Country Hotel Research Articles

ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ КАТЕГОРИЗАЦІЇ ГОТЕЛЬНИХ ГОСПОДАРСТВ ТА УНІФІКАЦІЯ СИСТЕМ ОЦІНЮВАННЯ

In this publication the analysis of the features of evaluation systems of hotelenterprises is conducted. It has been found that in the conditions of increase in quantity andquality of hotel services the problem of systems for estimation, categorization andstandardization of enterprises becomes relevant. More than 30 different classification systemsused in international practice have been studied. It turns out that there are two options forcreating systems for evaluation and standardization of hotel enterprises: on the basis ofrequirements formed by specialized unions of hoteliers and specialized organizations andthose defined by public authorities. The peculiarities of the evaluation of hotel enterprises invarious countries of the world are carefully researched and systematized. As an example, thecountries in the top ten most popular among tourists (Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain,Germany, Canada, France, Singapore, USA, Sweden, Spain) have been taken.On the basis of the conducted research the complexity of creation of unified system foran estimation of hotels because of a variety of needs of tourists from different countries of theworld is proved. The necessity of unification of evaluation systems and creation of a singleworld system of hotel categorization, which will allow tourists from different parts of theworld to understand better what to expect from international hotel categories, issubstantiated. Due to the complexity of creating a single hotel evaluation system, it isnecessary to start with the unification of service standards in the field of additional services.This will allow tourists to quickly understand the categories of hotels in different countries, aswell as give a clearer idea of what characteristics a single global system of evaluation ofhotel enterprises should have. According to the analysis of already existing evaluationsystems, it becomes clear what qualities a unified international system of categorization ofhotel enterprises should have.The results of the study can be useful for employees in the field of tourism and hoteland restaurant business, scientists, teachers and students majoring in "Tourism" and "Hoteland restaurant business"

ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF UNIFICATION OF HOTEL EVALUATION SYSTEMS

The article analyzes the features of evaluation systems of hotel enterprises. It has been found that in the conditions of increase in quantity and quality of hotel services the problem of systems of estimation, categorization and standardization of the enterprises becomes actual. More than 30 different classification systems used in international practice have been studied. Trends in the development of hotel evaluation systems around the world are also studied. Today there are two options for creating systems for evaluation and standardization of hotel enterprises: on the basis of requirements formed by specialized unions of hoteliers and specialized organizations and defined by public authorities. The article examines the peculiarities of the evaluation of hotel enterprises in different countries of the world. The countries that are among the ten most popular among tourists (Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, France, Singapore, USA, Sweden, Spain) have been taken as an example.Based on the conducted researches, the study proves the difficulty of creating a single system of hotel evaluation due to the diversity of needs of tourists from around the world. The necessity of unification of evaluation systems and creation of a single world system of hotel categorization is substantiated, which will allow tourists from different countries of the world to understand more easily what to expect from international hotel categories. Due to the complexity of creating a single hotel evaluation system, it is necessary to start with the unification of service standards in the field of additional services. This will allow tourists to quickly determine the categories of hotels in different countries, as well as form a clear idea of what characteristics should have a single global system of evaluation of hotel enterprises. Through the analysis of the systems of already existing evaluation systems, it becomes clear what qualities a single international system of categorization of hotel enterprises should have.

Improvement of accounting in the hotel business in the transition to a digital economy

The article describes the main features of accounting and development of accounting in the hotel business during the transition to a digital economy. Considering the use of digital programs and applications, recommendations are given for improving accounting. The hotel industry is a key player in international tourism, and tourism flows depend on the quality of the tourism industry sector. The Republic of Kazakhstan is famous for its rich natural and tourist resources, but it occupies a small segment in the world tourism development. The main differences in the work of different hotels and hotels on the example of Kazakhstan and hotels in other countries are reviewed and summarized. In connection with the various services provided in hotels, it is necessary not only to monitor the quality of service and monitor the work of the staff but also to keep records of all possible expenses. In this regard, the cost of hotel business management. The paper discusses examples of automated systems to improve performance and accounting in hotels.

