Business Commons^™

Understanding Loyalty And Motivation Of Professional Sports Fans, Victoria Wilkins

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors which create continuous and permanent commitment to a specific professional sports team.

Statement of Objectives: There is no denying that the current economic standing of the United States does not promote spending large sums of money on entertainment and leisure. Since taking a family to a professional sports game gets rather expensive, families are lead to pursue other alternatives while deciding how to spend free time. The costs of game attendance, including tickets, parking, food, beverages and souvenirs, can easily surpass one hundred dollars, which is undoable for many …

Training Program For New Chinese Casino Players, Yanlei Xu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Las Vegas offers unique experience to visitors through nonstop entertainment. New data collected primarily from office of travel and tourism industries (OTTI), international tourism administration under U.S.Department of Commerce (OTTI, 2011) suggested the international visitors now contributes more to Las Vegas’s bottom than ever before. Based on a report from Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority (LVCVA, 2011), visitation from China increased by 38% in 2010, and OTTI data projected Chinese visitors to the US would increase by 219 % by 2015. With the new loosen policy on foreign tourist Visas, more foreign tourists would boost the whole tourism industry …

The Adaptation Of Cloud Computing By The Hotel Industry, Anthony Schneider

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The concept of cloud computing has many benefits for the hotel industry. The migration to cloud computing is expected to have a major impact on the way that information and computer resources are handled by the hotel industry. Investment in technology must bring value to a business whether it’s a large international hotel chain or a small, independent resort. Since business strategy will vary, a detailed study must be performed to identify the major issues that must be analyzed before migrating to the cloud.

The cloud is a highly adaptive IT infrastructure that can be shared by many different end …

Violence In Youth Sport: Potential Preventative Measures And Solutions, Cheryl Danilewicz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Youth sport events are part of a growing industry to which event venues are tailoring their policies, procedures, and designs. The competitive nature of the events and their participants have caused these venues to examine their existing policies and adjust them to increase security and safety measures for the athletes, coaches, spectators, game officials, and venue staff. Tempers at these events will flare, and in recent years violence is becoming increasingly more common. Parents and athletes have attacked each other, coaches, and game officials due to the intense nature of these events. The result of these acts could range from …

Motivational Clinic For Coaches In Division I, Ii, Iii College Sports, Christopher M. Sheldrick

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to create a motivational clinic for Division I coaches in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Statement of Objectives: By attending the motivational clinic for NCAA Division I coaches, attendees will learn effective motivational strategies from former successful collegiate athletes, successful college and professional sport coaches, and experts in sports psychology. By understanding and implementing the theories and strategies learned, coaches will be able to increase student-athlete performance at their institutions.

Justifications: It is important for coaches at all levels to understand athlete motivation. At the NCAA Division I level, the expectations for …

Identify Possible Critical Provider Gap(S) In The Package Tours Sold By Travel Agencies In Singapore, Chih Wee Siow

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Package tours are beginning to wane in its popularity and relevancy in today’s sophisticated travel market. This is beginning to show in Singapore as well. The needs and wants of customers are not as well met as compared to the past. If a travel agent wishes to stay profitable in this market segment, it is necessary for the operator to take a good thorough look at its tour packaging value chain. From the nature of the product itself to the end execution of the product, the travel agent needs to review its relevancy and ability to meet customers’ needs. The …

Enhancing Off-Season Motivation In Collegiate Athletes, Daniel Ryan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the optimal off-season motivational strategies to be utilized by collegiate coaches to maximize the motivation, sport performance, and sport satisfaction of collegiate athletes.

Objectives: By identifying the determinants of athlete motivation, this paper will serve as a resource for coaches as they seek to raise the overall motivation and commitment of their athletes during the off-season.

Justification: Developing the ideal off-season motivational strategy for collegiate athletes is important on a number of levels. Due to the heightened level of competition in college sports, coaches must ensure that the structuring of their …

Creating A Hospitality Leadership Development Training Program For A Country Club, Joan Ho

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to design a hospitality leadership development training program for a medium sized country club.

