you are organising beer tasting events for their businesses.

Are Your Cellars Safe?, James Peter Murphy

Conference papers

Bar owners have to be more concerned about health, safety and security issues. This is the result of a variety of factors, most notably recent legislative changes at national and international level and the subsequent high costs of accidents (including costs relating to litigation and compensation). Poor health, safety and security standards place staff members and customers at risk of serious injury if not death; employers suffer in terms of lost productivity and potentially higher premiums’ and the morale of the staff, as well as the industrial relations climate in the bar, can be adversely affected. At a minimum, bar …

Managing The Responsible Service Of Alcohol: Are We Meeting Our Obligations?, James Peter Murphy

Conference papers

Recent research studies indicate that customers and individuals are drinking no more than their parents were drinking 15 years ago but the frequency, strength of drinks, and amount of drinks consumed per session has increased. These irrational drinking patterns have created a binge drinking culture. Bar staff and management have the task of serving and dealing with all types of people from all walks of life and status of society, this is an enjoyable and rewarding part of the job. However there are many occasions when they have to deal with people who may well have on occasion for various …

Building Co-Operation Between Tourism And Culture In The West Of Ireland, Bernadette Quinn, Ziene Mottiar, Theresa Ryan

Conference papers

Redressing regional imbalance is now a key challenge in Ireland. Dublin is the destination of choice for more than two fifths of the market and the number of visitors holidaying outside of the Dublin region has declined significantly between 2003 and 2009. One way of redressing regional imbalance is to harness the tourism potential of the cultural sector. Spread throughout the regions is a wealth of cultural activity and a well developed infrastructure of venues staging vibrant arts activity of international calibre, be it in visual arts, film, literature or the performing arts. This activity engages 2.3 million Irish citizens …

Understanding Customer Actions During Self-Service Technology Failures In Multichannel Service Environments, Jennifer Lawlor, Petranka Kelly, Michael Mulvey

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of The Motivations Behind Committee Membership In Food Networks, Denise O'Leary, Mary Rose Stafford

Conference papers

Food Tourism has been recognised as a fast growing niche area where Ireland can gain competitive advantage. In recognition of the importance of collaboration among diverse stakeholders in the development of food tourism, networks have been identified as essential. This article presents findings from research conducted with three networks and reveals the motivations for committee membership. Data was gathered in 2012 through participant observation and interviews with steering committee members on three food networks using an action research approach.

A framework for examining motivations for collaboration is offered in this article which will contribute to effective network management. Motivations are …

Building Social Capital Through Events: Some Insights From The Gathering, Ziene Mottiar, Bernadette Quinn, Theresa Ryan

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

The Holiday Experience And Personal Values: An Irish Case Study, Sean Ruane, Deirdre Quinn

Conference papers

Personal values have been a focus of interest for consumer behaviour researchers for many years due to the belief that values influence a person’s lifestyle, and therefore provide a useful explanation for the multitude of interests, outlooks on life and consumption priorities that define a person’s consumer behaviour (Muller, 1991). Tourist satisfaction is a positive function of both functional congruity between the expectations of the individual and choice of destination, and their perception about themselves. Linking destination image with the self can help in understanding this behaviour by focusing on the specific attributes of the holiday and how they match …

Is There A Future / Career For Tourist Guides?, Detta Melia, Josephine Rice

Conference papers

Tourist guides are the essential interface between a tourism destination and its visitors, and are very much responsible for the overall impression and satisfaction offered by a destination. However, despite the prominent role that tourist guides play in the system of tourism, fairly scant scientific attention has been paid to them to date. Tourist Guides create a link between the visitor and the host country. Yet, of the small amount of literature devoted to them, very few studies have asked tourist guides their views and opinions, and have built up a profile of the tourist guide. This paper is an …

Lost In Translation: Interpreting And Presenting Dublin’S Colonial Past, Theresa Ryan, Bernadette Quinn

Conference papers

As Alderman (2010: 90) has recently written, the potential struggle to determine what conception of the past will prevail constitutes the politics of memory. This paper aims to investigate the politics of memory at play in determining how Dublin’s colonial heritage is constructed and represented to tourists. Dublin’s profile as a tourism destination has grown recently. It attracted 5.4 million visitors in 2009 (Fáilte Ireland 2010). Culture and heritage underpin both its touristic appeal and the city’s official efforts to represent itself as a destination. Much of Dublin’s most iconic built heritage is strongly associated with its development as a …

Trends In The Food And Beverage Sector Of The Hospitality Industry, Detta Melia

Conference papers

The hospitality sector in Ireland represents an important part of the tourism industry and comprises hotels, restaurants, pubs and clubs, guesthouses and self-catering operations. The largest component within the Irish hospitality sector is hotels. In addition to hotels, food and beverage operations comprise a significant proportion of the industry. These businesses operate in a highly competitive environment as a consequence of a number of factors. First, there is a downturn in the global and domestic economies with a corresponding decrease in business across the tourism industry (Failte Ireland, 2010; Pitta, 2010). Second, there has been a rise in market demand …

Basic Insight; It’S All About People But Technology Gets You Closer, Patrick Horan, Andrew Frew

Conference papers

After three years of difficult trading conditions Irish tourism needs to move towards recovery. Given that we are waiting next month for one of the toughest budgets in the history of the state, talk of recovery might seem a little premature. Nevertheless we know that economic conditions in some of our key source markets abroad continue to improve, and so consumer sentiment in these countries is likely to recover faster than here at home. In order to position itself for recovery, tourism will need to do two things. Firstly it will need to continue to offer value to a weakened, …

A Review Of Key Factors Affecting The Adoption Of Self-Service Technologies In Tourism., Petranka Kelly, Jennifer Lawlor, Michael Mulvey

Conference papers

During the past ten years self-service technologies (SSTs) have attracted research attention especially in the banking, retail and airline sectors. The infusion of technology in the service encounter has been identified as being advantageous to both the service provider and the consumer. Service provider companies may reduce costs, increase consumer satisfaction and tap into new markets which have been made accessible via the Internet. From a consumer’s point of view, SSTs can save money and time, provide convenience, and in some cases, enjoyment. All the above mentioned advantages are achievable only if SSTs gain adoption among consumers. In light of …

Implementation Of The Dit-Achiev Model For Sustainable Tourism Destination Management: Killarney, Ireland, A Case Study, Kevin Griffin, Maeve Morrissey, Sheila Flanagan

Conference papers

The DIT-ACHIEV Model is a model of sustainable tourism indicators developed in a previous research project undertaken by the School of Hospitality Management and Tourism, Dublin Institute of Technology. The indicators represent six fields of interest – Administration, Community, Heritage, Infrastructure, Enterprise and Visitor (Flanagan et al, 2007). This current research addresses the implementation of the DIT- ACHIEV model in an Irish tourism destination, with the objective to assess whether it can be implemented by the local community in any tourism destination.

The methodology used to implement the model is based on recommendations by Goodey (1995) and Denman (2006). Goodey …

Critical Success Factors And Performance Management And Measurement: A Hospitality Context, Detta Melia

Conference papers

This paper reports on research carried out in the hotel sector of the Irish hospitality industry on critical success factors and their impact on performance management and measurement. The paper outlines the industry context and reviews the literature on critical success factors. This literature presents a discussion of the concept of critical success factors (CSFs) in the context of performance measurement and the hospitality industry, which are considered necessary for organisational prosperity because of the impact they have on the organisation’s potential performance. Critical success factors are those factors capable of providing the greatest competitive leverage upon which resources should …