Hospitality Administration and Management Commons^™

Experience Therapy: How Service Experiences Regulate Everyday Negative Affect, Chang Ma Ph.D., Jae Eun Park, Alei Fan, Laurie Wu

Faculty Publications

In today's fast-paced and high-pressure society, maintaining emotional well-being requires effective strategies for managing everyday negative affect. This research examines the role of service experiences in reducing negative affect and introduces experience therapy as a novel strategy for affect regulation. Through a series of studies, we assess the effectiveness of experience therapy and investigate how different service experiences—varying in levels of personal effort involvement and social involvement—contribute to negative affect regulation. The findings demonstrate that experiences requiring high personal effort and social involvement are particularly effective in alleviating negative affect, especially among emotionally stressed individuals. These effects are mediated, respectively, …

Las Vegas Casino Revenue In An Expanding Gambling Market, Kaden A. Villa-Real

Undergraduate Economics Working Paper Series

This study examines whether expanding gambling substitutes disrupt the Las Vegas gambling industry using quarterly data from 2014 through 2025. Las Vegas casino revenue is used as the benchmark to gauge the health of Las Vegas, adjusted to Quarter 1 2014 dollars and using an OLS regression model. The results imply that online sports betting is a poor substitute for Las Vegas revenue, while online gambling shows a positive and statistically significant relationship with revenue. The findings indicate that Las Vegas is resilient despite the introduction of more competition and gambling alternatives within an industry it has traditionally known to …

Gambling Behaviors: How Do Gambling Losses Affect Future Wagers?, Ashley Talavera, Hannah Lopez Ibarra, Roman Rozbitskyy

Undergraduate Economics Working Paper Series

This study looks at how previous gambling losses affect future betting behavior in online cryptocurrency gambling markets. Using roughly 50,000 real betting observations from Bustabit, the paper tests whether gamblers become more aggressive after losses or instead pull back and bet more cautiously. Using both OLS and Fixed Effects regression models, the results show that players generally reduce their wager sizes following losses rather than engage in strong loss-chasing behavior. After controlling for individual player tendencies, the Fixed Effects models show statistically significant decreases in future bet sizes after losses, suggesting that caution and loss aversion may play a larger …

Visual Attention And User Satisfaction In Ota Platforms: An Eye-Tracking And Big Data Approach, Aura Lydia Riswanto, Seieun Kim, Hak-Seon Kim

Faculty and Student Publications

Purpose – This study aims to investigate how visual attention to online travel agency (OTA) app elements influences user behavior and satisfaction by integrating experimental and real-world data.

Design/methodology/approach – This study used a multi-method approach combining an eye-tracking experiment with 40 participants, a post-experiment survey on usage intention and big data analysis of 5,547 Google Play reviews from five major OTA platforms, using text mining and regression techniques.

Findings – The eye-tracking results showed that users focused most on user reviews and app information, rather than logos or app names. Visual attention to reviews significantly predicted higher usage intention …

Consumer Adoption Of Cultivated Meat: A Multi-Value Perspective Using Empirical And Synthetic Data, Wei Fu

AMTP Proceedings 2026

The global demand for meat is projected to rise by more than 70% by 2050, creating pressure on natural resources and worsening environmental challenges. Cultivated meat, produced by growing animal cells in controlled environments, offers a sustainable alternative to conventional livestock farming; however, consumers acceptance remains uncertain. This study applies the Theory of Consumption Values (Sheth, Newman, & Gross, 1991) to examine how multidimensional consumption values influence consumer’s sustainable evaluation of cultivated meat. Using both empirical survey data from U.S. consumers and a synthetic dataset generated with the same instrument, the results show that functional value (food quality), social value …

Beyond The Barn: An Analysis Of The Agritourism Expansion Opportunities At Butcher Family Farm, Sarah Thomas

Senior Honors Theses

Agritourism is a rapidly expanding industry full of business opportunities. From wedding barns to pumpkin patches, agritourism comprises a niche intersection of agricultural business and experiential tourism. Heavily contested definitionally over a period of years, agritourism is a continually emerging source of business for a variety of locations across the US and global economy. This unique industry is composed of a conglomerate of elements and enterprises that vary widely. One agritourism segment that has undergone the most development is family owned and operated farms, such as Butcher Family Farm in Washington, West Virginia. Standing as the perceived focal point of …

