Preferred Accommodation Research Articles

Tumor Carbohydrate Associated Antigen Analogs as Potential Binders for Siglec‐7

AbstractWe investigated two recently synthesized and characterized sialyl derivatives, bearing the Neu5Ac‐α‐(2‐6)‐Gal epitope, as promising binders for Siglec‐7, an inhibitory Siglec mainly found on natural killer cells. A variety of sialoglycan structures can be recognized by Siglec‐7 with implications in the modulation of immune responses. Notably, overexpression of sialylated glycans recognized by Siglec‐7 can be associated with the progression of several tumors, including melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. NOE‐based NMR techniques, including Saturation Transfer Difference and transferred‐NOESY NMR, together with molecular docking and dynamic simulations were combined to shed light on the molecular basis of Siglec‐7 recognition of two conformationally constrained Sialyl‐Tn antigen analogs. We, therefore, identify the ligands epitope mapping and their conformational features and propose 3D models accurately describing the protein‐ligand complexes. We found that the binding site of Siglec‐7 can accommodate both synthetic analogs, with the sialic acid mainly involved in the interaction. Moreover, the flexibility of Siglec‐7 loops allows a preferred accommodation of the more rigid compound bearing a biphenyl moiety at position 9 of the sialic acid that contributed to the interaction to a large extent. Our findings provided insights for developing potential novel high affinity ligands for Siglec‐7 to hinder tumor evasion.

Does type of accommodation influence tourist behavior? Hotel accommodation vs. rural accommodation

ABSTRACT Knowing how tourists behave in destinations is a key issue for successful marketing and management. Continuous changes in motivations of tourists highlight the necessity to understand visitors’ consumption patterns. The choices they make regarding the type of accommodation not only reflect tourists’ expectations, but also influence their behavior in the destination. This research aim is analyzing the possible differences in behavior between tourists depending on their preferred accommodation. The study was carried out in the province of Jaén, an emerging destination in southern Spain. A semi-structured survey was conducted with 430 visitors obtaining information that highlights, among other issues, the interest expressed by rural accommodation users in natural environments, along with more evenly disbursed spending patterns across the territory.

In the COVID-19 Era, When and Where Will You Travel Abroad? Prediction through Application of PPM Model

This study aimed to derive tourism motives and constraint factors that have changed or are newly applicable after COVID-19, and to identify the influencing relationships between these factors and complex aspects of tourism behavior intentions. For this purpose, the Push-Pull-Mooring model was used. To achieve the purpose of this study, prior literature and empirical studies were used to derive the primary measurement items through the primarily derived PPM model-based factors, and an online questionnaire survey was conducted with consumers who had had experience of overseas travel within the past two years. In total, 322 copies of the questionnaire were used for analysis. Through factor analyses, five push factors, four pull factors, and four mooring factors were derived. To understand tourism behavior intentions, each of the travel resumption times, preferred destination types, and preferred accommodation types were divided into three to conduct multinomial logistic regression analysis. The influence relationships between variables were verified to identify the changes in tourism behavior intentions caused by COVID-19, and the results indicated that some items of the PPM factors had significant influencing relationships with travel resumption times and preferred accommodation types. The preferred destination types were found to have significant influencing relationships with some items of the push/pull factors that were not found to have any influencing relationships with the mooring factors. This study is meaningful in that it presented motives and constraint factors for tourism behaviors from a new perspective based on changes in the tourism environment due to COVID-19, and the application of the PPM model and travel behavior is expected to be applied to diverse tourist behavior studies hereafter to achieve theoretical extensions.

Client preference accommodation for religious/spiritual integration and psychotherapy outcomes in naturalistic practice settings.