Statement of Objective: This paper will present a set of guidelines for creating and implementing an effective hospitality leadership development program for the country club and subsequently implemented for other hospitality and tourism organizations. The leadership development training program aims to attract the employees to retain in this trade. Therefore there is clearly a need for the hospitality and tourism industries to understand what constitutes effective leadership and how it can be achieved. Different definitions of leadership and important …

Developing A Marketing Plan For Hertz China, Isabel Tan Ai Wei

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this professional-paper is to develop a marketing plan for Hertz China. Hertz China is a car rental company which focused on business to business and business to customer market and only short-term rentals, of less than one year's duration. This marketing plan will thus exclude long-term or leasing arrangements and considers only cars, and excludes commercial vehicles such as vans and trucks. The marketing plan will focus on analyzing the potential consumers, product mix, price, and local competitors for such a business.

Effects Of Service Level With Low Unemployment Rate In Macau, Hou Ian Chui

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Justification and Objectives: With this background in mind, there is an important question that has not been answered in the context of Macau’s hospitality industry: Does the workforce display what Gu and Siu (2009) called “mediocre interpersonal skills” (p. 561) because of innate shortcomings in the workforce, or because of voluntary behavior on the part of the workforce? The proposed paper will use Osterman’s (1994) theoretical framework of employment incentives and with reference to the research being conducted by Venetian Macau.

Purpose Statement: The purpose of this study is to quantitatively measure the links between the variables of employee service …

Analyzing The Effects Of Social Media On The Hospitality Industry, Gaurav Seth

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Statement of objective

The intent of this study is not to quantify how many hospitality businesses actively use social media, rather it is to explore the areas and functions these businesses use social media for, and understand how consumers perceive these new vehicles of communication. The study will bring out a consumer’s perspective of the advantages of social media over traditional marketing methods.

Fan Loyalty And Motivation, Jason Mays

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose Statement: The purpose of this professional paper is to review psychological and marketing theory and research to explain what motivates an individual to become a highly identified loyal fan of a sports team. Implications for professional practice and future research will be presented.

Justification: Understanding what motivates a fan to become a highly identified fan is important to a team manager because fans are the primary revenue source of a team. The fundamental goal of marketing managers is to create repeat customers (brand loyalty) (Fortunato, 2006) and loyal fans represent most repeat customers. An organization’s brand is critical in …

An Examination Of Modernist Culinary Techniques And Equipment And Their Application In Catering Operations, Jill Mora

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The practice of culinary arts in reference to food production is slow to adopt change. This is especially true in a catering operation. The industry uses standard operating procedures that have been passed down from chef to chef through several generations. Most catering operations face the same challenges when producing large quantities of food in a very short time. Many times this is done with limited equipment and staff. In addition, the menus can vary from event to event so that preproduction of product for multiple functions may not be a viable option.

This paper does not look to redesign …

Exploration Of Human-Computer Interaction (Hci) Applications In Hospitality Industry, Jia Wei

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this professional paper is to explore and identify the best practices in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) applications and use within the hospitality industry.

Statement of Objectives: To accomplish the stated purpose, first, the paper will provide the universal definition of HCI applications and define HCI within the context of hospitality industry. Second, the paper will gather and categorize information, such as the standards of designing HCI applications, from other fields of study such as informatics. Third, the paper will gather existing examples of HCI applications across different areas within the hospitality industry, such as the front desk …

Smartphone Application Effecting Potential Increase Of Hotel Business Revenue And Guest Satisfaction, Katelyn H. Kim

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the past several years there has been an exponential increase in smartphone applications made available by businesses looking for new ways to reach customers. Many of the big hotel business have not failed to deliver such applications for their customers to use that helps expedite and simplify the process of reserving a hotel room. Most applications have many more uses than simply reserving the hotel room, such as locating the hotel, overviews of the hotel, pictures of the hotel and property, and tracking rewards programs. The more popular these smartphone applications the more people there are that will use …

Two Hundred Hour Internship For A Las Vegas Convention Sales Department, Kristen Kostis

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In order for a company to be profitable, whether it is a hospitality company, a technology company or a small business, sales must be high and continue to grow over time. Companies rely heavily on their sales staff to bring in revenue to keep the company growing and profitable. So, where does this knowledgeable and aggressive sales staff come from? How often do college students take a class that is strictly related to the sales industry?