Conversation Analysis Of Public-Servant And Persons-Of-Interest Face-To-Face Talk Via Llm‑Supported Ai Script Mapping Tools, Arch G. Woodside, Suresh Sood

AMTP Proceedings 2026

Professional public servants (PSs) including police officers, postal workers, and government tax office and DMV employees interact face-to-face with citizens/persons of interest (POIs), in encounters that are frequently recorded using mobile phones and publicized on platforms such as YouTube.com. Building on our observations about recurrent PS–POI scripts and LLM-supported analysis, we develop five grounded propositions linking enacted scripts to existing theory. The propositions focus on describing early turn-taking asymmetry, the importance of sequential detail beyond-shallow analysis, the predictive role of script recurrence, the value of rich, script-based role-play, and the potential of narrative-intelligence databases for institutional learning. Instead of treating …

Humanity Is Evolving Its Consciousness: The Role Of Archetypal Energies As Guides During An Unfolding Weeding Out And Alignment Process, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

Humanity is evolving its consciousness at individual and collective levels.  Given these seemingly tumultuous times, as of this writing (January 2026), to make such a statement may sound like a strange thing to say.  However, I suggest that if you are alive today and if you are reading these words, these are the very times for which you were born—to assist Humanity as it evolves its consciousness with your unique gifts, whatever they may be.  That is, this period of our individual and collective human being-ness may be characterized as an unfolding period of weeding out and alignment with the …

When Price Varies Across Otas: How Room Rate Disparity Shapes Switching Behavior And Brand Trust, Ling Ling, Chich-Chien Chen, Zvi Schwartz

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This study investigates how room rate disparity across Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) influences consumers’ switching behavior and perceptions of hotel brand integrity. Employing a scenario-based experimental design with a sample of 430 Chinese consumers, we explored price differences interact with loyalty status, price trajectory information, and brand consistency. Our findings reveal a complex non-linear inverse sigmoid relationship between rate disparity and channel switching. Contrary to expectations, loyalty membership did not reduce switching intent or increase discount thresholds. Moreover, rate disparity triggered brand integrity concerns, with brand doubt consistently exceeding switching intent. While price trajectory information did not change switching likelihood, …

Approaching The Wine Tasting Lexicon, Angela Dumford

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

There has been an increase in demand for wine knowledge in all sectors of the business. Whether you are a sommelier striving to improve your extensive comprehension of the world of wine, a server aiming to provide guests with a more personalized wine experience, or a simple customer that is curious about learning the basics; wine can be explored and enjoyed by anyone. Despite this, understanding where to begin in the wine world can be extremely intimidating. There are countless books, articles, and infographics available to the average wine enthusiast, but the intensity and quality of information varies dramatically. Furthermore, …

Beyond Price: How Platform Power Shapes Demand Allocation In Online Hotel Channels, Ling Ling, Timothy Webb, Zvi Schwartz

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Rate disparity remains a widely used but poorly understood pricing strategy in the hotel industry. While previous research generally assumes that lower prices shift demand toward less expensive channels, this study investigates whether such effects occur in practice. Using high-frequency booking and pricing data from five full-service hotels across multiple online travel agencies (OTAs), we analyze how rate disparity relates to the distribution of demand across channels. The findings show that the impact of price differences is limited, highly non-linear, and strongly dependent on contextual factors. Channel market power and hotel-specific characteristics seem to play a more significant role than …

Chronobiology Of Meal Timing In Early-Stage Hypertension: A Controlled Feeding Pilot Study Investigating The Effects On Renal And Vascular Function, Natalie J. Bohmke, Brittany Barton, Patrice Wiecek, Paula Rodriguez-Miguelez, Dave L. Dixon, Youngdeok Kim, Salvatore Carbone, Danielle L. Kirkman