The purpose of this practice-research network study was to examine client preferences for religious/spiritual (R/S) integration and test whether preference accommodation in this area is linked to positive treatment outcomes (i.e., less dropout and greater client change). Thirteen independent practice psychotherapists and their 175 clients completed measures of R/S integration preferences and use of R/S techniques and approaches throughout treatment. Psychotherapists also completed an assessment of treatment dropout and change for each participating client. Overall, participating clients expressed moderate preferences for R/S integration, time spent on R/S topics, and an R/S match with their psychotherapists. Preferences in each of these 3 areas were stronger for R/S identifying clients (compared with non-R/S clients) and when clients believed that R/S integration was more essential to produce positive treatment outcomes. Both client R/S identification and client R/S integration preferences predicted psychotherapist's use of R/S techniques in treatment sessions. Importantly, clients' ratings of R/S preference accommodation significantly predicted psychotherapists' ratings of client treatment completion and client change. Specifically, with each unit increase on a 5-point measure of client perceptions of R/S preference accommodation, clients were 1.63 times more likely to be rated as treatment completers and 1.83 times more likely to be identified as having improved while in treatment. Implications for R/S integration in psychotherapy and future research directions are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Uncovering knowledge on travel behaviour during COVID-19: a convergent parallel mixed-methods study in the context of Italy

Against the background of uncertainty and crisis generated by COVID-19, academics and practitioners have struggled to envision how travelling behaviour will be transformed by the pandemic and when it will resume. Despite its relevance to both theory and practice, current research devoted to this research strand is still in its early stages. This study, reliant on Protection Motivation Theory, was conducted in order to assess the ways in which travellers’ preferences are changing as a result of the coping strategies they adopt to protect themselves from the health crisis. To do this, a convergent parallel mixed method approach (data validation variant) was applied to a sample of 4,539 completed questionnaires, collected in Italy, which included 1,577 usable qualitative answers. A factor-cluster analysis was carried out on the quantitative data. Two factors driving destination choice emerged, namely: “Personal protective equipment, sanitation, and physical distancing” and “Outdoor and under-crowded tourism attractions and destinations”. The cluster analysis divided individuals into three groups: “All-round concerned tourists”, “Middle-concerned tourists”, and “Outdoor-driven tourists”. Finally, a series of chi-square and F-tests revealed that significant differences existed between the clusters, based on socio-demographics and travel-related characteristics (i.e., preferred accommodation facilities and means of transport, geographical scale of travelling, and travel companions). Quantitative results were then merged with qualitative results, allowing us to further deepen our understanding of travel behaviours during the pandemic and the related coping strategies. Contributions to this body of knowledge and managerial implications are discussed and suggestions for further research are given.

Choice, voice and collaboration: using preference accommodation and feedback in trauma therapy

Purpose Organisations are increasingly understanding the need to be trauma informed. However, how trauma therapies in such organisations apply the principles of choice and collaboration is less understood. The present paper applies two trans-theoretical methods for involving clients in their therapy through preference accommodation and feedback-informed treatment (FIT). A case vignette is provided demonstrating how to involve clients in trauma therapy by listening to their preferences, needs and by providing them with a voice on their experience of the process and outcome of care. Design/methodology/approach A focused review of the literature was conducted, with relevant randomised control trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses sourced. The resulting information informed the design and this model for working with those in trauma therapy. Findings The research regarding trauma-specific therapies being more effective is far from conclusive. At the same time, early attrition and negative outcomes make up a large percentage of those seeking therapy. Using preference accommodation and FIT is one possibly way to mitigate against these experiences in therapy and to provide choice, preference and collaboration consisting with the principles of trauma-informed approaches. Research limitations/implications Methods to improve the experiences of those seeking trauma therapy have been identified and discussed. According to the author’s knowledge, this is the first known paper aligning trauma therapy and trauma-informed approaches with preference accommodation and FIT. Future empirical studies may wish to examine the relative effectiveness of this approach. Practical implications Methods to improve outcomes for those seeking trauma therapy are at the disposal of practitioners. Improving outcomes, while also providing choice, voice and collaboration is a clinical setting. Originality/value This is a novel paper adding to value and extending how practitioners can use principles of trauma-informed approaches within trauma therapy.

