Business Commons^™

One Beat, One Island: The Seamless Fusion Of Curaçao And The Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival, Manuel Rivera, Robertico Croes, Brianna Morman, Margaret Zorrilla Cortez

Dick Pope Sr. Institute Publications

The Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival (CNSJF) has established itself as a significant international event, attracting 6,232 attendees worldwide, significantly boosting the island’s tourism and cultural profile. Notably, 78.9% of attendees, or 4,917 "Festival-Passion Tourists," traveled to Curaçao specifically for the festival. These tourists were affluent and well-educated, primarily from the Netherlands, USA, Venezuela, Colombia, Aruba, and Suriname. Despite ongoing challenges with accessibility, particularly from Aruba, the festival strengthened perceptions of Curaçao as a destination, as evidenced by many visitors expressing intentions to return.[1] Held at the World Trade Center in Curaçao from August 29 through August 31, 2024, this …

The Effects Of Esg On The Financial Performance Of Aerospace & Defense Companies, Cooper Trimble

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines the relationship between Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) activity and financial performance in the context of firms operating in the Aerospace & Defense industry. As societal pressure increases for companies to adopt ESG and related corporate sustainability practices, it is crucial to understand the repercussions of such adoptions. As the Aerospace & Defense industry continues to grow and capitalize on post-COVID travel booms, military modernization efforts, and increased demand for advanced aerospace technology, it is essential to understand the consequences of ESG implementation. By examining data from 2012 – 2023, this study produced results regarding the …

Self-Transformation And Spirituality In Marketing, Mrudul Nilangekar

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Self-transformation and spirituality have not been extensively investigated in marketing research. However, these concepts are deeply impactful in an individual's life and are advocated by religious and spiritual traditions across the world. In Essay 1, I extend research on compassion, distance between self and other, and power by examining the effect of self-compassion on prosocial behavior. I test the effect of self-compassion on prosocial behavior mediated by the distance felt between self and other and moderated by felt power. Across five studies, I find that individuals in the self-compassionate and equal power mindset display higher prosocial behavior and lower empathy …

Influencers Endorsement Advertising Methods On Different Social Media Platforms, Sophia R. Annaloro

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Social media marketing has opened a unique spot for Social Media Influencers. With their fame comes a lot of power over their follower's actions. Many things are at play when an influencer works with a brand to create promotional content for a product. Flow theory suggests that an abrupt advertisement does not match the pace or aesthetic of the content they are currently consuming. When one's viewing is abruptly interrupted by an advertisement, the consumers are now aggravated by the product. Distinctive characteristics of different platforms are likely to develop flow differently. This study analyzed how passive versus active product …

An Examination Of Frontline Service Workers' Empathy In A Cobot Team, Emily Anne Broker

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Service robots are an emerging technological advancement increasingly utilized in the hospitality industry. In return, service workers are required to use them during their interactions with customers. This study sought to examine how the service robot-worker team affects cognitive and affective empathy present in a service encounter. Using the empathy attribute part of the SERVQUAL model, this study aimed to examine and differentiate the server's empathy impact in the presence of a service robot. This study utilized semi-structured qualitative interviews to collect data from service workers employed in two restaurants characterized by distinct service environments. The interviews were qualitatively analyzed …

Leveraging Accessible Tourism Development Through Mega-Events, And The Disability-Attitude Gap, Michael Duignan, Ian Brittain, Marcus Hansen, Alan Fyall, Simon Gerard, Stephen Page

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Able-bodied, and increasingly people with disabilities, represent a key audience for mega-events; occasions that act as crucibles where social problems endemic to host destinations can be exposed and tackled through targeted social policy. Drawing on the social model of disability, the paper examines how Japan utilised Tokyo 2020 as a field configuring event to disrupt systems of ableist thinking and tackle physical and attitudinal barriers restricting Persons with Disabilities (PwD) to accessible tourism. Qualitative evidence reveals national commitments to relegitimise, improve accessibility for - and acceptance toward - PwD in Japanese society, through transformations to the built environment, national awareness, …

Whats On The Menu, Exhibit Brochure, Judy Kuhns

Rosen Library Exhibits

On display: August - December 2023
Featured items: Menus and books from the Rosen Library Collection. Primary Curator: Judy Kuhns