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Lifestyle intervention is critical for young adults with early-stage hypertension. A Western diet has negative effects on kidney function and blood pressure; however, time-of-day effects are understudied. We hypothesized that consumption of a Western-style meal that is misaligned with the endogenous circadian rhythm would have adverse effects on blood pressure, kidney function, and vascular function. Ten young adults with elevated blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension (means ± SD: 26 ± 8 yr, 50% female) underwent a randomized crossover, isocaloric controlled feeding intervention. Participants were allocated to receive a Western-style meal high in sodium, sugar, and saturated fat in the …

Gambling Behaviors, Perceptions, And Risks Among Nevada Adults, Andrea Dassopoulos

International Gaming Institute Faculty Research

This study presents a statewide assessment of gambling behaviors, perceptions, and gambling-related risk among 1,078 Nevada adults. Using a mixed-source, population-calibrated survey developed by UNLV and NORC, the research measures gambling participation, motivations, venue exposure, and attitudes toward harm, treatment, and regulation. The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) identifies substantial levels of harm: nearly half of past-year gamblers show some degree of risk, with the highest rates among younger adults, racially diverse groups, gaming and hospitality workers, and those who gamble in neighborhood bars or slot parlors. The survey also documents public beliefs about gambling addiction, youth exposure, stigma, and …

An Analytics Framework For Healthcare Expenditure Forecasting With Machine Learning, John Wang, Shubin Xu, Yawei Wang, Houda El Bouhissi

Department of Hospitality and Tourism Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The United States healthcare system relies heavily on Medicaid, which serves nearly 80 million people and accounts for a substantial share of both state and federal budgets. This study employs a range of forecasting methods, including ARIMA, Holt's linear trend, polynomial regressions (degree 2 and 4), Prophet, and piecewise linear regression, as well as machine learning models such as random forest, gradient boosting, and support vector regression, to analyze the growth of Medicaid expenditures. Using data from 1966 to 2024, the analysis identifies historical patterns and evaluates model performance with Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and related metrics to project …

From Plate To Picture: The Role Of Gastronomic Offerings In Tourism Marketing, Patricia Picazo, Sergio Moreno-Gil, Robin B. Dipietro, Forest Ma

Faculty Publications

Gastronomic offerings are key components of travel and destinations. However, scant research has focused on how gastronomic offerings are projected to tourists. Using signaling theory as a framework, this study investigated the presence of gastronomic offerings in 25,231 promotional photos to assess how the pictures represented the food offerings at resorts in five countries. Data were gathered from the brochures published by two leading tour operators in the European market, “TUI” and “Thomas Cook.” The results of content analysis showed that gastronomic offerings were often secondary to cultural and natural assets in brochures. In addition, the number of photos with …

How Negative Accounting News Events, Voluntary Esg Assurance, And Assurance Provider Influence Consumer Purchasing Intentions, Clark Hampton, Macy Knutson, Adi Masli, Chad Stefaniak

Accountancy: Faculty Scholarship

Consumers are increasingly conscientious of societal and environmental impacts of their purchases, prompting companies to make environmental, social, and governance (ESG) claims and engage in voluntary ESG assurance. However, prior literature lacks insight into whether consumers consider negative accounting news events (e.g., error/irregularity restatements) and their effects on purchasing intentions. Using real world consumers of sustainable goods, we investigate how varying levels of negative accounting news events (i.e., error or irregularity restatements), the presence of ESG product-quality assurance (e.g., cage free egg certification), and the type of assurance provider (e.g., an accounting firm that also audits the financial statements, an …

Tourism Networks As A Mechanism For Degrowth: The Case Of The Burren Ecotourism Network In Ireland, Aisling Ward, Shirley Millar

Publications

This exploratory paper examines how a community-based ecotourism network can sustain a destination from an economic, environmental and social perspective while pertaining to a degrowth approach that measures success beyond the traditional economic variables of volume and revenue. It focuses on the Burren Eco-tourism Network (BEN) in the West of Ireland, a region known for its unique landscape and natural heritage. Nine qualitative in-depth interviews were completed using a community-based tourism case study methodology. Evidence of a degrowth mindset was littered throughout the research and this was verified through the voluntary nature surrounding its origins, the equal requirements, training and …

