Hospitality Administration and Management Commons^™

Estimating The Impact Of Showroom Entertainment On The Hourly Gaming Volume Of A Las Vegas Hotel-Casino, Eunju Suh

Caesars Hospitality Research Summit

Along with the emergence of mega casino-resorts in the gaming industry, researchers have attempted to estimate the indirect gaming contributions of non-gaming casino amenities such as showroom entertainment and restaurants. However, the daily data of aggregate gaming volumes analyzed in previous gaming research did not allow exploring transient gaming volumes associated with casino amenities during a much narrower range of time periods (i.e., hourly). The current investigation addresses this limitation by proposing a model to examine the relationship between showroom headcounts and hourly slot gaming volumes for the hours falling adjacent to the show’s performance time. Considering a major investment …

Workplace Religious Discrimination, Rebecca Garnett, Joan M. Clay

Caesars Hospitality Research Summit

Legal cases of religious discrimination are on the rise, a 32.5% increase in claims between 1997 and 2007. Company dress codes are increasingly being challenged based on religious discrimination. This paper focuses on legal cases involving religious discrimination based on dress.

The Social Responsibility Of The Foodservice Industry: The Need For Action Regarding The Obesity Crisis, Audrey C. Mccool, Barent N. Mccool

Caesars Hospitality Research Summit

Abstract: Obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Costs associated with obesity pose a severe threat to the U.S. economy. Evidence indicates the foodservice industry has had a major role contributing to the obesity crisis; thus it is argued that the industry has an ethical and social responsibility to now aggressively adopt socially responsible actions that will help alleviate the increasing incidence of obesity. Such actions might include innovative advertising initiatives, modification of portion sizes, and nutrition labeling so that consumers can make healthful food selections. Even though such actions might result in short-term profit losses, socially responsible actions have the potential …

Effects Of Restaurant Green Practices: Which Practices Are Important And Effective?, Eunha Jeong, Soocheong Jang

Caesars Hospitality Research Summit

As customers’ ecological concern is steadily increasing, demand for products and services designed to be less harmful to the environment has augmented. By executing green practices, many business owners believe the image of their companies can be improved. Furthermore, the improved image may eventually motivate the customers to use products or services offered by the green company. The restaurant industry is witnessing the green movement as well. Restaurant owners adopt green practices to their properties with the purpose of creating a distinctive image that can differentiate them from their competitors. Therefore, restaurateurs strive to get this competitive advantage by introducing …

Is Virtualization An Appropriate Method Of Disaster Recovery For The Hospitality Industry?, Manognya Murukutla

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Organizations across all business sectors are making increasing use of IT today. While other industries have understood the consequences of this dependence in the event of IT disasters and placed a large emphasis on disaster recovery plans and technology, the hospitality industry is lagging behind. One of the reasons why the hospitality industry does not place as much of an importance to disaster recovery is the cost. However, IT disaster is a very damaging occurrence, and measures should be taken to mitigate the event. Loss of a property's information technology (IT) functions can cause chaos in a hotel’s operations leading …

Urban Dynamics In The Las Vegas Valley: Neighborhood Casinos And Sprawl, Pascale Nédélec

Occasional Papers

Las Vegas is well known for its urban sprawl. While the casino industry has played an obvious role in the development of Las Vegas, no systematic study has evaluated the exact nature of urban growth and the rise of neighborhood casinos. This paper argues that neighborhood casinos, contrary to tourist‐oriented casinos, are not urban forces that drive the growth of an urban area but reinforce the status quo of residential developments. Neighborhood casinos have nevertheless become a major asset in the economic and social building of residential developments and community life.

