Tourism and Travel Commons^™

Measuring And Explaining Competitiveness In The Context Of Small Island Destinations, Robertico R. Croes

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study measures and explains competitiveness among small island destinations. Current measures of competitiveness do not respond to the special needs of small island destinations. An alternative measurement suggests a more suitable Tourism Competitiveness Index (TCI), and through the application of panel regression analysis, tracks the most important factors affecting competitiveness among island destinations. The findings imply likelihood that more expensive destinations obtain a larger share of regional tourism revenues. The study concludes that providing a high-quality product may allow destinations to become and remain competitive.

Examining The Relationship Among Service Recovery, Affective Commitment, Calculative Commitment, And Trust For E-Travel Retailers, Khaldoon Nusair

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

There is a gap in the literature with respect to studies that examined the importance of service recovery for Generation Y customers in an online travel context. This study examines various dimensions of commitment important to the development and maintenance of enduring relationships with Generation Y. The theoretical foundations for this study are based on social exchange theory, commitment-trust theory, and organizational commitment theory. The results of the study shows that affective commitment and trust are the most important constructs for building longterm relationships following service recovery; on the other hand, calculative commitment had negative impact on trust. The implications …

Ecotourists' Loyalty: Will They Tell About The Destination Or Will They Return?, Manuel Antonio Rivera, Robertico R. Croes

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of price, value, satisfaction, quality, and performance on the ecotourists' loyalty towards the destination. By using an attitudinal approach, loyalty is conceptualised by analysing the post-purchase decision-making of the ecotourists (intent to return or recommend). The analysis is based on 454 on-site surveys collected from ecotourists visiting the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. The results from path analysis indicate that ecotourists are not likely to return but are willing to recommend the destination. The findings suggest that the Galapagos Islands might be perceived as an iconic destination and considered a ‘once …

The Opportunities And Risks For The U.S. Educators Of Exhibition Majors Entering The China Education Market, Wei Jia

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper provides a general introduction for American exhibition educators who are interested in launching joint programs with or exporting certifications into China. The study describes the status of exhibition and tourism education in China, and then presents an analysis of the exhibition certification programs of both China and the United States. Based on a comparison of the two systems, recommendations are made regarding . American educators could use this study as a reference for introducing their certification or higher education programs into China.

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 …

An Analysis Of Event Managers' Problem-Solving Propensity: Applying The Problem-Solving Inventory (Psi) To The Field Of Event Management, Dana V. Tesone, Mary Jo Ross, Randall Upchurch

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The field of event management encompasses the conceptualization of a festival or event, a determination of the intended target market, coordination of systems, policies, and procedures needed to plan and support the event, and the eventual administration of a proposed event. This broad scope of functional duties surrounding event planning requires that an event manger have at his or her disposal a diverse repertoire of problem-solving abilities. Using Heppner's Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI) the researchers determined that the sampled group of event professionals from the International Special Events Society (ISEP) exhibited high levels of problem-solving self-confidence, high approach behavior, and high …

The Value Of Destination Loyalty: Myth Or Reality?, Robertico R. Croes, Amir Shani, Andrew Walls

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Given the growing appeal of the concept of destination loyalty in tourism marketing, it is highly important to investigate the travel expenditures of loyal vs. non- or less loyal visitors. Adopting the behavioral approach to loyalty, this study examines the spending patterns of visitors to Kissimmee-St. Cloud, while comparing between the different loyalty segments: no previous visit, one previous visit, and multiple visits. The analysis is based on an intercept survey conducted by the Kissimmee-St. Cloud Convention and Visitors Bureau∗ (KSCVB, 2006), which yielded a sample of 4,301 visitors. In contrast to the prevalent concept, the results show that first …

An Empirical Investigation Into Organizational Learning In Hotel Organization, Umut Avci, Izzet Kilinc, Fevzi Okumus

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study aimed to investigate the relationship among individual learning, team learning and organizational learning. Data was collected from 799 employees, who worked in four and five star hotels operated in Mugla, Turkey. The study findings indicate that there is a meaningful relationship among individual learning, team learning and organizational learning. In particular, team learning appears to explain organizational learning more than individual learning. Based on the study findings, it can be recommended that in order to facilitate organizational learning, hotel organizations should critically analyze and utilize the factors that facilitate team learning.