Ai Governance In The Gaming Industry: A Proposal For A Use Case Registry, Cesar D. Lozoya Martinez

Student Research

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into everyday life. From customer service chatbots and marketing strategies to player protection tools and surveillance systems, casino operations are embracing the trend. However, without a systematic framework to track the current and emerging use cases across the industry, concerns about transparency, ethical use, and potential consumer harm continue to grow. Rather than aiming to establish binding regulatory practices for an industry and technology that are both quickly evolving, this policy brief advocates for the creation of an AI-use case registry. The registry would comprehensively track gaming companies that are using AI. The growing …

Orick Rising: Assessing The Tourism Potential Of Orick, California, Mikel Ash, Zac Claus, Matt Cherovsky, Sophie Collins, Lavender Deng, Teddy Goyette, Keegan Henry, Nancy Nazario, Ara Pachmayer, Mike Sanchez

Recreation Tourism

This project explores the current landscape and future potential for recreation and tourism development in Orick, California. It highlights how natural, built, cultural and economic systems shape a community’s identity, functionality and appeal for residents and visitors. Findings reveal that effective integration of natural and built systems, combined with strong governance, cultural stewardship and tourism planning is essential for sustainable growth, enhancing resident well-being and leveraging tourism as a key economic driver while preserving environmental and cultural assets.

The Effects Of Restaurant Cancellation Policies And No-Show Awareness Campaigns On Reservation Behaviors, Esther Kim, Jason Tang, Minji Kim, Eun Joo Kim

Department of Hospitality and Tourism Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study addresses the persisting issue of restaurant reservation no-shows by applying the availability heuristic principle to analyze booking behaviors. Three experiments identified cancellation policy features and factors influencing booking and no-show behaviors. Findings confirmed that a cancellation barrier (i.e., strict policy and complex cancellation method) decreases no-show intentions and negatively affects booking intentions. This research suggests that a lenient cancellation policy, an easy cancellation method, and an awareness campaign can encourage positive guest booking behavior and reduce no-shows. Applying the availability heuristic principle to restaurant management, the current research enhances the understanding of psychological factors affecting guest decisions and …

How Can The Adoption Of Biodegradable Packaging In The Beverage Industry Specifically Contribute To Reducing Single-Use Plastic Waste, And What Regulatory Or Cost-Related Challenges Hinder Its Widespread Implementation In Developing Countries?, Rebecca Aba Gaisie

2025 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

This research investigates the potential of biodegradable packaging to reduce single-use plastic waste in the beverage industry and explores the regulatory and cost-related barriers to its adoption in developing countries. The beverage sector is a major contributor to global plastic pollution, and biodegradable alternatives offer a promising path toward sustainability. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study combines qualitative interviews with industry experts and case studies of businesses implementing biodegradable solutions, alongside quantitative survey data from 100 manufacturers and 200 consumers across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Findings reveal that while biodegradable packaging significantly reduces plastic waste and appeals to environmentally …

Vr For Tourism (Assessment), Nevan Bermingham

Case studies: Digital Education

1st Year marketing and tourism modules typically employ assessments that are written or presentation-based, and due to the complexities of timetable delivery, rarely are able to share common assessments. Technology is of growing importance to both marketing and tourism businesses due to ability to connect with potential customers through various online channels such as websites, social media, email, and search engines, making it easier to build brand awareness and drive sales with new or existing audiences. Technology also plays a significant role in tourism marketing, enhancing the reach and effectiveness of marketing efforts. I introduced a new joint assessment shared …

Synthesizing Metoo: A Meta-Analysis Of Workplace Sexual Harassment In Hospitality And Tourism, Yunxuan Carrie Zhang, Cass Shum

Hospitality Faculty Research

Purpose – Despite increasing research attention on hospitality and tourism workplace sexual harassment, there is a lack of holistic understanding of its nomological networks. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize the antecedents and consequences of workplace sexual harassment in the context of tourism and hospitality.

Design/methodology/approach – A total of 184 effect sizes from 39 independent hospitality and tourism studies (N=12,093) were included in this meta-analysis. Comprehensive MetaAnalysis software was used to analyze the results.

