Tourism and Travel Commons^™

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 …

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 …

Examining Revenue Management Practices In Las Vegas Casino Resorts, Arun Tanpanuwat

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The overall goal of this study was to examine Revenue Management (RM) practices in Las Vegas casino resorts. A great deal of research has been done on RM in the hospitality industry. The academic research has examined RM in hospitality in general, but not specifically in casino resorts, which gain their revenue from both rooms and resort amenities. Moreover, the academic literature often show high-level mathematic-based solutions or statistical applications, but not necessarily pragmatic techniques for practitioners. This qualitative study investigates the extent to which the essential fundamentals of any RM system are implemented successfully by casino RM professionals and …

What Is Mission Critical In The Hotel Guest Room: Examining In-Room Guest Empowerment Technologies, Pelin Nasoz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined 18 in-room technologies and identified the ones perceived to be mission critical for the hotel guests. It also determined the differences in guest empowerment technology preferences and expectations across generations, purpose of travel, and travel frequency. Moreover, it investigated whether the quality of in-room technologies impacts guests' decision in choosing a hotel.

The data were collected through an online survey. A total of 508 people responded to the survey. An importance and performance analysis was utilized to identify the mission critical in-room technologies for the hotels. The analysis indicated that in-room movie on demand services, in-room wireless …

Vegas Keys Vip Business Plan, Michael Ferreira

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to create a business plan for Vegas Keys. The business plan will focus on ways in which the company can generate revenue/profit while establishing it for years to come. Through research the paper will determine who are the main competitors, how much investing is needed to fully establish the company in Las Vegas and how much revenue would the company have to generate to be considered in the top five of companies in Las Vegas. The problems the paper will solve is how to solve the disconnect between groups and nightlife companies, …

The Viability And Necessity Of Desertxpress And The Future Of Las Vegas, Charles Alexander Wellington

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose

The purpose of this professional paper is to determine the effects of the DesertXpress, an interstate high-speed rail which will connect Las Vegas, NV and Southern California and will provide critical information as to the viability and economic strength that the high-speed rail will bring to the region.

Understanding The Decline Of Sales Of Destination Club Products, Heidi Goetz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to identify and confirm factors leading to the decline of sales of Ritz-Carlton Destination Club products.

A Sense Of Place: Examining Music-Based Tourism And Its Implications In Destination Venue Placement, Richard Bret Campbell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Music, and the ability to make it, understand it and interpret it, is one of the characteristics that make us uniquely human. However, when it comes to seeing the performance of live music, there are other variables that come into play when determining where to see a concert. The potential connection between people, music, and a “sense of place” are explored in this examination of music-based tourism. Based on information from journals and related news media, and using parallels to the sports tourism industry, the paper found a distinct connection between humans and music in the context of human development, …

The Jasmine Revolution And The Tourism Industry In Tunisia, Mohamed Becheur

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction:

The tourism industry is one of the most important industries in the world since it employs “more than 250 million people worldwide” (Coshall, 2003, p. 4). This industry, which includes transport, lodging, and catering, is expected to generate $12,119 billion of revenues and 279,346,000 jobs in 2016 (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, 2006). The tourism industry worldwide is also expected to indirectly and directly contribute 10.9% to Gross Domestic Product (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, 2006). However, the tourism industry is an extremely sensitive and vulnerable activity which can be impacted significantly by important events such as terrorism, political insecurity, and natural disasters …

Credit Fluctuations And Lodging Firms: An Investigation Of The Differing Capital Structures In The Us Lodging Industry, Dipendra Singh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study empirically investigates the effect of credit availability and firm size on the leverage of lodging industry in United States using a 3 X 2 factorial Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Three time points of differing credit availability (Low, High, and Average) were identified using Case-Shiller home price index. Leverage, Net Leverage, and Short-to-Long-Term debt ratios of large and small US lodging firms were analyzed at these differing credit availability time points to assess any significant differences. Specifically, this study attempts to find whether there is an interaction effect of credit availability and firm size on the leverage of …

Cultural Acceptance And Its Effect On Tourism, I-Hsuan Shih

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This professional paper examines the relationship between cultural acceptance in conjunction with social perception and cultural tourism promotion strategies. It provides a matrix to evaluate the likely success of promoting a specific cultural aspect of a destination and suggestions for ways of dealing with a lack of cultural acceptance or negative perceptions. It underscores the need for tourism strategic planners to take into account the cultural acceptance of a proposed project by the host community before proceeding.

