Star Hotels Research Articles

HOSTELLING AT GLOBAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS

The current state of the global hostel market is characterized. It has been established that the global hostel market reached USD 4.1 billion in 2022. The leader in the hostel market is the Asia–Pacific region, which is experiencing active recovery in international tourism following the COVID–19 pandemic. The European region ranks second, followed by the Americas. It has been determined that the largest share of hostel guests consists of individuals aged 25 to 34. The TOP–5 hostel networks in the world as of 2022 were: a&o Hostels, Zostel, Meininger, St Christopher’s Inns, and Nomads World. The current state of hostelling in Ukraine is analyzed. It has been established that at the present stage, under the conditions of Russian aggression in Ukraine, official statistics do not reflect the actual number of hostel establishments. The review of the hostel base was conducted based on online booking websites. Hotelmix offers guests hostels in 20 cities of Ukraine, totaling 272 hostels. The largest number of hostels is located in Kyiv (39.3% of the total number of available hostels), followed by Lviv (20%) and Odesa in third place (7.4%). Booking.com offers guests 275 hostels in various regions of Ukraine. It was found that not all hostels are listed on official online booking platforms. A SWOT–analysis of hostel businesses was conducted. Positive changes in the hostel market require joint actions from government bodies and hostel operators. Combined efforts from both sides will ensure measures at the national level to improve hostel operations and advance the hostel industry to a new stage of development, while simultaneously preventing the influence of negative factors arising from the weaknesses in hostel operations (lack of service quality standards, the mass emergence of economy–class hotels in the market, insufficient information on hostel services, lack of legislative regulation for hostel operations) and threats (oversaturation of the market with hostel services, travelers' changing preferences toward more comfortable accommodations, the growth of the 2–3 star hotel segment, which offers an alternative to hostels, lack of government support, and a decrease in investment flows).

Leadership Behaviors and Leader Effectiveness: The Mediating Role of Cultural Intelligence

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of cultural intelligence in the relationship between leadership behaviors and leadership effectiveness. A quantitative approach was adopted to test the hypotheses, and data were collected through surveys from 410 employees working in four- and five-star hotels in Istanbul. The analysis of the obtained data was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), regression analysis, and the PROCESS macro. The results of the analysis revealed that cultural intelligence has a mediating effect on the relationships between task-oriented leadership behaviors and leadership effectiveness, relationship-oriented leadership behaviors and leadership effectiveness, and change-oriented leadership behaviors and leadership effectiveness. In the globalized world, cultural diversity in businesses is increasing, which is especially pronounced in the hospitality industry. The fact that guests come from different cultural backgrounds further highlights the importance of leaders’ cultural awareness and cultural intelligence. As a result, both academics and managers attach great importance to this issue. However, there are still significant gaps in understanding the relationship between cultural intelligence and leadership. In this context, the study aims to contribute to the literature on leadership and cultural intelligence.

What Do Chinese Guests Want for a Five-Star Hotel Guestroom?

ABSTRACT This study attempts to develop a comprehensive understanding of consumer needs of guest room design in the context of five-star hotels in China. Applying the Kano model and SOR framework, four studies were conducted, namely, a user-generated content (UGC) based semantic association analysis (N = 13,942), in-depth interviews with hotel designers (N = 20), affinity diagrams (N = 4) and online guest surveys using the Kano questionnaire (N = 1,220). The findings of these studies indicate that a hotel room design evaluation must include comfort, convenience, function, and gratification. The Kano model revealed that functional and dysfunctional factors impact customers’ levels of satisfaction differently. In addition, guests’ satisfaction with guest rooms is also influenced by their travel purposes. The mixed-methods approach revealed both explicit and implicit room needs from the perspectives of guests, hotel designers, and management, which can help managers focus more on the neglected demands of customers and has implications for innovative room design in five-star hotels.

The Impact of Online Travel Agent Reviews and Stay Decisions on 4-Star Hotel Occupancy Rates in Batam City

The Impact of Online Travel Agent Reviews and Stay Decisions on 4-Star Hotel Occupancy Rates in Batam City

Job Evaluation Factors and Employees’ Performance in 4 And 5 Star-Rated Hospitality Facilities in Nakuru County, Kenya

