Slovenian Hotel Research Articles

A Healthy Work Environment in the Slovenian Hotel Industry: Views of Employees Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Previous research has mostly overlooked the hotel employee- -related perspectives on (occupational) health, including its relation to pandemics (such as COVID-19). This research examines this perspective focusing on the case of the Slovenian hotel industry. An anonymous web questionnaire, as the only practical option, was sent during the lockdown to potential respondents from hotels throughout the country. For the analysis, the following approaches were employed: univariate analysis, the check of reliability and confidence intervals for the means, principal component analysis with Varimax rotation, and Spearman's and Pearson's rank-order correlations. The majority of respondents changed their attitude towards health during the pandemic (χ2 = 2.66). Using PCA, dimensionality-reduction of the dataset was implemented. A five-component solution, in which components account for 60.3% of the total variance, was identified. Due to low rs and rp, all components are negligibly correlated to demographic characteristics as well as to the respondents' changing health concerns due to COVID-19.

Total factor productivity of the Slovenian hotel companies

The article focuses on the study of performance factors of Slovenian hotel companies through Data Envelopment Analysis between 2001 and 2018. For this purpose, we introduced a balanced panel data of 20 hotel companies which differ by their size, type, the number of hotels within the company, and location. To determine efficiency factors, we used the Malmquist index, which can be broken down into a change in efficiency and technological change. The change in efficiency was further broken down into a change in pure technical efficiency and a change in scalar efficiency. Between 2001 and 2018, hotel companies recorded decline in total factor productivity index which was mainly due to the inability to implement new production technologies. One of the key reasons for deterioration in technological change was the 2008 economic crisis.

Work in Hotels Under Conditions Related to the Covid-19 Disease

Hotel employees are at increased risk of infection with SARS-Cov-2. Therefore, governments have taken many systematic measures to protect employees and employers (hoteliers). Since previous studies have almost entirely overlooked hotel employees' perspectives on the pandemic, this study determines how heterogeneously Slovenian hotel employees perceived the disease and their own work during and after the health crisis. The Two-Step and K-Means clustering methods were used to identify clusters of respondents. The One-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's HSD test was employed to verify the significant differences among groups/items. The sample included 301 completed questionnaires. A three-cluster solution with statistically significant differences was identified. Cluster 3, the largest, is particularly interesting, as its members are the most pessimistic of all. In contrast, Cluster 1, which is much smaller, included the most optimistic members (plain optimists). Cluster 2 is also interesting, as its members tend to be more extroverted – expressing the highest psychological burden and pessimistic views about the future provision of hotel services. Managers should provide clear instructions, education/training, tighten control, and do everything possible to prevent oversensitivity and excessively defensive responses that could hinder operational work.

Utilization Analysis of Slovenian Hotel Websites

The purpose of the article is to get an insight into the content of the websites of Slovenian four- and five-star hotels and, based on the set criteria, to determine which websites are more utilized than others. We defined the utilization criteria and analysed all four and five-star hotels in Slovenia using data clustering analysis. The content of the websites, analysed in 2017, at the first glance seems diverse, but when comparing their content, we concluded that there are no major statistical differences. An important discovery of the research falls on the security of most of the analysed websites – it is very flawed and sometimes misleading. The potential for interactivity and gamification remains untapped despite the various recommendations of experts and academics. Keywords: website, hotel, Slovenian hotel websites, security

Hotels and Halal-oriented Products: What Do Hotel Managers in Slovenia Think?

AbstractBackground and Purpose:Tourists from the Islamic world are significant stakeholders in the tourism market. The purpose of this paper is to identify the key aspects of halal tourism in connection with the hotel industry. Furthermore, we want to determine whether hotel managers are familiar with halal certification and on what basis they would opt for it.Design/Methodology/Approach:The research focuses on halal goods, services, and facilities, in general, and specifically in Slovenian hotels; concepts, contemporary trends, and the situation in Slovenia are presented. In response to the literature review, we applied the analysis of the factor loadings to define the important factors that influence the decision-making process; by applying PCA, we reduced the dependent variable to a single factor (although predictions were slightly different).Findings:The most important elements in the adoption of the certificate are the simplicity and efficiency of the procedure itself and the fact that the process does not require major financial investments. The element that significantly influences the managers’ decision-making process is the possibility of adjusting to the standard of the certificate.Conclusion:The paper’s main contribution is to deepen the perspective of the development of tourism in an area that remains a relatively undeveloped and unknown niche within the Slovenian tourism/hospitality industry but very promising in the global context.