Examining Technology Adoption And Management Perception Of Inventory Management Systems: The Case Of Aruba Restaurants, Kimberly Severt, Robin B. Dipietro, Diana Herrera

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of automated inventory management systems (IMS) and identify the stage of technology adoption for restaurants in Aruba. A case study analysis involving twelve members of the Aruba Gastronomic Association was conducted using a qualitative research design to gather information on approaches currently used as well as the reasons and perceptions managers/owners have for using or not using automated systems in their facilities. This is the first study conducted using the Aruba restaurant market. Therefore, the application of two technology adoption models was used to integrate critical factors relevant to the …

Testing The Impact Of Tourism On Competitiveness: The Case Of Puerto Rico, Robertico Croes, Manuel A. Rivera

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study examines the empirical relationship between tourism and the competitiveness of a destination. It uses the cointegration and error correction model (ECM) in a bivariate context as a precondition to apply the Granger causality test. This procedure was carried out in the case of Puerto Rico's tourism industry during 1960–2004. The study found cointegration in the intertemporal rather than the contemporaneous effects, as well as a one-directional causality running from changes in tourism spending to changes in competitiveness. This result highlights the long-run equilibrium spending behaviour of tourists as a major concern of destination managers.

Implementation Of The Dit-Achiev Model For Sustainable Tourism Destination Management: Killarney, Ireland, A Case Study, Kevin Griffin, Maeve Morrissey, Sheila Flanagan

Conference papers

The DIT-ACHIEV Model is a model of sustainable tourism indicators developed in a previous research project undertaken by the School of Hospitality Management and Tourism, Dublin Institute of Technology. The indicators represent six fields of interest – Administration, Community, Heritage, Infrastructure, Enterprise and Visitor (Flanagan et al, 2007). This current research addresses the implementation of the DIT- ACHIEV model in an Irish tourism destination, with the objective to assess whether it can be implemented by the local community in any tourism destination.

The methodology used to implement the model is based on recommendations by Goodey (1995) and Denman (2006). Goodey …

The Winding Stair Sample Christmas Dinner Menu, 2010, Winding Stair Restaurant

Menus of the 21st Century

The Winding Stair Restaurant is located at 40, Lower Ormond Quay Dublin on the north side of the river Liffey beside the Ha’penny Bridge. The proprietor is Elaine Murphy. The Winding Stair started life as a bookshop and café which was a popular meeting spot in Dublin during the 1970s and 1980s. The café closed in 2005 and in 2006 the current proprietor re-opened it as a restaurant.

“The bookshop, located on the ground floor, was retained as were many of the old bookshelves, photos and memories. The room retains its timeless charm with stripped wood tables and floors, and …

Critical Success Factors And Performance Management And Measurement: A Hospitality Context, Detta Melia

Conference papers

This paper reports on research carried out in the hotel sector of the Irish hospitality industry on critical success factors and their impact on performance management and measurement. The paper outlines the industry context and reviews the literature on critical success factors. This literature presents a discussion of the concept of critical success factors (CSFs) in the context of performance measurement and the hospitality industry, which are considered necessary for organisational prosperity because of the impact they have on the organisation’s potential performance. Critical success factors are those factors capable of providing the greatest competitive leverage upon which resources should …

Exploring The Association Of The Attributes Of Self-Service Kiosks, Customer Check-In Satisfaction, And Customer Commitment In C, Gary Deel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research regarding self-service technology and its integration into the traditional service environment is relatively limited as it applies to the lodging industry. The purpose of this study was to investigate the customer check-in satisfaction and customer commitment impacts of self-service hotel kiosks as implemented in convention hotels by examining perceptions of kiosk users. It has been theorized that customer perceptions of self-service technology attributes are positively related to satisfaction and subsequent commitment. A model was employed in this study that had been previously supported outside of the hospitality industry which demonstrated support for a universal standard of investigating self-service technology …

Will Retail Travel Agencies In Singapore Survive: Comparison Between Retail Travel Agencies And Online Reservation Services, Yan Xin Low