Hospitality related jobs are prone to biasness and inequities especially in reward and compensation structures vis-à-vis job grades and responsibilities. One of the major contributory factors of such biasness and inequities is lack of a systematic basis of evaluating jobs. Such biasness and inequities if not checked, may generate dissatisfaction and grievances among employees which may eventually lead to low employee morale and poor performance. The purpose of the research was to ascertain how front-line employees' performance is impacted by job evaluation factors in 4 and 5 star rated lodges, resorts, hotels and camps located in Nakuru County. Specifically, the study tested the influence of interpersonal skills, job responsibility, decision making and job expertise on employee performance. Besides, the moderating role of gender was tested. The study was underpinned by the Equity Theory of Motivation. It utilized both descriptive and co-relational research designs. This study's population consisted of all 4 to 5 star rated hospitality establishments located in Nakuru County. The sample size comprised 403 front-line employees and 8 supervisors. Besides, 8 HRMs were included in the study, therefore, a total of 419 respondents were sampled. Questionnaires were administered to the frontline employees and interviews were conducted with the HRMs and supervisors. The study revealed that interpersonal skills (B=.227, p=.000); job responsibility (B=.234, p=.000); decision making (B= .290, P=.000); and job expertise (B= .238, P=.000) significantly influence the performance of employees. However, employees’ gender (ΔR2= .001, P=.382) does not influence the relationship between job evaluation factors and employee performance. The content analysis results supported these findings. This study concluded that job evaluation factors enhance employee’s performance, gender does not. The study recommends that the HR departments should observe fairness and equity in all HR processes especially recruitment and selection, training, promotion and compensation. All these functions should be driven by skills, job responsibility, and expertise of the employee and not subjective elements such as gender. Keywords: Job Evaluation, Employee Performance, Hospitality Industry, 4 and 5-Star Hotels, Nakuru County, Kenya

The effect of customer relationship management on customer satisfaction performance in the hotel industry in Jordan

Despite extensive research and practice in the topic of customer relationship management (CRM), the hotel industry still lacks clarity on the effect of CRM on customer satisfaction performance. Thus, the study aims to investigate the effect of CRM through different dimensions (key customer focus, CRM organization, knowledge management, and CRM-based technology) on customer satisfaction performance in Jordanian hotels. A quantitative research approach through questionnaire adopted from relevant literature was used for data collection. The study participants were managers of Jordanian different star hotels. A total of 101 managers were involved in this study, and different key statistical analyses were applied to achieve its purpose using SPSS, regression and correlation analysis after validating the study measures and scale. The results showed that all dimensions of CRM have a positive and significant effect on Jordanian hotels’ customer performance and key customer focus has the greatest effect on customer satisfaction out of four CRM dimensions that were examined, followed by CRM organization and knowledge management. Although the technology of CRM considerably impacts customer satisfaction, this impact is very slight. Therefore, the results suggested that the hotel managers should pay attention to their internal resources such as top management support and employee involvement and assess the impact of CRM implementation of customer-orientation culture to improve their performance and consequently establish a competitive advantage.

The Impact of Transformational Leadership on Quality Management in Four- and Five-Star Hotels in Hurghada City, Egypt

The Impact of Transformational Leadership on Quality Management in Four- and Five-Star Hotels in Hurghada City, Egypt

Enhancing Energy-Saving Efficiency in Light of Sustainability Practices in Five-Star Hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh City, Egypt

Enhancing Energy-Saving Efficiency in Light of Sustainability Practices in Five-Star Hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh City, Egypt

Evaluating the Governmental Inspection Process in Five-Star Hotels in Egypt (A Comparative Study)

Evaluating the Governmental Inspection Process in Five-Star Hotels in Egypt (A Comparative Study)

Developing Sustainable Energy-Saving Strategies in Five-Star Hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh ‎City, Egypt

Developing Sustainable Energy-Saving Strategies in Five-Star Hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh ‎City, Egypt

Assessing the Influence of Co-creation on the Customer Behavior of Five-star Hotels in Cairo

Assessing the Influence of Co-creation on the Customer Behavior of Five-star Hotels in Cairo

Traveling alone, reviewing differently: identifying distinctive hotel evaluation behaviors of solo travelers

ABSTRACT Despite the rise in solo travelers, differences in online review behaviors between solo and companioned travelers remain underexplored. The current research, using the Elaboration Likelihood Model, self-presentation theory, and group polarization theory, finds that solo travelers give higher review scores based on hotel star ratings and value-for-money, but they weigh hotel service quality less than group travelers even after accounting for hotel heterogeneity through multilevel modeling. Additionally, solo travelers’ review scores are less polarized than companioned travelers. These findings offer valuable recommendations for hotel management and targeted marketing strategies aimed at solo travelers.