See more items from this exhibit

Two Studies Examining The Effects Of Industry Controversy On Accountability And Social And Environmental Accounting, Jacob Lennard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The following dissertation consists of two studies investigating the relationships between industry controversy and accountability. In Study 1, I develop a theoretical framework for identifying industry controversy and I discuss the applications to accountability in social and environmental accounting (SEA) research. The framework consists of criteria to define industry controversy (a difference of opinion at a societal level about a routine feature) as well as two primary theories (organizational legitimacy and organizational stigma) and two secondary theories (utility attribution and stigma transfer) that can explain organizational outcomes. Study 1 concludes with a discussion of areas of accounting research where this …

Three Essays On Civil Disturbances, Crime, And Housing Markets, Noel Ritchey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In these three essays, I examine the relationship between housing prices and civil disturbances. In the first essay, I examine the Ferguson Unrest in 2014 following the killing of Michael Brown. Using a hedonic model and a repeat sales model using data from ZTRAX, I find a highly significant negative affect around the events temporally and spatially. In the second essay I examine house price indices across the US during the onset of COVID and during the protests following the killing of George Floyd. I use the Zillow Home Value Index and I find cities which experienced protests experienced less …

Concern Or Control?: Gender Stereotyping And Hospitality Leaders, Bendegul Okumus, Wei Xiong, Shiyun Chen, Fang Fan

Rosen Research Review

Although most managers in the global hospitality industry are still male, an increasing number of women are taking on leadership roles. But how exactly do employees perceive masculine and feminine leadership styles? New research led by UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management's Associate Professor Bendegul Okumus and the research team she works with looks at gender stereotypes and finds that the most successful managers, in the eyes of their staff, have a management style that combines both masculine and feminine leadership traits.

Mind The Service Gap: Lgbt+ Customers' Hospitality Experience, Heejung (Cheyenne) Ro

Rosen Research Review

Hospitality managers could be missing out by not paying enough attention to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT+) guests. New research by Associate Professor Heejung Ro, UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, looks at this growing and valuable customer segment, and studies how sexual minority guests perceive they are welcomed by hospitality staff. In one of the first studies of its kind, Dr. Ro finds that delivering the right service experience is about more than just flying the rainbow flag.

Unravelling The Tourism–Poverty Nexus, Jorge Ridderstaat, Xiaoxiao Fu, Bingna Lin

Rosen Research Review

Literature on the links between tourism development and poverty alleviation is surprisingly fragmented. A new model, the Tourism-Poverty Interdependence Diamond (TPID), from Dr. Jorge Ridderstaat and Dr. Xiaoxiao Fu, UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, offers a tool to unravel the complexities of this relationship. Using Honduras as a case study, this new approach clearly shows that tourism development can impact poverty, and highlights that poverty can also impact tourism development, with the links ranging from direct to indirect.

Off-Course: Understanding The Popularity Of Alternative Golf Experiences, Juhee Kang, David Kwun, Jeeyeon (Jeannie) Hahn

Rosen Research Review

Alternative golf is a nascent leisure product category that is growing in popularity. However, little is known as to why, its potential impact on traditional golf, and whether it will encourage more and diverse people to play traditional golf. Drs. Juhee Kang, David Kwun, and Jeeyeon Jeannie Hahm at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management investigated the relationship between consumers' value perceptions, satisfaction, and involvement at golf entertainment venues, and whether those influenced their desire to return or refer, and, ultimately, spread their wings onto an actual golf course.

Saba: 'The Unspoiled Queen', Kelly Semrad, Bruce Zagers

Rosen Research Review

Bruce Zagers became Commissioner of Tourism, Public Entity, Saba in 2017. Dr. Kelly Semrad interviews him about his role, and the development of a new tourism master plan for the island.

Beyond A 'Like': Building Parasocial Relationships With Baby Boomers On Facebook, Yunying (Susan) Zhong, Valeriya Shapoval, James Busser

Rosen Research Review

Baby boomers are a crucial cohort for hospitality marketing as they have more money to spend and more time on their hands than younger cohorts. However, reaching them on social media is harder. There is one social media platform popular with baby boomers: Facebook. Dr. YunYing Zhong and Dr. Valeriya Shapoval at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, together with their collaborator, have combined their different areas of expertise to analyze the effectiveness of social media marketing directed at baby boomers from an unusual angle: the illusionary and imaginary relationships we build with fictional characters.

