Business Commons^™

Risk Perceptions And Motivations Around Restaurant Dining During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Elizabeth Yost

Rosen Research Review

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused devastating financial decline within the restaurant industry. Dr. Elizabeth Yost from UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management and her collaborator have undertaken research to understand what motivates customers in this unchartered landscape. They have developed a new theoretical model which focuses on the impact of customer risk perceptions and optimistic bias. Other influencers are personality traits and factors such as customer loyalty and trust, which Dr. Yost argues can be maintained through transparency of information.

Rosen College Hosts Five Important Journals In The Hospitality & Tourim Field; Dick Pope Sr. Institute For Tourism Studies, Rosen College Of Hospitality Management

Rosen Research Review

The Dick Pope Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies is based at at the University of Central Florida.

Student Engagement And Satisfaction With Online Labs, Cynthia Mejia, Robin Back, Jason Fridrich, Marissa Orlowski

Rosen Research Review

Hospitality and tourism is a ‘people business.’ So what happened when the need for social isolation as a result of COVID-19 forced hospitality educators to rethink their pedagogical strategies and move previously face-to-face courses online? In one of the first studies of its kind, Marissa Orlowski, Cynthia Mejia, Robin Back and Jason Fridrich from UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management researched student engagement and satisfaction in online culinary and beverage labs.

Great Expectations: Are There Career Transition Prospects For Hospitality And Tourism Workers, Arthur Huang, Mark Baker

Rosen Research Review

Dr. Arthur Huang and Mr. Mark Baker of the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management explored skill and workforce development for the services industry, specifically examining the hospitality and tourism sector. Their study uncovered that hospitality and tourism workers possess the soft skills required across various industries. However, while soft skills can support career transitions, the hospitality industry and its workers should invest in developing more technology-focused skills to achieve greater career flexibility, advancement, and resilience.

Technology And Hospitality Education – Perfect Partners, Fred Okumu, Susan Vernon-Devlin

Rosen Research Review

Light Board recording, Microsoft HoloLens, Teams, and Zuddl are just a few of the technology advancements on the campus of the #1 college in the nation for hospitality education and research. It’s not just hardcover textbooks, library study sessions and classroom lectures when it comes to educating the future leaders of the hospitality industry, as they prepare for global careers. The tools for teaching have gone high tech.

Micro-Clustering: Bringing Innovation To Agritourism, Robin Back

Rosen Research Review

What’s better than simply drinking wine in a vineyard? Maybe a beautiful destination where the whole family can enjoy a day together, tasting wine, enjoying a variety of activities, and watching the kids play. Dr. Robin Back at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management and his collaborators have examined a case example that presents a new business model for wine tourism—micro-clustering with diverse forms of ownership on two adjacent wine farms. The team reveals how a single South African agribusiness achieved success, and raises the possibility of other similar businesses doing the same.

The Impact Of Tourism Specialization On Transition Economies, Robertico Croes, Jorge Ridderstaat

Rosen Research Review

What is the relationship between tourism specialization, economic growth, and human development in transition economies? That’s the question behind a new study led by Rosen Professor Robertico Croes and Assistant Professor Jorge Ridderstaat. Using Poland as a case study, the research looks at the role of tourism in economic and human development since communism fell in the 1990s and the country transitioned from a centrally-driven to a market-led economy.

A Model For Creating Memorability In A Rural Tourism Destination, Wei Wei

Rosen Research Review

Tourism research is encouraging a shift in marketing towards promoting experiences, but for those experiences to translate into returning visits and word of mouth sharing, they need to be memorable. But what makes an experience memorable? To answer this, Dr. Wei Wei, from UCF Rosen College of Hospitality has, together with collaborators, created and tested a model for experiential memorability in domestic and outbound tourists with one of the world’s biggest tourism markets

Where Do We Go From Here? Festival Films And The Future Of Entertainment: An Interview With Industry Leader Gregory Elias, Ray Eddy

Rosen Research Review

An interview with Gregory Elias, an entertainment entrepreneur and visionary by Dr. Ray Eddy

Reaching Out To Occupational Therapists, Alan Fyall

Rosen Research Review

Accessible tourism is a growing area of tourism research. The belief that all tourism facilities, products, and services should be accessible to those with disabilities drives research in tourism ethics and sustainability. However, a key voice is being ignored. Occupational therapists play a critical role in enabling people with disabilities to participate in the activities of daily life, including leisure. Dr. Alan Fyall believes it is time for interdisciplinary research with occupational therapists to properly understand accessible tourism.

An Integrated Behavioral Model For International Medical Tourism, Suja Chaulagain, Abraham Pizam, Youcheng Wang

Rosen Research Review

From dental procedures to cardiac surgery, an international market is developing for medical tourism, thanks not least to globalisation and the high standard of medical treatment now available around the world. But what drives individuals to travel abroad for healthcare? In an important new study, Rosen College Assistant Professor Suja Chaulagain, Founding Dean Abraham Pizam, and Dean Youcheng Wang take a social psychological perspective of health-related behavior and the concepts that influence it.