Сучасний стан і територіальні особливості розвитку туризму в Італії

Tourism is a profitable sector of the economy, which, despite all current challenges, is rapidly developing and prioritized for the development of economic, social and cultural realms in many countries. Leading positions in international tourism are occupied by European countries, in particular Italy. The article analyzes the current state and territorial features of tourism development in Italy, considering natural, historical and cultural tourist recourses and country hotel fund. The analysis bases on such key indicators as the tourism contribution to gross domestic product, the tourism contribution to employment, the tourism capital investments, the tourism inbound (foreign) and outbound (abroad) volume, the international tourism receipts. The geographical structure of tourist flows in Italy is considered. The country has a considerable territorial differentiation in terms of tourism development. An integral index was calculated for Italy regions to evaluate tourism development level with subsequent classification of regions according to this indicator. The calculated indices allowed delimiting of the six groups of regions with high, higher than average, medium, lower than average, low and very low tourism development levels respectively. The features of tourism development in the regions of each group are revealed. In particular, the highest intensity of tourist arrivals is observed in the alpine regions of the country, which specialize in ski tourism. The high level of tourism development is also typical for the northern and central regions of the country. The lowest intensity of tourism is observed in the south-eastern regions of the country. In general, contemporary tourist development of the country is characterized with annual growth in the number of tourist arrivals, significant revenues from the tourism industry, positive balance of tourist flows, high share of tourism in the country’s GDP, formation of world-famous centers of tourism, high tourist rates. All this indicates that Italy remains one of the tourism leaders in the international tourism market.

Developing a hierarchical model to enhance business excellence in hotel industry of Bangladesh

Purpose The study aims to develop a hierarchical model based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award to enable the ranking of quality dimensions required for achieving business excellence in the hotel industry of Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a sequential mix method approach in which semi-structured interviews with 24 participants were initially conducted during the qualitative stage to identify the quality dimensions. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 40 industry experts to prioritise the identified elements using the relative measurement of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In total, 32 respondents were further surveyed to evaluate a selected number of hotels in Bangladesh using the absolute measurement of AHP. Findings The study uncovered eight criteria, together with 23 corresponding sub-criteria during the qualitative stage. Quality management emerged as the most crucial criterion, while health and safety-security measures were the most important sub-criteria in addressing the quality management criterion. In Bangladesh, five-star hotels were observed to be performing better than three-star and four-star hotels. Originality/value The developed model is unique and can be used by Bangladeshi practitioners to measure the performance of hotels. Moreover, it can also be applied to measure the performance of hotels in other countries just by incorporating minor modification to the model framework.

Possibility of Using Solar Energy for the Creation of Carbon Neutral Hotels in Mediterranean Countries

Mitigation of climate change requires the increased use of renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels in all sectors. Hotel buildings utilize large amounts of energy consuming mainly electricity while the use of renewable energy sources is rather limited. Solar energy is abundant in the Mediterranean basin and it is currently used for heat and electricity generation in many applications. Various solar energy technologies are mature, reliable and cost-effective. Use of solar thermal energy, and solar photovoltaic energy combined with the use of high efficiency heat pumps, can cover all the energy needs for domestic hot water, space cooling and electricity in summer-operating hotels in the Mediterranean region. A summer-operating hotel located in Crete, Greece with a covered surface of 3000 m2 has a specific annual energy consumption of 150 KWh/m2. The capital cost of the required sustainable energy systems for covering all the annual energy requirements in the hotel including a solar thermal system with flat plate collectors, a solar photovoltaic system with crystalline-Si modulus and high efficiency heat pumps has been estimated at 95.7 €/m2 while the annual CO2 savings due to the use of benign energy systems in the hotel have been calculated at 68 kgCO2/m2. It is concluded that the use of solar energy technologies in summer-operating hotels in the Mediterranean region could cover all their energy requirements, while it is technically feasible, economically profitable and environmentally desirable.

Evaluation of best price clauses in online hotel bookings

We analyze the best price clauses (BPCs) of online travel agents (OTAs) using meta-search price data of nearly 30,000 hotels in different countries. We find that BPCs influence the pricing and availability of hotel rooms across online sales channels. In particular, hotels publish their offers more often at Booking.com when the OTA does not use the narrow BPC, and also tend to promote the direct online channel more actively. Moreover, the abolition of Booking.com’s narrow BPC is associated with the direct channel of chain hotels having the strictly lowest price more often.

Evaluation of Best Price Clauses in Hotel Booking

We analyze the best price clauses (BPCs) of online travel agents (OTAs) using meta-search price data of more than 45,000 hotels in different countries. Although OTAs apparently have not changed their standard commission rates following the partial ban of BPCs in Europe, we find that BPCs do influence the pricing and availability of hotel rooms across online sales channels. In particular, the abolition of Booking.com’s narrow BPC is associated with the hotels’ direct channel being the price leader more often. Moreover, hotels make rooms more often available at Booking.com when it does not use the narrow BPC.