AirBnB: Managing trust and safety on a platform business

Abstract AirBnB has become a preferred accommodation marketplace for the travellers around the world. AirBnB is a two-sided digital platform that connects guests and hosts. In so doing, it creates value for both sides of the platform. Guests save money on the accommodation and hosts get earnings from their otherwise idle space. The case follows the company from the inception to its growth and current challenges with wider community. The case helps to understand the key features of digital platforms: how do they create value for all users; how do they shape value propositions for two sides, and how does the community become a stakeholder in the platform business. It also focuses on the issue of trust and the need for the company to integrate the concerns of other stakeholders such as communities and local authorities. Finally, the case highlights the impact of Covid-19 on the company and the travel industry.

Understanding senior tourists' preferences and characteristics based on their overseas travel motivation clusters

ABSTRACTThis study aims to identify the role of seniors’ overseas travel motivations in terms of preferred attraction types and activities, socio-demographic features, and preferred travel-related features. The results show that the motivation of potential senior travelers is a multidimensional construct. A five-cluster solution using extracted senior travel motivational factors demonstrates distinctive characteristics. The clusters show differences on gender, marital status, preferred travel partner, preferred accommodation type, and level of travel information technology acceptance, which are accounted for by preferred attraction types and activities. Consequently, this study indicates that senior travel motivation can be an important segmentation indicator.

Introducing Feedback Informed Preference Accommodation (FIPA): A Case Study in Clinical Practice

Psychotherapy is a successful modality for those who engage in and complete a course of treatment. However, attrition rates and negative outcomes make up a significant and under discussed proportion of clinicians’ case load in routine practice. Innovative and novel methods to address these issues have been identified within the extant literature. However, their uptake can be impacted by issues such as utility and brevity. The present paper seeks to establish a framework for integrating Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) and the Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences (C-NPI) in clinical practice. That is, using the C-NPI for initial preference accommodation and following this up on a session to session basis to monitor the process and outcome of therapy. An overview of both approaches is provided, and a rationale for their integration elucidated. The author terms this integration, Feedback Informed Preference Accommodation (FIPA). A Case Study is put forward to demonstrate this process in clinical practice.

Gender, kitchen resources and students’ academic performance and retention in thermochemistry in Cross River State, Nigeria

This paper studies the destination information marketing as an aid to the Cross River Tourism bid. A questionnaire was designed to elicit responses from the stakeholders in the tourism industry. Out of 69 questionnaire copies administered on tourist and workers in three popular hotels in Calabar (University of Calabar Hotel, Marian hotel and the Transcorp, Calabar) 50 unusable copies were retrieved and used in the analyses. The findings showed a predominance of domestic tourists in Cross River State. The sites/events most frequently visited included Christmas Festival, Obudu Mountain Race, Tinapa Holiday/Business Resort, Obudu Mountain Resort, Marina Resort (Water Front) and Leboku New Yam Festival. The single bedroom accommodation and double rooms are the most preferred accommodations. The most preferred tourist means of transportation included public mass transit, chartered taxis and car hire services. The most popular sources of tourism information in Cross River State were tourist guide books, internet and the Tourism Bureau. The most preferred souvenirs on Cross River State included indigenous art works and utilities. The most frequent complaint of tourists was the bad state of the roads. The most frequent complementary remarks were: “the state is very clean and beautiful”, “the people are very friendly”; “the state is very, very peaceful”. Suggestions were given for improvement. Keywords: Marketing, Destination Information, Tourism Driven Economy, Cross River State

The impact of accommodating client preference in psychotherapy: A meta‐analysis

Client preferences in psychotherapy reflect specific conditions and activities that clients desire in their treatment, with increasing evidence pointing to preference accommodation as facilitating psychotherapy outcomes. This updated meta-analysis establishes the magnitude of the effect of client preference accommodation in psychotherapy. Based on data from 53 studies and over 16,000 clients, preference accommodation was associated with fewer treatment dropouts (OR = 1.79) and more positive treatment outcomes (d = 0.28) than providing client with a nonpreferred treatment or psychotherapy condition. The preference effect was moderated by study design, timing and type of outcome measurement, and client diagnosis. It was not moderated by year of publication, treatment duration, preference type, treatment options, client age, client gender, client ethnicity, or client years of education. The authors provide a case example of preference accommodation and practice recommendations for working with client preferences.