Many undergraduate hospitality programs do not include courses directly related to sales, leaving students with little knowledge of this department. In fact, some students …

Marketing Analysis For Bonk Knob Shoals Located In Van Buren County, Tennessee, Lillian Lee Ehrmann

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide Alfred Crabtree, owner of Bonk Knob Shoals, with a marketing plan. Bonk Knob Shoals will be an upscale campsite nearby Spencer, TN in Van Buren County.

Statement of Objective: Bonk Knob Shoals is currently under development and the owner wants to gain insight to LOHAS tourists, so he can create a suitable business plan to attract people in that niche market. Marketing is a huge component of the business plan because Crabtree believes a significant amount of resources will be needed to increase tourism awareness of the upscale campsite, …

Frameworks Of Casino Resorts Supply Chain, Lu-Mo Tsai

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the key stakeholders and critical entities that compose the casino resorts supply chain in gaming service area so that it can be applied to improve operational functions.

Objective: This paper is organized into four sections. The first section contains the well-know frameworks of SCM in manufacturing and service industry, and includes the characteristics of gaming industry. The second section explores the gaming industry context pertaining to supply chain management. Basic framework of casino resorts supply chain is developed in the third section, including key shareholders and critical entities that to compose …

The Proposal Of A Graduate Level Special Events Class At University Of Nevada, Las Vegas, Megan Gerber

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper proposes the creation of a graduate level events management class at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It goes through the creation of the class as well as what materials are critical to teach in such a class. It gives ideas and maps out the class for a teacher to be able to come in and create and revise to suit their teaching style. The sixteen week syllabus is completed as well as all assignments detailed out. It should be able to be implemented and taught with minimal changes.

Creating A Positive Motivational Climate: Strategies For Division I Women’S Tennis Coaches, Mark Roberts

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a handbook of positive motivational strategies that enhance players’ performance and well-being.

Statement of Problem: When coaches do not use constructive motivational strategies and create a negative motivational climate, both the performance and the well-being of the student athlete may be undermined. Athletes playing in a negative motivational climate are less likely to perform to their full potential or enjoy participating in their sport. This can lead to athletes feeling negative emotions towards the athletic experience, resulting in harm to the athletes, teams, and coaches.

Justification: Exploring optimal motivational strategies for …

The Hospitality Industry’S Response To Climate Change: Is The Response Sufficient?, Paul Michael Carlson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to explore the serious consequences that global warming and climate change pose for the planet and its inhabitants, and to shed light on the hospitality industry’s contribution to the problem. The study further sought to examine whether the hospitality industry is doing their part in implementing “green” programs to combat its negative contribution to climate change.

The Marketing Plan Of The Cotai Strip, Pui Shan Wong

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In 2003, when most the current Cotai Strip was still a piece of reclaimed land, Sheldon Adelson started a visionary development on this piece of land: the Asian Las Vegas - the Cotai Strip under the corporate Sands China Limited. Its first property, the Venetian Macau was opened in August 2007 followed with a Four Seasons hotel in 2008 with a great success. The forthcoming project is the Sands Cotai Central which includes a 1,200-rooms Holiday Inn Macau, a 600-rooms Conrad Macau and a 4,000-rooms Sheraton Macao with an additional complex of casino, meeting facilities, and shopping mall.

Marketing these …

The Positive And Negative Economic Contributions Of Mega-Sporting Events To Local Communities, Qi Gong

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine the factors of mega-sporting events those contribute to positive economic impact as well as the factors that may negatively impact a community. Based on reviewing existing literature and data, the positive and negative contributions, a community may have through a hosting sporting event, will be discussed. The objective of this paper is focused on the economic impact that happened to the local communities.