Is Premium Pricing Strategy A Viable Option To Pursue Higher Revenue Performance? A Case Study Of Relative Pricing Strategy In The Singapore Lodging Market, Xiaorong Chen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This is an exploratory research paper on how relative pricing affects an individual hotel’s revenue performance in the Singapore lodging market. First, it measures the REVPAR effects for both a discounting and premium pricing strategy at a local hotel against its competitive set. The findings conclude that a premium pricing strategy is a better way to improve REVPAR performance due to the inelastic nature of the demand curve for hotel rooms in the Singapore market. The findings also show that there is a price limit to a premium pricing strategy, beyond which the growth of REVPAR stagnates because customers were …

The Impact Of Rebranding On Guest Satisfaction And Financial Performance: A Case Study Of Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, Pingshan Huang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Existing literature has shown that effective branding/ re-branding can positively impact customer purchase preferences and intentions, satisfaction and loyalty and a firm’s financial performance. Building on these links, this paper investigated if there was a significant improvement in the Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre’s guest satisfaction (OSAT) and financial performance after its rebranding. Paired-samples analyses were conducted on the hotel’s pre- and post-rebranding guest satisfaction, occupancy, average daily rates (ADR), revenue per available room (RevPAR), revenue and net operating profit (NOP). Overall, the results revealed that after the rebranding, HISOCC’s occupancy and RevPAR increased significantly; ADR and OSAT reflected …

Creating A Wellness Program For Hotel Front Desk Employees, Karima Abdel-Moty

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The majority of hotel front desk employees fulfill their job demands in generally similar ways, in terms of workplace conditions. The demanding and hectic nature of this job results in very tangle physical and emotional effects on the employee. Through an analysis of current literature, guidelines on implementing a wellness program suited specifically for hotel front desk employees will be created. Through successful implementation of an employee wellness program, management will be able to provide effective job resources that will result in engaged front desk employees, and consequently, higher levels of customer service, productivity, and profitability.

A Case Study On The Effect Of Information Technology Related Interface Issues On Overall Guest Experience In Hyatt Place Hotels In The U.S., Vasuki Bellary

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Information technology has evolved and has become a major part of every aspect of business. Hotel industry has accepted changes in IT and is now moving towards fully integrating new technologies in order to fulfill the goal of guest satisfaction. Several systems are examined in this case study based on the Hyatt place model to see if their functionality has an effect on the guest satisfaction and their overall experience in the hotel setting. The results are inconclusive from this case study since a modified survey is utilized due to time and resource constraints. However there is a lot of …

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort And Spa Disaster Recovery Plan, Matthew Ellis

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Grand Hyatt Kauai (GHK) was opened in 1991 and sits on the beautiful south side of the Island of Kauai. This location makes the Grand Hyatt Kauai prone to disaster from a number of events. As a result, preparations for such events must be made and implemented. All staff must be made aware of the possibilities for disasters as well as what they should do in the event of a disaster.

Earthy Bride, Melissa S. Foerster

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

There are nearly 2.5 million couples getting married in the United States each year (Harrison, 2008, pg. xi). That breaks down to more than 6,300 weddings in a single day. The average wedding in the United States “produces 63 tones of CO2 and 400-600 pounds of trash” and therefore, newlyweds are creating over 3,500,000 pounds of trash in a single at their weddings (Harrison, 2009, ¶ 2)! The green movement is on the rise and wedding industry needs to implement it to meet new demands. In order to do people need to be informed of the importance, benefits and savings …

The Boys' Club: An Exploration Into The Social World Of A Las Vegas Casino Sports Book, Frederick W. Krauss

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This ethnography of the La Mesa Casino Sports Book explores the characteristics that frame the social world its regular patrons create. Specifically, I explain the characteristics of La Mesa’s sports bettors, the types of people who bet on sports, the mechanisms used to sustain participation in the scene, and how the sports bettors view themselves, their social world, and those outside of it. I argue that regular sports book patrons do not use the environment simply for sports betting. Rather, their complex interactional dynamics create a robust social world they come back to again and again to create a meaningful …

Which Financing Model Is Right For Hotel Properties? An Exploratory Study Of Financing Models Highlighting The Practice And Effects Of Different Financing Models Adopted By Hotel Industries In Usa And Singapore, Keng Tiong Christopher Goh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The high debt-financing model adopted by hotel owners in United States had contributed to a large number of foreclosures during the economic downturn. In contrast, the conservative financing model adopted by hotel owners in Singapore had sheltered them through the past recessions. Cultural values may have influenced the types of financing model adopted by hotel owners. Americans have a value system of using borrowed money to invest, while Singaporeans have a value system of saving for rainy days and spending within one’s means.