Implications of Cultural Differences for Expatriate Managers in the Global Hotel Industry

The purpose of this article is to explore the concept of expatriate managers as an emerging phenomenon in the context of the international hotel industry. Expatriate managers face significant challenges due to cultural differences when operating and managing hotels in foreign countries. The article explains culture and cultural values, and analyzes the implications for expatriate managers with respect to the three basic dimensions of cultural values: individualism/collectivism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance. Recommendations are provided, drawn from the perspectives of expatriate managers themselves and international hotel corporations. The article also provides insights into the implications of cultural differences for expatriate hotel managers and how they can adjust to the different working environment.

Mixed Messages

Mixed Messages

A conceptualized model of crisis management for small hotel companies

With the increased globalization and interconnectivity, no economy of the world is able to stay immune to recessions. Similarly, recessions and crises are part of normal business cycle and hospitality industry is not an exception to it. Therefore, development of a crisis management system in the field of hospitality management has become very relevant. Several models have been developed to deal with the necessity of implementing successful crisis management strategies in hotel industry. However, no specific model has been conceptualized for small hotel companies, which, because of their peculiarities, require ad hoc crisis management strategies. Indeed, the small hotel companies are less resistant to crises because of inner characteristics: fewer resources and less specialized management. After reviewing the literature and by taking into consideration the specific characteristics of small hotels, a conceptual model is proposed in this paper. The model has been conceptualized in order to provide a highly flexible and universal tool, that can be adopted by various hotels in different countries and that can address different types of crisis, in different stages by using different approaches. This four stage model has been developed especially regarding the preparation stage and the crisis warnings’ detection: Indeed, preparation is the first step to a successfully crisis management strategy. A further ability of this model is linked to the possibility of working with potential crisis and to turn them into business opportunities.

Research on Building Low-Carbon Hotels from the Perspective of Circular Economy

Low-carbon economy is the only way for China’s economic development, and also an important part of achieving the commitment to the world about reducing 40-45% carbon-emission until the year of 2020. In recent years, the increasing speed of hotels in China has become higher and higher, but most hotels have the problems of serious waste and pollution. This doesn’t benefit for development of low-carbon economy in China. So building low-carbon hotels is imminent at present. From the perspective of circular economy, this paper analyzes the ubiquitous problems in the process of building low-carbon hotels, and then summarizes successful experience of building low-carbon hotels in foreign countries. Finally, the paper put forwards to corresponding countermeasures of building low-carbon hotels from four aspects including policy, technology, culture and behavior.

Food for thought from plant and animal genomes

A report on the Plant and Animal Genome XXI meeting, held in San Diego, USA, January 12-16, 2013.Meeting ReportOn 12 January, on a morning full of blue sky and cold sunshine, the Plant and Animal Genome XXI meeting opened its doors for the 21st time at the Town and Country Hotel in San Diego. I arrived a couple of hours late, a newbie toting a roller suitcase, a little unprepared for the sheer scope of the meeting I was about to attend. The diversity of topics and attendees at the meeting, 'The Largest Ag-Genomics Meeting in the World', was stunning. Within my first hour, I would wind up eating my boxed lunch with a member of the transitional government of Egypt, who moonlights as a grad student in Colorado; and within my first afternoon, I would hear talks about drought resistance in rice, marker-assisted breeding in sweet cherry and transgressive segregation in cotton, not to mention the 12 concurrent sessions on topics from citrus genomes to swine breeding. As a plant developmental biologist interested in international agriculture, I chose talks with an eye towards the border between basic and applied research, the brackish zone where molecular biological innovations find their way into research centers, field trials, and ultimately, farmers' fields. In this report, I will present examples of the diverse and exciting work being done at this intersection, and will conclude by highlighting some emerging trends and challenges on the horizon.

17th Biennial National Congress of the South African Society of Psychiatrists: 'Pride, prejudice and promise – from origins to outcomes', 7 - 11 September 2012, Misty Hills Country Hotel, Muldersdrift, Johannesburg

17th Biennial National Congress of the South African Society of Psychiatrists: 'Pride, prejudice and promise – from origins to outcomes', 7 - 11 September 2012, Misty Hills Country Hotel, Muldersdrift, Johannesburg

17th Biennial National Congress of the South African Society of Psychiatrists: 'Pride, prejudice and promise – from origins to outcomes', 7 - 11 September 2012, Misty Hills Country Hotel, Muldersdrift, Johannesburg

No abstract available.