Financial Performance And Capacity Analysis For The Mice Industry In Las Vegas And The United States, Li-Ting Yang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The meetings, incentive travel, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) industry is comparatively young and diverse. As a result, there has been limited research conducted in this field, especially from the financial performance and capacity management perspective. The purpose of this study is to fill the gap by analyzing the MICE capacity optimization issue in Las Vegas, a leading MICE destination, and in the U.S., a leading MICE country in the world. The findings and results of this study should help industry practitioners better understand the current status of the U.S. MICE industry in terms of assets efficiency, operational costs, and profitability. …

Cultural Tourism Products: A Case Study In The Xi’An City, Yining Zhang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Nowadays, culture has been a major driver of tourism. Cultural tourism is another form of tourism by involving cultural elements. Some people traveled specifically to gain a deeper understanding of the culture or heritage of a destination. In order to satisfy tourists’ cultural needs and wants, cultural tourism products typically attracts consumers by the cultural attributes. A cultural attest is not a cultural tourism product unless it transforms itself into products that could be consumed by tourists. The market value of cultural tourism can be realized by cultural tourism products. This paper is to explore the development and evaluation of …

Identifying Green Meetings In The Hospitality Industry, Shin Yi (Felicity) Chiou

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to identify what constitutes green meetings in the hospitality industries with special attentions on the applications of modern technologies and marketing strategies. This professional paper will search and collect the related literature reviews and existent practices with green ideology in hospitality to clarify the myth and difficulties of being green and help the readers or potential advocates better understand green meetings and adopt them.

Exploring The Feasibility Of Converting The Mardi Gras Hotel And Casino Into A Casino Boutique Hotel, Patrick Brennan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction:

The topic of my Professional Paper will be the feasibility study of renovating the Mardi Gras Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Currently the Mardi Gras is operating as a Best Western and is looking to expand into the boutique hotel market. With the maturation of the Las Vegas hotel market, it is vital to think forward in new methods of design and marketing to attract the next generation of convention attendees and visiting tourist.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of converting the Mardi Gras hotel and casino into a destination casino …

Identify Key Business Strategies To Target The Mass Market In Macau, Chia-Li Chen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Statement of Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to examine Macau’s present gaming environment and identify factors that will contribute to the success of a mass gaming market in Macau. The study intends to provide economic justification and tourism policy considerations which support the growth of Macau’s mass gaming market by taking advantage of the booming Chinese economy and the fast growing popularity of gaming in China. In addition, this study will examine literature supporting Macau’s transformation from a simpler gamblers’ destination into a Las Vegas style international gaming, entertainment, and tourism destination, as well as arguments for sustaining …

An Analysis Of How Self-Efficacy Relates To The Driver’S Of The Active Sport Tourist, Debey Grimes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The active sport tourist is a subset within the tourism industry that can be further analyzed to understand this type of traveler. The driver’s of such a tourist include Risk Theory, Individual’s view, Geographical Approach, Role Theory, Consumer Behavior and Group Based Nostalgia. These drivers are compared and analyzed to self-efficacy and how a sport decision or destination relates to self-efficacy. The sources of self-efficacy are defined and an analysis of the active sport tourist’s relationship through the cognitive, motivational, affective and selection processes are explored.

A Content Analysis Of Indonesian Hotel Website, Irene Hidayat

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

The purpose of this professional paper is to develop an effective content model for the Hotel Tentrem website. The content model will be obtained and modified from literature review. This study will also utilize content analysis to analyze five-star hotel websites in Indonesia to identify the common problems associated with the hotel websites, justify specific measures to build a successful website and provide suggestions on the potential areas of improvement.

The Gaming Industry Developing Concept In Taiwan-From The U.S. Experience, Jean Ling Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

With the recent success experience of gaming-related investments made in Macau and Singapore, it also can be a good inspiration of developing the gaming industry in Taiwan. As the passing of the new legislation from the Taiwanese government, Taiwan could be the next potential country to join the Asian casino gaming market. The purpose of this study is to determine the appropriate direction of developing the casino gaming industry in Taiwan, according to the successful experience from U.S. The findings indicated that the six factors of developing gaming business in Taiwan are geography environment, accessibility, human resource, tourism resource, tourist …

Explore The Phenomenon Of Buddhist Temple Stay In South Korea For Tourists, Wei Wang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Temple Stay program is a newly developed but comparatively mature tourism product in Korea, which is to accommodate and cater tourists in Buddhist temples and have them experience over 1700 years Korean traditions of Buddhism and culture. As a product of compromise between Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the most influential Buddhist organization Jogye Order, Temple Stay program was first launched in 2002 during FIFA World Cup to receive excessive international tourists. Through almost ten-year systematical development, Temple Stay program turns out to be a distinctive phenomenon which successfully establishes a unique identity of Korean culture and tourism, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The Relationship Between High Risk Athletes Risk Perception Of Adventurous Activities, Their Travel Destinations And Their Vacation Travel Patterns, Tanir Magen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Adventure tourism is a growing market segment in the US; the decision to participate in adventurous activities and the selection of risky destinations while on vacation involves ones risk perception about the physical risks that can lead to fatal results from these activities. Existing literature suggest that risk perception is a determinate in choosing a leisure activity and destination while on vacation and that level of tolerance to uncertainty can determine travel behavior (Floyd & Gibson, 2004; Fuchs & Reichel, 2006; Hofstede, 2001; Iso- Ahola, 1980, 1982; Money & Crotts, 2003; Reisinger & Mavondo, 2005). People who have high tolerance …