Influences On Destination Loyalty, Asli D.A. Tasci, Abdullah Uslu, Dimitrios Stylidis, Kyle Maurice Woosnam

Rosen Research Review

Dr. Asli D.A. Tasci from UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management and fellow researchers have undertaken research in the popular tourist destination of Antalya, Turkey to investigate destination loyalty. The study explores whether place-oriented or people-oriented factors have a larger influence on tourists' likelihood to revisit the same destinations, while also considering the differences between domestic and international tourists. The findings from this research will support tourism managers' understanding of how to drive repeat visits in a market with overwhelming competition.

Theme Park Knowledge Hub Of The Future, Carissa Baker

Rosen Research Review

The global attractions industry has grown in size and innovation in the last few decades. Encompassing theme parks and waterparks as well as cultural and natural attractions, this segment has diverse career opportunities and constant potential for growth in mature and emerging markets. Theme parks alone garnered a billion visitors in 2019. Post-pandemic, the industry bounced back quicker than expected, with most operators seeing increased attendance and revenue. The attractions industry continues to develop new concepts which provide amazing experiences for guests around the world. However, retirement during the pandemic, coupled with the industry's rapid expansion, created a greater need …

Towards More Authentic Heritage Destination Experiences, Xiaoxiao Fu, Xiaoli Yi, Vera Shanshan Lin, Honggen Xiao

Rosen Research Review

Heritage destinations have a significant responsibility to visitors. In countries like China, where heritage plays a significant role in a person's identity, such destinations offer visitors an opportunity to develop a deeper sense of self. For this reason, they need to be authentic, but so do the visitors. UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management researcher Dr. Xiaoxiao Fu joined a team of experts based in China to identify how the perceived authenticity of two of China's most revered heritage sites affects visitors' personal sense of authenticity, their wellbeing, and how memorable they found their visits.

Providing A Clear Foundation For Smart Destinations, Youcheng Wang, Alan Fyall, Ekaterina Sorokina, Peter Lugosi

Rosen Research Review

Smart destinations are a nascent and growing category in destination marketing but suffer from a lack of clarity. What is a 'smart destination'? UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management's Dr. Youcheng Wang and Dr. Alan Fyall led an international team of hospitality management specialists tasked with providing a clear foundation for smart destination researchers and practitioners. Their study, published in the Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, provides significant insight and stokes the fire beneath destination marketing organizations.

Just Looking: Tourist Gaze And The Theme Park Experience, Wei Wei, Yanyan Zheng, Nathaniel Line, Lu Zhang

Rosen Research Review

What makes a memorable theme park experience? New research led by UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management's Assistant Professor Wei Wei looks at how visitor experience is influenced by the 'tourist gaze'—the consumption of visual experiences, as well as other services, in a tourism destination. With important implications for theme park operators and managers, the study focuses on visitors' visual interactions with fellow visitors and finds they have a significant impact on visitors' emotions and the quality of their overall experience.

Theme Park Visitors Prefer Human-Like Robots In Customer Service Interactions, Ady Milman, Asli D.A. Tasci

Rosen Research Review

Service robots are becoming increasingly popular in many industries and social settings, including education, childcare, elderly therapy centers, and even theme parks. Tourism and hospitality industries are adopting robots enthusiastically and are being closely studied to observe guest engagement and reaction to robotic services. Service robots are becoming increasingly popular in many industries and social settings, including education, childcare, elderly therapy centers, and even theme parks. Tourism and hospitality industries are adopting robots enthusiastically and are being closely studied to observe guest engagement and reaction to robotic services. UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management researchers, Dr. Ady Milman and Dr. …

Saba Dutch Caribbean: Strategic Tourism Master Plan, A Beautiful Life Awaits, Robertico Croes, Kelly Semrad, Manuel Rivera, Sergio Alvarez