Differentiating Asian working holiday makers from traditional backpackers on the basis of accommodation preferences

Abstract The Australian working holiday maker (WHM) program has contributed to the international youth travel market in Australia for many years. Despite a recent increase in the number of participants from Asian countries, their travel behaviours, including accommodation preferences, have not yet been fully explored. In fact, Asian WHMs have often been treated as backpackers in previous studies. The purpose of this study was to explore whether Asian WHMs differ from traditional backpackers on the basis of accommodation preferences. The study employed a sequential mixed methods design consisting of six focus groups followed by a self-administered questionnaire survey. Analyses of both the qualitative and quantitative data revealed that similar to European WHMs, backpacker accommodation was used by many Asian WHMs. However, a sizeable proportion of this market did not stay at this type of accommodation for reasons such as concerns about cleanliness and safety, cultural and language barriers and unfamiliarity with the style of accommodation. Whereas, shared accommodation with people from similar cultural backgrounds was a preferred accommodation style. The main implication of this study is that Asian WHMs cannot be fully understood when they are simply categorised as part of the wider backpacker market. Further consideration of their unique characteristics is required to obtain a comprehensive understanding of this cohort in the current youth travel market.

Housing preferences among students: collective housing versus individual accommodations? A stated preference study in Antwerp (Belgium)

Collective housing or cohousing has gained popularity in the housing market because it promotes social, economic and environmental sustainability, and contributes to a better quality of life. While young professionals are increasingly choosing for peer-shared housing, student expectations are increasing with regard to personal space and comfort. Following the massive expansion of the student population, private sector developers have recently become more involved in the student accommodation market providing high standard expensive single person flats. Responding to a lack of attention to student housing preferences in both student housing and cohousing research, this study aims to discover housing preferences of Belgian students with a focus on the relative importance they attach to private versus shared amenities. We carried out a stated preference experiment among students in higher education in Antwerp. Our results show that the main point of interest for the majority of the students is the type of housing, followed by rent and size. Regarding the type of housing, a studio flat is the most preferred accommodation, while living in a student room in the same house as the landlord the least preferred. Hence, our results show a high preference for private facilities. We conclude that private investors are actually responding to current student preferences. As their high standard student housing projects are easy to construct, maintain and organise, we expect more of them in the near future. However, the willingness to pay of university students is significantly lower than that of university college students who study 1 or 2 years less. Consequently, a demand for a diversified student housing market will presumably persist.

A Review on Critical Success FactEffect of Tourism on Demand of Hotel Room Type and Its Tariff

Tourism industry is one of the major contributors to the national economy and it is closely related to the development of the hotel industry. Improvement of sub sectors accommodation (hotel) is often related to the increase of tourists to Malaysia. The aim of this paper is to analyse the effect of tourism on demand of hotel room type and its tariff. In addition, tourists’ behaviours were observed to understand demand of hotel room type because they contribute to the development of hotel industry. Four main factors were chosen as the main factors before choosing a hotel that are price, location, facility and accessibility. These factors were analyse using two methods that are descriptive analysis and multidimensional scalling analysis. The result of this analysis showed that tourist chose 2- star hotels and below as their preferred accommodation. Apart from that, this research further analyse hotel room tariff for the hotel type that was chosen by tourists using simple linear regression. This is useful as a simple guideline for hotel industry.

Outbound tourism by the physically disabled inhabitants of Kraków: current situation and future needs

The article is an analysis of outbound tourism by those with locomotor disabilities living in Kraków. Two aspects were compared: their tourism activity before and after the occurrence of the disability. The article describes seasonality, length of stay and destinations, limitations encountered, preferred forms of tourism, organisation of travel, preferred accommodation, means of transport and expenditure. It also presents motivations, expectations and the impact of their experience on future travel behaviour.

A delay-discounting measure of preference for racial/ethnic matching in psychotherapy.