Developing A Scale To Measure Destination Gender, Tingting Zhang

Rosen Research Review

Whether they depict the rugged landscape of the American West or the seductive charm of a South Asian beach, photographs and their accompanying text are powerful drivers of tourism demand. But what lies behind our response to such tourism tropes? Rosen College researchers have produced a new study which reappraises destination marketing through a gender-based lens. Led by Dr. Tingting Zhang, the study has developed and validated a cross-cultural scale to determine ‘destination gender’, or whether a location should be thought of as having masculine or feminine gender traits and appeal.

Hospitality Art: A Research Note On The Main Factors Affecting Attractiveness Of Visual Art In Airbnb Settings, Maksim Godovykh, Carissa A. Baker

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The hospitality sector has a long history of creating aesthetic landscapes. Artworks, from paintings and photographs to sculptures and architectural features, have received prominent placement in hospitality spaces. Decades of discussion in the industry and academia exist on art in hotels as well as the aesthetic communication present in a service- scape, or the physical environment of a service landscape that influences image, brand perception, and emotional and cognitive processes (Bitner, 1992; Lin, 2004, 2016; Wakefield & Blodgett, 2016). Art-based initiatives function as a form of value creation that strengthens emotional attachment and relationships with brands (Koronaki, Kyrousi, & Panigyrakis, …

Emotions, Feelings, And Moods In Tourism And Hospitality Research: Conceptual And Methodological Differences, Maksim Godovykh, Asli Tasci

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Researchers often tend to use the words emotions, feelings, moods, and affect interchangeably, which creates confusion in both conceptual and methodological domains of tourism and hospitality research. However, the insights from neuroscience and psychology demonstrated that there are fundamental differences between these concepts, including their causes, duration, intensity, and outcomes. This research note aims to discuss conceptual and methodological aspects related to using emotions, moods, feelings, and affect, provide comprehensive definitions, and outline opportunities to capture them comprehensively in tourism and hospitality research.

Human-Machine Communication: Complete Volume 4

Human-Machine Communication

This is the complete volume of HMC Volume 4.

Vr In Tourism: A New Call For Virtual Tourism Experience Amid And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Maksim Godovykh, Carissa Baker, Alan Fyall

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Virtual reality has become a more common phenomenon in both destination marketing and on-site experience. The recent challenges such as overtourism and the COVID-19 pandemic have created a pressing need to examine virtual tourism as an alternative to traditional travel. This conceptual article aims at clarifying virtual experience in tourism, discussing the main antecedents and outcomes of virtual experience, and proposing a conceptual model of virtual tourism experience. The review of the literature revealed that virtual experience in tourism is influenced by factors related to information, quality, technology acceptance, and affective involvement and has significant effects on tourists' attitudes and …

Paris In The Springtime, Exhibit Sign, Gina Rippens

Rosen Library Exhibits

Sign introducing the Paris in the Springtime exhibit.

See more items from this exhibit.

Paris In The Springtime, Exhibit Brochure, Gina Rippens

Rosen Library Exhibits

Brochure featuring exhibit highlights from the display and additional resources.

See more items from this exhibit.

Tropical Cyclones Negatively Impact The Tourism Economy In Coastal Regions, Sergio Alvarez, Arthur Huang

Rosen Research Review

Tropical cyclones can have a devastating effect on communities, causing loss of property, businesses, and life. In areas that rely on tourism, these effects can be long-lasting. In their recent work, Dr. Sergio Alvarez and Dr. Arthur Huang from UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management have examined the impact that tropical cyclones have on the tourism economy in Florida. The results suggest that these cyclones negatively impact the economy, especially in coastal regions, and that policy changes are needed to help the tourism sector recover

Revenue Management As Competitive Advantage: Keep In House Or Outsourse?, Mehmet Altin

Rosen Research Review

The hotel industry faces multiple pressures and effective profit maximization can make or break a hotel. Revenue management (RM) is a key tool in a responsible hotel manager’s arsenal. But not all hotels have the skills or resources to implement this process effectively inhouse. Dr. Mehmet Altin of UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, applies a resource-based view (RBV) to understand how hotel decision makers approach RM: do they invest in internal development or outsource the RM function?