Dick Pope Sr. Institute Publications

This report documents the Saba Strategic Tourism Master Plan, 2023-2028. The report provides directions to help Saba capitalize on new tourism related opportunities and overcome challenges that have emerged post pandemic. The plan is the outcome of a participatory process that includes multiple layers of tourism stakeholders including the residents, government officials, business owners, NGOs, community leaders, local organizations, and tourists. The plan observes that overall, there is a disconnect in the stakeholders’ message regarding the value of Saba. Tourists appreciate the value and beauty of Saba’s natural resources and authentic culture, yet residents undervalue themselves and Saba due to …

Collecting Disney, Exhibit Sign, Judy Kuhns, Gina Rippens

Rosen Library Exhibits

On display: January-April 2023
Featured items: Disney souvenirs and cast member awards, and books from the Rosen Library Collection. Primary Curators: Judy Kuhns and Gina Rippens
See more items from this exhibit

Collecting Disney, Exhibit Brochure, Judy Kuhns, Gina Rippens

Rosen Library Exhibits

On display: January-April 2023
Featured items: Disney souvenirs and cast member awards, and books from the Rosen Library Collection. Primary Curators: Judy Kuhns and Gina Rippens

See more items from this exhibit

Motivating Employees Through Servant Leadership, Fevzi Okumus

Rosen Research Review

Meeting customer expectations is critical for success within the hospitality industry and frontline employees play a key role in delivering customer satisfaction. Leaders who display a servant leadership style put the interests of employees and the organization above their own. To investigate how this leadership style influences employee motivation and behavior, Dr. Fevzi Okumus, UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and his collaborators have put forward and evaluated a model of the interrelationships between servant leadership and employee engagement, job satisfaction, and absenteeism. They found that leaders evidencing this style positively impacted work engagement and absenteeism. Their findings offer important …

Time + Talent + Treasures = Partnerships For Success, Susan Vernon-Devlin, Marcela Defaria

Rosen Research Review

The tools for philanthropy and successful development do not come in a box with instructions. Instead, they are crafted through building positive relationships over time, which unleashes potential in like-minded individuals, enriches the human experience, and propels broad-based prosperity for the many communities positively impacted by the outcomes. At UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, we are working to make a difference and transform lives.

The Impact Of Lgbt Friendliness On Sexual Minority Travelers Perceptions, Heejung Ro

Rosen Research Review

There is a rise in niche travel for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community. However, few studies have investigated how the hotel industry can best appeal to these customers. At UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Dr. Heejung Ro has undertaken the first study focusing on how LGBT friendliness and the attitudes of service employees may impact upon LGBT customers' perceptions and future intentions. While the findings revealed these two factors are regarded independently, it is important that hotels signal LGBT friendliness, as well as ensuring these travelers are treated respectfully.

Resident Satisfaction In Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Suja Chaulagain, Abraham Pizam

Rosen Research Review

The senior living industry is big business and growing fast, thanks to increasing life expectancy. According to the U.S. Census, there were 53 million Americans aged over 65 in 2019. That figure is set to rise by 55% to 82 million—one in five of the population—by 2050. More and more seniors are already attracted to continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). But what impacts resident satisfaction in this increasingly competitive market? New research led by Dr. Suja Chaulagain and Dr. Abraham Pizam at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management finds that above all, it's the social environment.

Expectation Disconfirmation = The Hidden Menace Of Positive Airbnb Reviews, Wei Wei

Rosen Research Review

The integrity of the peer-to-peer accommodation industry relies on peer assessment and the assumption that positive reviews are more likely to guide towards positive outcomes. But problems can occur when hosts go out of their way to accommodate their guests, hoping to score positive reviews. Dr. Wei Wei from UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management and fellow researchers have found that such reviews create an online trail that encourages expectation, which is not necessarily a good thing.

Measuring Transformational Experiences In Tourism, Asli D.A. Tasci, Maksim Godovykh

Rosen Research Review

What makes a tourist's experience transformational? It's an important question given the growth of the types of tourism that seek to secure meaningful experiences. For decades, researchers have offered different definitions to guide practitioners. Drs. Asli Tasci and Maksim Godovykh of the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management have gone a step further and developed an empirical model for measuring whether experiences are transformational. The research has produced more than a few surprises.