In this study, we sought to compare racial/ethnic minority participants' preference for racial/ethnic matching in psychotherapy with preferences for other methods of addressing cultural factors in treatment. Using a delay-discounting method, college students (331 racial/ethnic minority students from 2 universities) and a nationwide sample of self-reported clients (n = 77) were asked to indicate their strength of preference for 4 different methods for addressing culturally related variables in psychotherapy, including a desire to (a) work with a therapist whose race/ethnicity matches their own, (b) work with a therapist with a high level of multicultural training and experience, (c) receive a culturally adapted treatment, and (d) receive a therapist who is also a member of a racial/ethnic minority group, but not the same as the participant (i.e., a racial/ethnic minority pairing). We found that participants were willing to make significant sacrifices in treatment efficacy in order to receive each of the variables tested. In both samples, preferences were significantly stronger for therapist multicultural training/experience and use of culturally adapted treatments compared with racial/ethnic matching and racial/ethnic minority pairing. Further analyses indicated that clients expressed stronger preferences for racial/ethnic match and minority pairing than college student participants, and preference strength for 3 of the 4 scenarios was significantly related to strength of minority culture identification. The results of this study have important implications for preference accommodation in psychotherapy with racial/ethnic minority individuals.

A Comparison of Expenditures Between New Orleans Volunteer and Leisure Tourists: Implications for Sustainability

While economic implications of volunteer tourism to the host economy have been acknowledged in previous tourism research, no empirical study to assess this influence has been published to date. This expenditure study begins to fill the gap in academic and practical knowledge. The purpose of this research was to compare and contrast the expenditure patterns of volunteer tourists with those of leisure tourists in New Orleans. Survey research methods were used to obtain a sample of volunteer tourists that was compared to a leisure tourist sample obtained from secondary data. Visitors' expenditures across six types of spending (local transportation, lodging, food/beverages, gambling, retail shopping, and tours/admission fees), demographics, and travel information were collected. Data analysis included t tests revealing that volunteer tourists' spending was lower in five out of six categories, total daily expenditures, and total trip spending. Volunteer tourists spent more on local transportation, but preferred cheaper accommodations and dining, seldom gambled, shopped little at the destination, and rarely visited tourist attractions. Examining differences in expenditure patterns can help a destination develop sustainable tourism policy and maximize economic benefits of volunteer tourism. In conclusion, this article proposes strategies to promote economically and culturally sustainable volunteer tourism.

Accommodation in pediatric oncology: parental experiences, preferences and unmet needs

For families of children diagnosed with cancer, proximity to the treatment center and staying close to immediate family members are essential for proper patient management. Accommodation services are therefore a key consideration in pediatric oncology. This descriptive study explored the accommodation used, and preferred, by parents of pediatric cancer patients at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick (SCH), Australia, and investigated their accommodation and practical needs. Forty-two parents from 25 families participated in individual semi-structured telephone interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded line-by-line. Coding was facilitated by data analysis software QSR NVivo v8 (www.qsrinternational.com). Emergent themes were numerically assessed to minimize the potential for researcher bias. Nine families (36%) lived near SCH and were able to stay at their own residence during treatment (mean distance of 15.4 km from SCH). The remaining families were categorized 'local, but requiring accommodation' (n=3 families represented by five parent interviews; mean distance of 82.22 km from SCH),'inner regional' (IR) (n=8 families, 15 parent interviews; mean distance of 396.75 km from SCH) or 'outer regional' (OR) (n=3 families, 5 interviews; mean distance of 547.4 km from SCH) according to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) remoteness ratings. Accommodation provided for families from both IR and OR areas was mixed, with several families using multiple accommodation options during treatment, including Ronald Macdonald House (RMH), private accommodation or a rental property close to the hospital for the duration of the treatment. Six IR and one OR family utilized hotel or motel accommodation as an alternative to RMH due to unavailability of rooms. The majority of parents (37/42) preferred to stay on the hospital campus, near their child. Seven out of 11 IR and OR mothers preferred self-contained accommodation, while three out of nine IR and OR fathers preferred accommodation shared with other parents (ie communal). Difficulties with booking accommodation were a clear source of stress for IR and OR families, and despite subsidies, accommodation and travel caused a heavy financial burden. All IR and OR families (n=11) paid a minimum of $200 travel costs per trip to the hospital (with a maximum of $600 per person per trip). Despite this cost, only four IR (50%) and two OR (66.7%) families reported receiving financial aid for travel. With a large percentage of families travelling long distances for treatment at SCH, it is important to assess their accommodation needs and experiences. Although parents positively appraised the accommodation options they utilized, they also provided useful suggestions for enhancing the experiences of future families. There is a clear need for greater access to accommodation specifically tailored to suit the needs or preferences of families from rural and remote locations.