On The Face Of It: The Use Of Facial Recognition Check-In Technology, Tingting (Christina) Zhang

Rosen Research Review

Facial recognition technology and biometrics are fast growing areas of artificial intelligence. In this article we look at an innovative study by Rosen College Associate Professor, Dr. Tingting Zhang and her collaborators. Their research reveals how perceived security, privacy and trust, as well as previous experience, are key to encouraging hotel users to adopt the technology at the check-in de

Qiddiya: The Capital Of Entertainment In Saudi Arabia, Manuel Rivera

Rosen Research Review

Located only 45km away from Riyadh, Qiddiya is a city that is destined to become one of the biggest tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia, providing thousands of jobs, millions of dollars of revenue and a pathway to the future for a whole generation of young Saudis. Dr. Manuel Rivera interviews the CEO of Qiddiya, Philippe Gas, to discuss where his passion for hospitality originated, the bright future of Qiddiya, and their partnership with UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

Stepping Into A Brighter Future, Edwin N. Torres, Tingting (Christina) Zhang

Rosen Research Review

The hospitality sector presents a range of unique workplace challenges, which can affect the implementation and success of wellness initiatives. In a recent study, Dr. Edwin N. Torres and Dr. Tingting Zhang from UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management conducted a wellness intervention incorporating a wearable device, with the aim of improving various aspects of hotel employee wellness. The results from the study showed a range of benefits following the two-week intervention, both to employees and their employers. However, the authors also noted key drawbacks which should be taken into account in the design of any future employee wellness programs.

Social Representations Of Space Travel, Asli D. A. Tasci, Alan Fyall, Xiaoxiao Fu

Rosen Research Review

Space tourism regularly receives media coverage, but so far, there has been little research around public opinions towards space travel. Dr. Asli D.A. Tasci, Dr. Alan Fyall and Dr. Xiaoxiao Fu from UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management used the Social Representations Theory to investigate public attitudes to space travel and uncover how and why these attitudes are formed. They discovered that commercial space organizations have a strong influence on public opinion, which can be further enhanced if they incorporate more scientific knowledge and evidence.

Factors Affecting Seniors' Relocation To Senior Living Communities, Suja Chaulagain, Abraham Pizam, Youcheng Wang, Denver Severt

Rosen Research Review

The 1960s’ counterculture generation is coming of senior age. This is the generation who witnessed the Civil Rights Movement, protested against the Vietnam War, and went to Woodstock. What they expect in retirement is radically different from their parents. So what are the factors that affect whether or not they choose to move into senior living communities? In one of the first studies of its kind, UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s Dr. Suja Chaulagain, Dr. Abraham Pizam, Dr. Youcheng Wang and Dr. Denver Severt look at the motivational factors that influence seniors’ decision-making.

A Taste For Education And Research, Susan Vernon-Devlin, Robert Seltzer

Rosen Research Review

Pots, pans and commercial kitchen equipment are not the only things found in UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s kitchen labs. A component for hospitality education and research, the college’s labs teach fourth year medical students to practice culinary medicine with a grain of salt, flip the kegs on undergraduates brewing beer, and serve as taste-and-test kitchens for restaurant brands looking to spice up a menu.

Turning The Tables On Covid-19, Wei Wei

Rosen Research Review

The COVID-19 pandemic all but eviscerated the restaurant industry. Around the world, businesses shut doors. For some this would prove to be forever, and those that did reopen were stifled by strict social-distancing regulations and the challenge of how best to rearrange their servicescapes to meet regulations and still provide an enjoyable dining experience. The big question: how best to do this? Dr. Wei Wei from UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management and her collaborators examined the issues of built density and customer power to uncover a vital piece of the puzzle.

Essential Worker Heroes, Cynthia Mejia

Rosen Research Review

The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it untold disruptions to the hospitality and related services industries, and it also prompted a dramatic shift in public perceptions towards line-level workers. Normally associated with unskilled and ‘dirty’ labor, these workers were embraced as ‘heroes’ by providing essential services in the face of a severe and frightening public health threat. This phenomenon provided a rare opportunity for researchers in the fields of hospitality and psychology to examine how those workers, and the society they served, made sense of this perceptive shift.

Restaurants Post Covid-19, Elizabeth Yost, Murat Kizildag, Jorge Ridderstaat

Rosen Research Review

When you’re suddenly forced to close 1,800 restaurant dining rooms without any certainty of being able to reopen them any time soon, you need to act decisively and prioritize if you plan to be around for a grand reopening. For Darden Restaurants and their market-leading US brands, those priorities during lockdown were ‘look after the people – look after the cash!’ Dr. Elizabeth Yost, Dr. Murat Kizildag and Dr. Jorge Ridderstaat of UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management investigate the company’s achievement.

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Restaurant Workers, Diego Bufquin, Jeong-Yeol Park, Robin Back

Rosen Research Review

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit many business sectors hard, none more so than the hospitality industry. Restaurant employees were already known to report high levels of depression and anxiety, as well as alcohol and drug use. How has the pandemic contributed to these problems? In the first study of its kind, Dr. Diego Bufquin, Dr. Jeong-Yeol Park and Dr. Robin Back from UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, along with two collaborators, examine the relationships between restaurant employees’ work status, mental health, substance use, and career turnover intentions during the pandemic.