Findings – The results supported victim age and work environment as antecedents of workplace sexual harassment. Workplace sexual harassment affects work-related (job attitudes and job performance) …

Gotta Take My Avatar Shopping: Impacts Of Interactive Virtual Shopping In Esport, Yongjin Hwang, Keshav Gupta

Faculty Publications

Purpose

Esports game developers are incorporating interactive virtual shopping (IVS) experiences into their products to facilitate consumer–brand interactions. Despite the potential influence of IVS, existing research lacks an understanding of its impact on consumers’ overall affect– particularly game enjoyment, a critical factor in sustaining engagement with esports products – and on attitudinal change toward brands in the real world.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment was designed to examine the impact of shopping in the virtually interactive esports marketplace on game enjoyment. Mediating effects of positive change in brand attitude, perceived realism and character attachment and the moderating effect of self-avatar gender congruity …

Craft Beer: Product Life Cycle And Research Limitations, Matt Smythe

Hospitality Graduate Student Scholarship

Craft brewing is a complex and competitive market that revolves around a premier product with various leverage points to distinguish itself. These differentiators are the aspects that could limit the continued growth of the industry for decades to come. This analysis of the craft beer industry and the potential saturation point of the product life cycle of the industry will identify the current state of the industry based on the historical trends of opening and closing breweries in the US.

One Horse Power: The Environmental Consequences Of Horseback Riding Trails In Protected Areas And National Parks, Briana Kupic

Hospitality Graduate Student Scholarship

Horseback riding is one of the traditional forms of recreation in national parks and protected areas, and can give visitors a special chance to explore these beautiful natural areas from a different perspective. However, the activity has raised concerns for its perceived effects on the environment. This paper synthesizes and reviews secondary literature on the environmental effects of horseback riding, and identifies four broad themes: disturbance to wildlife, degradation of water quality, loss of vegetation, and soil erosion. The evidence indicates that equines have the potential to inflict far greater trail damage and ecological impact than other trail participants, including …

Impact Of Global Food Tourism On Gastronomic Trends In America, Elvira Rivera

Hospitality Graduate Student Scholarship

This paper examines the impact of globalization and food tourism on gastronomic trends in the United States through an analysis of secondary sources. The study explores how exposure to international cuisines through travel and globalization influences American consumer behavior, culinary practices, and restaurant offerings. Research supports that global food tourism stimulates diverse cuisine expansion as well as elevates American interest in authentic dishes along with boosting cultural diversity in American food. In terms of this analysis, foodie is defined as “a person having an avid interest in the latest food fads”. (Definition of Foodie, 2018).

Professional Skills Program -The Cluster- A Distinctive Approach To Education [No Date], Nova Southeastern University

Huizenga Undergraduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Dos Hemisferios: Rebranding Strategy For A Nascent Ecuadorian Wine Market, Jacob Massoud, Vafa Saboorideilami

Barowsky School of Business | Faculty Scholarship

The Ecuadorian winery, Dos Hemisferios, had started as a hobby in 1999 but quickly grew into a business and passion for the Wright family. After receiving an international award in 2009 for its cabernet sauvignon-malbec blend called Paradoja, the winery realized its potential and decided to expand its vineyards and production of wines. As part of the strategy to increase sales, Robert Wright, the Dos Hemisferios President, and his father, Guillermo Wright, developed a rebranding proposal for the next board of directors meeting. This rebranding initiative hinged on the belief that people in the Ecuadorian wine market did not know …

Marriott Airlines: Redefining Travel & Hospitality, Elijah Brown

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The "Marriott Airlines: Redefining Travel & Hospitality" project explored the integration of Marriott International into the airline industry to enhance the travel experience and expand its global brand presence. The concept envisioned three distinct airline tiers: Ritz-Carlton Airlines for luxury travelers, Edition Airlines for business professionals, and Aloft Airlines for budget-conscious travelers. Each airline would be seamlessly connected to the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem, allowing for streamlined bookings, personalized services, and loyalty program benefits. The project examined potential economic impacts, such as job creation within the travel sector, and analyzed operational feasibility, including branding, partnerships, and customer experience design. The findings …