Why China? A Study Of Why Foreign Hotel Companies Are Rushing To Develop New Luxury Hotels In China, Sean Hardingham

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this professional paper is to identify why China is currently the number one recipient of foreign investment from foreign multinational luxury hotel companies.

Statement of Objective: An exploratory study will be conducted in support of the purpose. With such a lack of available information relating specifically to luxury hotel development in China; published data on the current economic, cultural, and tourism environment in China will be used to support conclusions made in regard to luxury hotel development by multinational hotel companies.

Justification: Deng Xiaoping’s introduction of the Open Door Policy in 1978 opened the door to …

Environmental Waste Mangement Training Module For Temporary / Esl Employees In Meeting And Event Industry, Shinyong Shawn Jung

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper specifically attempts to outline a training module that assists the front-line employees who have communication issues with management. It also helps the employees to efficiently acquire necessary skills and knowledge in a timely manner and to properly translate them into action. The training module will be organized by examining previous literatures as well as reviewing pre-existing training modules in general. Specific methods and best practices will be selected and integrated into the manual in easy-to-understand manner.

Three Essays On Banking Foreign Direct Investment, Tamrat Workalemahu Gashaw

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates three aspects of banking foreign direct investment (BFDI). One striking development in the banking sector over the past two decades is the significant increase in BFDI. Multinational banks are now major players in the global financial system in terms of their asset positions, loan amounts, and operational scales. Despite this significant trend in BFDI, few empirical studies exist explaining observed international BFDI trends.

The first essay investigates the factors determining a bank’s decision to invest abroad. I first develop a two-asset portfolio selection model to identify determinant factors, and then employ a three-way error component model for …

An Examination Of The Influence Of Top Executives On Entrepreneurial Orientation, James Ruben Boling

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

This collection of essays examines the influence that top executives have on the level of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) within an organization. EO is defined as the degree to which a firm exhibits behaviors and managerial philosophies that are innovative, proactive and risk-taking. EO is an extensively studied construct, yet there is still much to be explored and understood about its effects and predictors. This study adds to the discussion by examining predictors of EO in the two essays.

Essay 1 examines the influence of top management team characteristics on entrepreneurial orientation and the moderating effect of managerial discretion. It adds …

Two Papers On "How Perceptions Of Fairness And Influences Of Social Capital And Source Credibility Matter To Compensation Committees And Investors", Anne M. Wilkins

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

This paper uses an experimental research design to examine the influences of social capital, source credibility, and fairness on the decision making process of compensation committee members when making an executive compensation decision as well as whether an expectation gap exists between the committee members and nonprofessional investors regarding the judgment. One hundred and one public company compensation committee members and ninety nine nonprofessional investors completed an executive compensation case indicating their support on a scale of 0 to 100 of revising executive incentive pay financial performance targets mid-compensation cycle.

I find outcome fairness to shareholders and management significant influences …

Institutional Theory And Cross-National Differences In International Market Selection For Direct Selling, Charles B. Ragland

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

This study extends international market selection (IMS) literature by using institutional theory to develop conceptual links between country level factors of market attractiveness and IMS. More specifically, this study examines the extent to which institutional theory and cross national differences can predict attractive markets for direct selling. The hypotheses were tested over a sample of 51 countries from developed, developing, and emerging economies that comprise 91 percent of the worldwide GDP. The use of a marketing channel, in this case direct selling, is unique to IMS empirical analysis as it represents multiple products and services from multiple industries. The analysis …

Extended Stakeholder Orientation: Influence On Innovation Orientation And Firm Performance, Vijay K. Patel

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

In search of drivers of sustainable competitive advantage, this study integrates aspects of stakeholder theory and market orientation. The work results in the concept of extended stakeholder orientation incorporating proactive elements for the first time. Market orientation focuses on customers and competitors – two key stakeholders. Stakeholder theory seeks to broaden the focus to a wider group of stakeholders including employees and shareholders who together with customers and competitors are seen as ‘essential’ stakeholders. Relationships, interactions and ongoing mutual impact on firm activities involving essential stakeholders are fundamental and frequent. While other views of stakeholder theory place more emphasis on …