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Over the last two decades, the tourism industry has grown rapidly. But its evolution has been influenced by various factors such as culture and environmental changes including economic status and competition. Some of these factors, culture for instance, act as constants, providing some form of predictability to the evolution of the tourism industry within a specific society. While other factors, such as economic status and competition, act as variables that drive the industry to reach its potential. Hofstede defined “culture” as a collective programming of the human mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from …

A World Ranking Of The Top 100 Hospitality And Tourism Programs, Denver E. Severt, Dana V. Tesone, Tim Bottorff, Monica L. Carpenter

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The article provides an analysis of scholarly contributions to 11 hospitality and tourism refereed journals for the years 2002 to 2006. It presents the top 100 programs as ranked by instances of publications across 11 journals for a recent 5-year period. For the 5-year period, results indicate The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in the top position based on sums of instances, authors, and articles. Second, the researchers updated, modified, and extended a previous study published by the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research for similar information for the years 1992 to 2001. Following the update, an additional 15-year aggregate snapshot …

Applying The Service Profit Chain To The Gaming Industry, Emphasizing On Table Games Dealers, In Las Vegas, David Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Gaming has been a significant part of the tourism industry in Las Vegas. Most gamblers come to Las Vegas hoping to win big, but are often disappointed. So what keeps people coming back time and again to contribute to Las Vegas’ economy? The casinos and the gaming industry believe that the unique and individual service guests experience at their establishment is the primary reason why guests return. For example, at Harrah's employees are upbeat and positive in an effort to keep customers returning; at the Venetian the core value instilled in each and every employee is to provide un-matched guest …

An Analysis Of The Motivators And Inhibitors Affecting Association Meeting Attendance For Generation X And Baby Boomers, Jill Fjelstul, Kimberly Severt, Deborah Breiter

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The objective of the study was to compare the similarities and differences between the inhibitors and motivators of Generation X and Baby Boomers in regard to conference attendance. Specifically, conference attendance motivators and inhibitors were explored and reported. The results will be useful to association managers and conference planners as they design programs for their members to best meet their professional needs.

Travelocity And The Opaque Booking Model: New Ways To Stimulate Incremental Revenue, Greg Kinchen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In today economy the declining hotel occupancies are motivating hotels to push deeply discounted rates through online travel agency opaque booking models. Online travel sites like Priceline and Hotwire have benefited from the opaque booking model even though overall travel and the economy is down.

Americans Abroad: International Hospitality Careers, Julienne Chranowski

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This is an exploratory research paper reviewing international tourism and hospitality careers with a focus on Abu Dhabi, the capitol of the United Arab Emirates. The paper reviews the cultural aspects of business life in the country and gives Americans the necessary steps to finding a career in this foreign land

The Relationship Between Destination Personality, Self-Congruity, And Behavioral Intentions, Ahmet Usakli

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this research was to investigate the perceived destination personality of Las Vegas and to examine the relationships among destination personality, self-congruity, and tourist's behavioral intentions. A convenience sample of 382 visitors to Las Vegas was surveyed and 368 usable questionnaires were analyzed. The findings of the study indicate that tourists ascribe personality characteristics to destinations and perceived destination personality of Las Vegas is five dimensional: vibrancy, sophistication, competence, contemporary, and sincerity. These dimensions have a positive influence on intention to return and intention to recommend. The study also supports the self-congruity theory within the context of tourism …

A Choice Model Approach To Business And Leisure Traveler's Preferences For Green Hotel Attributes, Michelle Millar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

There has been an increase in environmental concern by travelers in the United States (U. S.). As a result, hospitality companies are taking note and have begun to incorporate environmentally friendly or green practices into their operations. What remains relatively unclear, though, is if the increase in environmental consciousness has translated into a demand for environmentally friendly tourism products, such as hotels. There are a few studies related to the demand for environmentally friendly hotel attributes, but none of them have looked at a bundle of environmentally friendly attributes and how customers would react to a hotel room incorporating not …

Exploring Marketing And Sales Opportunities: How Companies Reach Their Target Market Using Hospitality And Tourism Venues For Distribution Of The Product Or Services, Ricardo J. Rodriguez-Canales

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Many companies unrelated or semi-related to travel and tourism have found their niche within the hospitality and tourism industry. Companies who primarily focus on fashion, retail, weddings, outdoor adventure, real estate, sports and entertainment have successfully negotiated space to promote their products and services to hospitality and tourism clientele. This can be seen at the many resorts and casinos that have retail shops in their facilities as well as golf courses, restaurants and clubs that market directly to and make their profits from hospitality patrons. This complimentary mix makes up the diverse experience travelers encounter. To narrow the focus of …