Thailand as World LGBTQ Wedding Destination

Gradually, Thailand has emerged as a promising land of honeymoon destination for LGBTQ wedding tourism, offering a diverse range of picturesque venues favorable for same-sex couples. This research paper discusses the multifaceted appeal of Thailand by mentioning the beautiful landscapes, culturally inclusive environment, and the growing acceptance of LGBTQ rights. The paper discusses the legal environment of Thai marriage, considering the difficulties facing the LBGTQ couples and the limitations of the present times, including the non-recognition of same-sex marriages under Thai law. On the other hand, it also discusses how weddings from the LGBTQ community have gone up, reflecting changes in societal attitudes and creating Thailand as a haven for couples seeking out acceptance and celebration of their love. It also lists all popular LGBTQ wedding venues-from five-star hotels to dreamy beach resorts-and mentions what really sets them apart: catering services designed with same-sex couples in mind. Cultural elements discussed herein involve an examination of traditional Thai wedding ceremonies and the aspect of inclusivity to understand their contribution to the experiences of LGBTQ weddings. It concludes with a presentation of some effective marketing strategies and promotional activities that might include partnering with LGBTQ influencers down to well-churned advertising campaigns that might position Thailand among the top destinations globally for the performance of LGBTQ marriage ceremonies. Against this backdrop, the present study explores a sensitive area in which Thai operators are showing huge potential to attract LGBTQ grooms and brides, first in the development of wedding tourism and secondly to increase acceptance of sexual orientation diversity across the region.

Consumers Awareness and Attitude towards Sustainable Practices of 5-Star Category Hotels of Mumbai

Background: Hotels have embraced a number of green initiatives in response to growing environmental concerns and the worldwide movement towards sustainable development. However, customer awareness and attitudes towards these practices play a major role in the success of these projects. Objective: To examine the consumer awareness level towards sustainable practices exercised in 5-star category hotels of Mumbai and the consumers attitude towards sustainable practices exercised in these hotels. Methodology: The goals of the current study were achieved through the use of descriptive design. The information was gathered from guests who had stayed at Mumbai’s five-star hotels and came from all across India. Convenience sampling was the approach employed in this study to obtain data. A total of 270 respondents were given the questionnaire; 165 of them completed it, and 156 of those answers were deemed legitimate. The main tool used to collect data is the structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics namely frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were calculated Microsoft excel was used for the data analysis. Results: The mean scores indicate varying levels of awareness, with energy conservation initiatives having the highest mean of 3.44 (SD = 1.56) and community engagement and support the lowest at 2.57 (SD = 1.31). The analysis of consumer attitudes towards sustainable practices in 5-star hotels in Mumbai indicates a strong preference for eco-friendly accommodations. The highest mean score of 3.69 (SD = 1.33) was recorded for the preference for sustainable hotels, however, support for community engagement and educational initiatives was, 2.79 (SD = 1.36) and 2.72 (SD = 1.36), respectively. Conclusion: Consumer awareness of sustainable practices in 5-star hotels in Mumbai is strongest in areas like energy conservation, waste management, and water conservation, which are well-implemented and promoted. Consumer generally have a positive attitude towards sustainability initiatives, particularly those that are visible, like energy and water conservation. Others require enhanced visibility and engagement to elevate their perceived importance.

Toward Sustainable Performance in the Hotel Food Supply Chain: Influences of Quality Management Practices and Digital Integration

This study addresses a gap in the literature on how quality management practices within the food supply chain can be effectively integrated with digital technologies to enhance Food Supply Chain Sustainable Performance (FSCSP) in the hospitality and tourism sector in Egypt. Thus, a quantitative approach was employed, with data being collected through both online and in-person surveys from employees with sufficient knowledge of their hotel’s food products, food supply chain, and quality management practices in five-star hotels in Egypt. SPSS and WarpPLS-SEM techniques were used to analyze the research data. The findings showed that Food Supply Chain Quality Management (FSCQM) practices positively influence both FSCSP and Supply Chain Digital Integration (SCDI), with SCDI serving as a mediator in the relationship between FSCQM and FSCSP. This study is helpful for hospitality businesses in developing economies because it shows how important it is to combine digital innovation with strong quality management to improve operating efficiency and gain a competitive edge in terms of sustainability. This involves fostering a technology-driven culture that encourages creativity, innovation, transparency, and information-sharing among employees to ensure the successful integration of FSCQM practices with hotels’ digital competences.