Improving Service Effectiveness in the High-Class Hotels in Varna (Bulgaria)

Goal and objectives of the dissertationGoalTo provide theoretical foundations and carry out empirical research on service in high-class hotels in Varna, in order to identify key opportunities for improving its effectiveness.Objectivesu To define the delivery of hotel serviceu To analyse its specific characteristics and mechanismsu To define the effectiveness of the service delivery systemu To develop a conceptual model and methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of the hotel service delivery systemu To investigate consumer satisfaction with service in the high-class hotels in Varnau To investigate the managers' assessment of service delivery systems in high-class hotels in Varnau To identify issues and proposals to improve service effectiveness in the city's high-class hotelsMethodologyThis dissertation employs a variety of research methods: analysis and synthesis; observation, survey questionnaire and in-depth interview; comparative analysis; and descriptive, statistical and mathematical methods. Empirical data have been collected through the questionnaire surveys, and the relevant responses have been processed using SPSS software. The purpose of the questionnaire survey method is to evaluate the service delivery system from both the customer' and the managers' point of view.Service effectiveness in the hotel sector is assessed via a concept model, based on the systems approach. Hotel service is represented as a system with input values, procedures and final results. The assessment of service effectiveness is made through a selection of criteria, taking into consideration the special features of hotel operations, as well as the providers and recipients of the service operation. There is a double assessment of benefits and effects - both for the hotel organization and for its customers.ResultsThe situational analysis of the city's hotel sector shows a steady downward trend in the number of hotels in Varna municipality due to oversaturation; there is also a decrease in the relative role of hotels in the accommodation structure of the municipality. Nevertheless, hotels provide the largest percentage of the total accommodation capacity (number of beds) and they are the preferred accommodation establishments on the territory of the municipality, with three- and four-star hotels having the largest market share. Small and medium-sized independent hotels predominate and only two international chains have properties in Varna.The analysis of high-class hotels in Varna shows that all 16 hotels from the surveyed group have a central or near central location; the hotel room rates are generally directly proportional to their star rating; in terms of the type structure, the hotels in the target group fall into three groups: 1. boutique hotels; 2. business hotels; 3. classic town hotels.Based on the results of the managers' survey, we can make the following conclusions:u Hotel managers value quite highly the role of the internet as a source of information, as an opportunity for advertising and as a convenience for potential customers;u Hotel service in welcoming and checking in the guest is effective and its strengths are associated with the personal qualities of service employees and the physical environment;u Hotel management considers as most important guests' first and last contact with the hotel, and therefore, it is the operations at those two times that are given the greatest weight in the assessments.Weaknesses occur in the following areas and it is these areas that offer opportunities for development in the future:u Lack of a clear and precise understanding on the part of management of all the opportunities that are available;u Ability of hotel staffto sell available services;u Checking guests into their rooms;u Quality of the physical environment;u Maintaining ongoing relationships with the guestsThe main conclusions from the customers' satisfaction and assessment survey are as follows:u Most reliable information source, according to tourists, is word of mouth from friends and acquaintances, as well as reviews by other tourists found on social network sites and internet forums. …

Understanding the Benefit Sought by Rural Tourists and Accommodation Preferences: A South Korea Case

ABSTRACTRural tourism has been widely acknowledged for its effectiveness in contributing to rural areas’ development. With strong government support, rural tourism has developed in many countries during the last several decades. This study aims to improve the understanding regarding tourism in Korean rural areas using a segmentation approach. The responses of 442 tourists in 23 rural villages were analyzed. Four segments of tourists were identified based on the different benefits they sought for their vacation in rural establishments. The estimation of a multinomial logit model determined the socio‐demographic characteristics and the preferred accommodations of a rural tourist. Discussions and implications of the detailed findings are provided in the last section. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.