The studies concluded that hotel owners in the United States and Singapore should consider Juglar’s nine to …

Employee Theft: Determinants Of Motive And Proactive Solutions, David Langner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Theft in the workplace, specifically performed by the employees, is a daunting situation for American business - both corporate and small proprietorships. This paper calls upon available literature to provide an in-depth analysis that focuses on employee's motive to steal from their employer and the potential proactive solutions organizations can implement to deter theft by improving morale and trust in the workplace. The topic will be examined from a linear fashion that looks at the concept of employee theft and common motivational determinants such as employer resentment, animosity, and the perception of fairness. Next, numerous organizations have adopted theft detection …

An Implementation Guide For Strategic Meeting Management Programs In Small To Mid-Size Meeting Firms, Monique Williams

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study will establish a working guide on how to implement a strategic meeting management guide for meeting planners who are employed by small to mid-size companies. This comprehensive manual will detail processes of how to accurately measure meeting and travel spend, gain cross-company leverage and apply methods for making meetings purpose-driven. This study will incorporate best practices as established by industry standards which will be specifically tailored to meet the needs of planners in smaller firms. The desired outcome will be a solid and manageable guide that planners can use to secure their role as a strategic partner to …

Reasons That Post-Secondary Culinary Students Enrolled In For-Profit Educational Institutions Drop Out And Methods That Can Be Used To Increase Retention Rates, Craig Frigaard

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Most people appreciate and understand the value of education. They are aware that education can significantly increase the potential earnings a person can make over their lifetime, improve the security and stability in their chosen profession, improve their competency, and make it easier to be successful at their job. Education can also increase the amount of respect a person may receive from their peers and all of these things can improve the overall quality of their life. Education can be extremely important to an individual’s success.

Total Compensation Practices And Their Relationship To Hospitality Employee Retention, Soodchai Ting Phonsanam

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Choice Hotels has franchised hotel owners who must understand the financial impact that arises from turnover due to employees’ perceptions of inequitable total compensation. Currently, for franchise hotel owners, there is not any guidance on this from Choice Hotels. The purpose of this paper will be to explore the current literature regarding total compensation and to develop a set of recommendations that Choice hotel owners can use to retain both their managers and employees. If there is any question as to why turnover is such an issue in the hospitality industry, one only needs to look at the countless studies …

The History Of Baccarat, Theodore Whiting

Occasional Papers

The true origins of modern Baccarat are probably lost to history. The first time the game Baccarat (spelled Baccara) was mentioned in print by a contemporary observer was in the early 19th century. The written record that would document the origins and evolution of the game is, unfortunately, incomplete. However, a close examination of the available material reveals some interesting facts surrounding the history of Baccarat, including a much earlier date for its arrival in the United States, that validates its continuing study.

The Gap Of Event Markets Between The Us And China — Exploring Application Prospect Of Event Software In China’S Hospitality And Tourism Market, Ying Zhao

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research paper compared scenarios of convention and event industry between the US and China, and explored application prospect of event technology in China’s hospitality and tourism market. The study reviewed the landscape of event market in these two countries, examined performance of event software in the US, and figured out existing technology gap between the two markets. A typical application, www.certain.com was employed as sample of event software in testing tasks fit of the technology, and analyzing demand from end-users. The result indicated that there was a significant technology gap existing between event markets of the US and China. …

When Is A Good Deal Bad For Business? An Exploratory Study Of Room Rates Highlighting The Practice And Effects Of Discounting Room Rates, Gwen Williams

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Through the analysis of available literature, this exploratory study highlights the practice and effects of discounting room rates within the hospitality industry. This study discusses methods used for setting room rates, rate integrity and brand integrity. At its conclusion, this exploratory study suggests who should and who should not discount room rates and it conveys methods that can be used for discounting room rates without loss of a target market and/or without financial loss.