THE INFLUENCE OF BRAND IMAGE, PRICE, ELECTRONIC WORD OF MOUTH (E-WOM), AND COMFORT ON THE DECISION TO STAY AT MIDTOWN HOTEL BASUKI RACHMAT SURABAYA

Tourism is one activity where the purpose is to travel away from their usual place of residence. Tourism also need some accommodation, one of which is lodging accommodation. Surabaya itself has several hotels where, over time, the growth of hotels in Surabaya has increased, ranging from 1-star to 5-star hotels. One of the hotels in Surabaya is the Midtown Hotel Basuki Rachmat Surabaya, which is a 3-star hotel. The purpose of this research is to determine whether brand image, price, electronic word of mouth (E-WOM), and comfort influence the decision to stay at the Midtown Hotel Basuki Rachmat Surabaya. This research was conducted quantitatively with data collection using a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 23. The sample in this study consisted of 100 respondents selected through purposive sampling. Based on the data analysis results of this research, it shows that the variables of brand image and price significantly influence the decision to stay, while electronic word of mouth (E-WOM) and comfort do not influence the decision to stay.

Talent management and innovative work behavior in tourism and hospitality businesses: Does absorptive capacity matter?

This study investigates the impact of talent management (TM) on innovative work behavior (IWB) in five-star hotels and category-A travel agencies, focusing on absorptive capacity (AC) as a mediator. This study collected 323 responses from top and middle-level management at five-star hotels and category-A travel agencies operating in Egypt, evaluating the hypothesized model using the Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique with WarpPLS software 7.0. Findings show that TM positively affects IWB and AC. Moreover, AC positively affects IWB. The findings also support the hypothesis that AC plays a significant mediation role in the relationship between TM and IWB. The study provides valuable insights into Human Capital Theory. The study also offers practical insights for tourism and hospitality businesses to enhance AC and foster IWBs.

Digital transformation and environmental sustainability in the hospitality industry: A three-wave time-lagged examination

Despite the ongoing discussions of strategies to attain the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, discourse on the role of digital transformation in bolstering environmental sustainability remains sparse. This study delves into the role of digital transformation in enhancing the environmental sustainability of hotels and scrutinizes the role of sustainable business model innovation in mediating the relationship between digital transformation and environmental sustainability. Data were gathered from managers of star-rated hotels using a survey questionnaire in three waves. The data was analyzed through the application of structural equation modeling. The findings of the study reveal a positive relationship between digital transformation and environmental sustainability and that this relationship is mediated by sustainable business model innovation and moderated by the hotel star category. The study highlights the strategic significance of digital transformation and sustainable business model innovation in achieving environmental sustainability. The study also provides implications for managers, scholars and policymakers.

Organization learning and business resilience in developing hospitality industry

The study aims to investigate the effect of organizational learning on business resilience in developing the hospitality industry, specifically focusing on four-star hotels in the southeast region of Nigeria. One of the major reasons why this research was conducted is because of the vacuum that exists between organizational learning and business resilience in the hospitality industry. A cross-sectional survey design was employed because it supports using questionnaires to collect data from participants. A validated and reliable instrument was used to collect data from two hundred thirty one participants drawn from the selected hospitality industry in the southern part of Nigeria. The results demonstrate that organizational learning significantly positively affects business resilience. Organizational learning also affects crisis anticipation and recoverability which are crucial to be resilient in the industry. The results of this research supported prior empirical findings and supported both social learning theory and resilience theory. Regarding originality, the geographical scope and the industry where this research was conducted distinguish it from other prior empirical investigations. It was recommended that since the hospitality business is highly competitive, managers should utilize organizational learning as a strategy to overcome their competitors and remain sustainable in the industry. The findings of the research will contribute to the literature and hospitality industry in developing country contexts.

Factors Influencing Hotel Revenue Management in Times of Crisis: Towards Financial Sustainability

(1) Background: Facing the challenges of a post-pandemic period and the Ukraine War and recognising the gap in scientific research on the application of revenue management (RM) in the Portuguese hotel industry, the main objective of this study is to identify the most effective and least appropriate RM practices for use in periods of low demand and crises, reflecting the financial sustainability perspective. The theoretical framework of this study focuses on the main RM practices, grouping them into price and non-price strategies. (2) Methods: A quantitative methodology was employed, collecting information from Portuguese hotels through an online questionnaire, and statistical analysis using Mann–Whitney and Chi-square tests was conducted. (3) Results: Hotels offered discounts during the pandemic, but room rates were reduced during the recovery period. These findings also revealed that commonly used techniques were the best available rate (BAR) and rate fences, particularly during the pandemic. Quality, brand image, strategic partnerships, and marketing actions are recognised as essential. However, loyalty programs, length of stay (LOS) control, rate parity, and bundled services are not commonly implemented despite their importance during periods of low demand. Larger hotels, five-star hotels, and members of international chains applied more RM practices than smaller four-star independent hotels. (4) Originality: This study provides original and valuable insights into increasing hotel revenues and occupancy rates during future periods of low demand, which benefit financial sustainability.