Hotel And Restaurant Entry-Level Job Competencies: Comparisons Of Management And Worker Perceptions, Dana V. Tesone, Peter Ricci

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This article presents the findings of a central Florida study of lodging and restaurant managers as well as entrylevel workers who were graduates of hospitality management programs. It provides a theoretical construct as a basis of the methodology employed. The article then reports the findings of perceptions of desired knowledge, skills and abilities, and attitudes associated with entry-level employees. It further compares desired levels of preparation for entry-level positions in the industry as reported by respondents of both groups. Finally, the authors present conclusions and implications for central Florida practitioners and educators.

An Examination Of Factors Affecting Japanese Tourism In Hawaii, Sun-Young Park, Hye-Ryeon Lee

Hospitality Management

The Japanese tourist market is a crucial component of the Hawaii tourism economy due to both market size and higher per capita expenditures in comparison with other key markets for the state. Over the past decade, annual Japanese tourist arrivals have decreased significantly off a peak in 1997. This study examines various supply and demand factors, which may be influencing Japanese tourist arrivals to Hawaii using regression analysis. Results show that five of eight variables significantly influence the monthly Japanese tourist numbers to Hawaii: monthly total Japanese overseas tourists, available air seats, average room rates, available room units, and change …

Sustainable Trail Management: A Transdisciplinary Approach, Sinead O'Connor-Gotra

Theses, Doctoral

The research reported has created a holistic model for sustainable trail management that is broader than the quantitative assessment of ecological trail degradation. The range of quantitative and qualitative results gathered show that a more realistic treatment of sustainable trail management needs is achieved through a qualitative, participative and flexible research process. The investigation focuses primarily on the assessment of trail degradation in the uplands of Co. Wicklow, Ireland where signs of deterioration have been observed as a consequence of recreational use. The nature and extent of trail degradation was assessed using a variety of techniques including qualitative and quantitative …

Strategic Human Resource Management Performance Metrics For Unit-Level Managers: An Exploratory Study Of U.S. Casual Restaurants, Kevin S.W. Murphy

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Many restaurant organizations have committed a substantial amount of effort to studying the relationship between a firm’s performance and its effort to develop an effective human resources management reward-andretention system. These studies have produced various metrics for determining the efficacy of restaurant management and human resources management systems. This paper explores the best metrics to use when calculating the overall unit performance of casual restaurant managers. These metrics were identified through an exploratory qualitative case study method that included interviews with executives and a Delphi study. Experts proposed several diverse metrics for measuring management value and performance. These factors seem …

Kenneth George Besson, Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire

Books/Book Chapters

Biography of Ken Besson with information on his father Paul Besson and the Royal Hibernian Hotel, Russell Hotel and Bailey Restaurant which they owned and ran in Dublin.

The Winding Stair Dinner Menu, January , 2009, Winding Stair Restaurant

Menus of the 21st Century

The Winding Stair Restaurant is located at 40, Lower Ormond Quay Dublin on the north side of the river Liffey beside the Ha’penny Bridge. The proprietor is Elaine Murphy. The Winding Stair started life as a bookshop and café which was a popular meeting spot in Dublin during the 1970s and 1980s. The café closed in 2005 and in 2006 the current proprietor re-opened it as a restaurant.

“The bookshop, located on the ground floor, was retained as were many of the old bookshelves, photos and memories. The room retains its timeless charm with stripped wood tables and floors, and …

Critical Success Factors In Florida's Bed And Breakfast Industry, Catherine I. Rash

HIM 1990-2015

Florida bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) were surveyed for the purpose of discovering the attitudes, beliefs, and actual behaviors of B&B owners and operators that contribute to an operation’s success. This study had several objectives: 1) to provide an analysis of attitudes and beliefs perceived to be necessary for success and the actual behaviors exhibited by operators based upon their self-definition of success, 2) to collect demographic information from various bed and breakfasts in Florida, and 3) to expand the limited amount of research that has addressed issues in the bed and breakfast industry. Between July 2009 and August 2009, data …