Premier, Judy Nagai, Afsha Bawany, Donna Mcaleer, Ayo Akinsete, Robyn Hadden, Robyn Campbell-Ouchida, Lateka Grays, Jae Young, Dean Mann, Damon Hodge

Premier: The Magazine of the UNLV Harrah Hotel College

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Annual Pass Holders On The Disneyland Resort Infrastructure, Sean B. Keliiholokai

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the inception of Disneyland, the growing number of loyal guests, expansion of the theme parks and new entertainment elements has drawn and increased park attendance. With that being said, expansions are continuously taking place and thus the price per ticket increases. As the ticket prices continue to increase, numerous amount of guests look at other options such as annual passes as a means of getting the most for their money. As funds for families become more of a concern, the need for local supplemental activities is a key driver. The ever expanding base of Annual Passholders (AP), who is …

The Value Of An Associate Degree In Culinary Arts From A Public Postsecondary School Versus A Private School, John F. Maas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Through an analysis of tuition data, this paper explores the difference in cost of an associate degree in culinary arts from public and private postsecondary schools. The average cost of the associate degree in culinary arts at private school is more than 500% higher than the average cost at the public schools. This disparity in cost raises a question of value. Is the degree from a private school worth more to justify the additional cost? The literature review established the use of post-graduation earnings as an accepted measure of the value of the degree. Surveys conducted by the American Culinary …

A Guide For Small Meetings In Las Vegas, Linda Dorothy Mcilveen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper is a deliverable guide for successful meeting in Las Vegas. The guide was created through an industry and academic review of literature. There are nine segments that are explored in order to encourage small associations and groups to hold their meetings, conventions and conferences in Las Vegas. The segments in the paper also provide information for non-professional and inexperienced meeting planners. The suggestion for future research is an experimental design process that tests the use of registration management systems and their value to small meetings.

Immigration And The Hospitality Industry, Joseph M. Rasic

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to correlate the research of immigration reform and the potential impact on the hospitality industry. For over a century, numerous debates and policies have been discussed and developed addressing the issue of immigration. The history of immigration policy shows that legislation was passed to address the current concerns for each of the past several decades, but additional changes are constantly needed in order to support the continued growth and changes of the nation. History also shows that some of the laws that were created to control immigration actually initiated larger issues, which led to …

Equipping Women For Food Service Sales, Robert Stegall-Smith

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to develop a training program which will equip women for success in foodservice sales. It will determine if women have greater sales skills in the current business environment. Research will be done to determine what role product and operations knowledge plays in sales success in addition to natural ability. Finally based on the findings it will be determined in what format to deliver the training

Application Of Modern Hospitality Management Practices In China's Time-Honored Restaurants, Junfeng Li

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

“Time-honored” catering enterprises in China are currently facing severe tests as well as a rare opportunity to grow in market competition. Among catering businesses and those in academic circles, the common concern is how to take opportunities and use them to grow quickly. This study will use the SWOT model to analyze the present situation of China’s time-honored catering enterprises and will examine catering management techniques to find the optimum operational mechanisms to assist them. This will promote survival and growth of time-honored catering enterprises and provide a theoretical basis for the Chinese government's relevant policy decisions. The purpose of …

Timeshare: Intervals Vs. Points, Monica Colvin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to explore the different usage options associated with timeshare and why a company would choose to convert their current product form.

Sales Motivation & Morale During Extreme Times Of Change, Cheri L. Fairchild

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the United States entered a recession in December 2007. (Woodworth, 2010). The hospitality industry has been hit extremely hard by this economic downturn. With clients cutting costs, there is less business to be had by the same, and in many cases, a growing number of hotels. At the same time, hotels are forced to cut costs in any number of ways to remain viable. This may mean scaling back services, staffing reductions and cuts in employee benefits. However, there is a point where a company simply cannot cut anymore without doing more …