Perceived organizational support, career satisfaction, and performance outcomes

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop and test a research model that examines career satisfaction as a mediator of the effect of perceived organizational support on service recovery performance and job performance.Design/methodology/approachBased on data obtained from frontline hotel employees with a time lag of one month and their immediate supervisors in Cameroon, the hypothesized relationships were tested using LISREL 8.30 through structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results suggested that the fully mediated model had a better fit to the data when compared to the partially mediated model. As hypothesized, perceived organizational support influenced service recovery performance and job performance only via career satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsInvestigating the study relationships over a longer period of time than was done in this study would be useful for making causal inferences conclusively. Replication studies with larger sample sizes in different hospitality and tourism settings in Cameroon and other countries in sub‐Saharan Africa would be beneficial for broadening the database for further generalizations.Practical implicationsManagers should make sure that they recognize employees' good work or efforts continuously. They should also ensure that employees participate in decisions that may affect the service delivery process. It is also critical to have a pool of employees with work experience gained in foreign countries. Employees who worked in other hotels in foreign countries would acquire new skills and thus have higher career satisfaction in the current organization.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the hospitality management and marketing literature by examining the mediating role of career satisfaction in the relationship between perceived organizational support and two organizationally valued performance outcomes, i.e. service recovery performance and job performance.

The Construction of Chinese Green Hotel under the Condition of the "Two Type Society" Constructions

It is an important strategic measure to realize the transformation of development mode of Chinese economy that constructing the ”Two Type society”. Hotel industry has been considered to be one of the high energy consumption and high waste disposal industry. Thus, how to reduce the energy consumption and protect the environment, become the problem that country's hotel industry must face, and "green hotel" construction is the effective way to solve the problem. To solve this problem, measures are as follows. strengthen the education of the staff and the hotel green consciousness atmosphere. implement objective assessment to make the hotel’s environment protection system perfect. foster hotel staff of good environmental protection habit and pay attention to the science of the green hotel environment. build the green hotel of the core region of the hotel. And the last is strengthening the matching work of the hotel facilities and reducing energy consumption in order to promote the positive circulation of the hotel.

Investment challenges in the hotel industry in Kigali, Rwanda: Hotel managers' perspectives

Developing countries today compete to attract foreign direct investment to their local hotel industry. Many have therefore already changed their policies on foreign investment in order to compete effectively. Recovering from the 1990s genocide, the Rwandan Government has created an environment conducive to investment, to attract both local and foreign investment finance. This paper discusses the tourism investment policy context in Rwanda. It describes a survey of Kigali hotel managers' perceptions and opinions on challenges for investment in the country's hotel industry. The survey found that the perceived weaknesses of investing in the hotel sector are closely related to problems faced by the Rwandan tourism sector in general, such as the perception that Rwanda is not a safe tourism destination, the lack of skilled labour in tourism services, the lack of finances in the form of loans to potential investors and the lack of adequate tourism infrastructure.

A comparative study of web site performance

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a set of criteria and an instrument for evaluating upscale hotel web sites and test these in a comparative study of South Korean and the US upscale hotel web sites.Design/methodology/approachThe hotel web sites are assessed by a team of 25 trained evaluators. The study measures and compares the overall effectiveness of upscale hotel web sites and checks the correlation between overall web site effectiveness and size of upscale hotels in South Korea and the US by using balanced scorecard (BSC) approach. To evaluate and analyze upscale hotel web site performance or effectiveness, 14 upscale hotels in both South Korea and the USA are selected. These hotels are selected through Expedia.com or Hotels.com and are rated as either four‐ to five‐star.FindingsThe results show that there is no significant difference in the overall effectiveness of the upscale hotel web sites in South Korea and the USA. However, the web sites of the Korean upscale hotels perform slightly better than their US counterparts. The main conclusion drawn is that most upscale hotels in both countries are not effectively using web sites from the marketing and upscale hotel perspectives.Originality/valueThe first objective of this research study is to develop a web site evaluation tool for upscale hotels. The modified BSC approach for performance measurement is adopted as the overall framework for the evaluation process. Therefore, BSC performance measurements are adapted and developed to reflect the specific context of upscale hotel online marketing, with an upscale hotel perspective being added to the critical success factors. Also, this study compares actual upscale hotels web page in two different countries and that approach is unique.

Career path profiles of general managers of Korean super deluxe hotels and factors influencing their career development: Vocational insights for HTM students and hotel employees

This article assesses the detailed career paths of super deluxe hotel GMs working in Korea and their attitudinal views. A secondary objective of the research was to compare Korean GMs with foreign GMs. Results of career paths analyses showed both similarities and differences between Korean GMs and GMs of hotels in other countries assessed in past studies. Findings of this study provide benefits to both incumbent hotel employees and potential employees in the hospitality field related to understanding the job qualifications required and the career promotion system involved in becoming a GM of a super deluxe hotel.