Leisure Studies Commons^™

Hospitality Operators And Cannabis Tourism In The South: Insights On Policy & Regulations, Nick E. Johnston, Kelly Way, Chloe Tyner, Betsy Garrison

ICHRIE Research Reports

Cannabis tourism offers new opportunities for U.S. hospitality, although regional adoption is limited and complex due to diverse legal frameworks. Through qualitative document analysis (QDA) of regulatory frameworks in 14 Southern U.S. states, this study compares policies on consumption, sales, and employment in states with limited or emerging cannabis programs. Findings reveal that hospitality operators can enhance guest experiences by creating private, wellness-focused cannabis environments and advocating for gradual policy adjustments. However, compliance with strict consumption, licensing, and workplace rules is essential to mitigate legal risks. This study highlights the South's cannabis tourism potential within politically conservative markets, suggesting that …

Private Clubs In Transition: Addressing Membership Challenges In A New Era, Nuri Choi, Sojung Lee, Jim Butler

ICHRIE Research Reports

The club industry has experienced growing demand for memberships, particularly from younger generations since the pandemic, resulting in resurgent and dynamic changes in members’ behaviors and needs. However, limited data accessibility has hindered clubs' ability to respond promptly to these membership changes. This study identified current issues and challenges in the club industry by utilizing secondary data from an industry survey and analyzing club members' responses and comments on facilities, communication, and social events. Through topic modeling, three main themes were revealed: generational challenges, gender-related concerns, and social function-related issues. The findings indicate that there are diverse opinions and needs …

Enhancing Event Reputations: Insights And Recommendations For Secure And Engaging Experiences, Emma Carroll, Catriona Murphy Dr.

ICHRIE Research Reports

This research report presents evidence-based recommendations derived from focus group research to enhance the reputable value of events for practitioners in the industry. The study highlights the increasing pressure on event planners to prioritize attendee safety amidst external threats such as terrorism, pandemics, and ongoing conflicts. The findings emphasize the significant impact of these challenges on attendee behavior and perceptions, necessitating a balance between ensuring safety and delivering enjoyable event experiences. Key recommendations include the development of online reputation management protocols and the integration of semiotic analysis to align event messaging with audience expectations. These interventions seek to equip event …

For More Dementia-Friendly Facilities In Tourism And Hospitality, Paola Ossola

ICHRIE Research Reports

Some tourists – such as seniors, people with disabilities, pregnant women, obese people, people with allergies, etc. – might have physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities that limit their tourism experiences. These tourists may require access accommodations. Nevertheless, only a small number of hotels and other hospitality facilities have been catering to these needs beyond the legal minimum so far. To address this gap, we recommend the implementation of sustainable practices for enhancing accessibility in hotels and other hospitality facilities that specifically focus on meeting the needs of senior tourists who may be living with dementia. For doing so, the first …

Robot Chef Adoption: The New Industry Strategy To Combat Labor, Jeffrey Pittman Ll, Cindy Choi, James J. Taylor

ICHRIE Research Reports

Through interviews, the authors investigated how robot chefs can be implemented in order to strengthen the business flow of a restaurant and what value the adoption would bring to the market. Results showed that the ability of the robot chef lacking human error, maintaining food quality, being reliable labor, and generating costs savings make it a desired asset to have in any restaurant. Despite its adoption initially being feared by consumers, once the labor cost savings are transferred over to menu prices and quality maintenance is observed, consumer acceptance of the adoption is predicted to surge. The findings suggest that …

Race And Ethnicity In Leisure Behavior: Where Havewe Been And Where Dowe Need To Go?, Dan K. Hibbler Ph.D.

School of Continuing and Professional Studies Faculty and Staff Works

No abstract provided.

Organizational Barriers To Inclusion: Perspectives From The Recreation Professional, Dan K. Hibbler Ph.D.

School of Continuing and Professional Studies Faculty and Staff Works

Recreation professionals continually strive to serve a host of diverse program constituents, while leisure researchers attempt to uncover barriers to leisure participation. Much of the barriers or constraints research has come from the perspective of program participants. This study identified, from the perspectives and experiences of 18 recreation professionals, the issues and barriers that they perceive inhibit recreation program access and availability to diverse constituents, particularly ethnic minority populations. Co-cultural theory, which integrates the concepts of muted group theory and standpoint theory, was utilized as the study’s theoretical framework. In-depth interviews were utilized. Five primary barriers were identified that related …

Thinking Outside The Box: Placing Park And Recreation Professionals In K-12 Schools, Dan K. Hibbler Ph.D.

School of Continuing and Professional Studies Faculty and Staff Works

No abstract provided.

Interracial Couples Experience Of Leisure: A Social Network Approach, Dan K. Hibbler Ph.D.

School of Continuing and Professional Studies Faculty and Staff Works

There has been a significant amount of research that has indicated divergent

patterns of leisure participation among African Americans and European Americans;however, there has been a paucity of research that addresses the leisure patterns of interracial couples and families. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the leisure patterns of interracial couples and families, specifically African American and European American couples. A qualitative design was employed to gather in-depth interview data from six couples. The findings indicated that the interracial couples felt socially isolated in various aspects of daily life, including work, family, and leisure. The primary cause …

African Americans’ Perceptions Of Workplace Equity: A Starting Point, Dan K. Hibbler Ph.D.

School of Continuing and Professional Studies Faculty and Staff Works

For the past several decades, leisure researchers have investigated

the impact that race has on leisure behavior and preferences, but

there remains a paucity of research that addresses the issue of race in the leisure services workplace. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of inequity, discrimination, and promotion opportunities among African Americans in the field of public parks and recreation. The study was conducted in multiple phases, and all included African Americans who were working for public recreation agencies in a midwestern state. First, telephone interviews were conducted with 11 African American middle managers. A …

Programs That Work The Academic Cultural Enrichment Mentorship Program: An Innovative Approach To Serving African American Youth, Dan K. Hibbler Ph.D.

School of Continuing and Professional Studies Faculty and Staff Works

The purpose of this study was to evaluate an after-school

program that is designed to meet the specific needs of African Americanyouth. The program is called the Academic Cultural Enrichment (ACE) Mentorship Program and is sponsored, in part, by the Champaign ParkDistrict. The purpose of the program is to provide students with the competencies and skills needed to be involved, resilient, and successful.

The program seeks to foster positive Black identities in the participants, and to develop strong math, reading, oratorical, and analytical thinking skills. The program has a strong African cultural component, as well as academic and recreation components. …