The changing role of ICT competitiveness: the case of the Slovenian hotel sector

The purpose of the article is to survey the role of information and communication technology (ICT) for hotel firm’s competitiveness. Based on competitive advantage factor (CAF) and resource theory, this article empirically tests ICT as one of several possible competitiveness factors. The research is focused on analyse of ICT competitiveness position over time, with special attention to different generations of ICT technologies. An electronic survey instrument has been used to collect Slovenian hotel manager’s opinion on competitiveness resources in 2000 and 2010. Hypothesis testing and cluster analyses has been applied, SPSS was also used. The article's findings indicate that hotels need time to recognise the competitiveness potential of every new resource, and once they start to implement it its importance may change over time. Some firms might be slower in implementing new ICT resources, yet, over time, the resource use converges among the firms. The process is repeated with every new ICT generation. The study informs firms and researchers on practical and research issues forthcoming with ICT progression. Research results directly benefits hotel managers by providing actual information on how to employ different generations of ICT. This contribution is a novel way of connecting a firm’s competitiveness with different web generations over time.

ICT as a new competitive advantage factor – case of small transitional hotel sector

This paper studies the information and communication technology (ICT) in a small hotel sector at a point in time when the transition towards a full market economy is coming to the end and competitiveness and ICT implementation is gaining on importance. Its main purpose is to study a business potential of this new competitive advantage resource and its productivity paradox. A competitive advantage factor model (CAF model) has been proposed and the structural modelling (SEM) has been performed on the case of a small transitional Slovenian hotel sector. The study contributes to knowledge on ICT competiveness and ICT productivity paradox in hotel sector. Further, its results hold practical implications for the strategy for hotels operating in small-sized hotel industries in transitional or ICT developing environments. In more concrete terms, research findings indicate that such hotel sectors need to speed the ICT implementation. ICT as such doesn’t directly increase the firm’s profitability, yet there is an indirect positive impact of factor ICT on a firm’s financial performance that emerges through other competitiveness factors, such as differentiation, quality or image, which helps firms to stay competitive on the tourism markets.

An importance–performance analysis of sustainability factors for long-term strategy planning in Slovenian hotels

This paper explores the potential role of economic, environmental and social reporting in long-term strategy planning in the hospitality industry. The context of study is Slovenia. Following the development of a set of “sustainability” indicators, hospitality managers were asked to rate the importance of each indicator to sustainable operations and the performance of their firms in implementing management actions. Seven hotel performance factors were established across the triple bottom line. Using importance–performance analysis (IPA), key issues are identified as requiring the attention of stakeholders to support the sustainable development of Slovenia's hospitality industry. For managers, the 10 most important indicators include those related to economic performance, customer relationship and cost saving environmental activities: performance here, and in marketing, was perceived as poor. In contrast, actions taken to increase environmental awareness, and improve relationships with employees are seen by managers as less important, and even as possible overkills. Community relationships are seen as of low importance and where the industry performs relatively poorly. A major recommendation is that Slovenian hotel managers should focus on improving their economic performance: neglecting this could threaten hotels’ long-term survival. IPA analysis is shown as applicable to strategy making for sustainable development in hospitality industry contexts worldwide.

A study of expected and perceived service quality in Croatian and Slovenian hotel industry

The main purpose of present research is the comparison of guests’ expectations and perceptions of service quality in Croatian and Slovenian hotels. In order to measure hotel guests’ expectations and perceptions modified SERVQUAL model was developed. The questionnaire was designed in accordance with researches conducted by Parasuraman et al. (1988), Zeithaml et al. (1990), Snoj and Ogorelc (1998), Pizam and Ellis (1999) and Marković (2003). The questionnaire was divided in three parts: measurement of expected service quality, measurement of perceived service quality and demographic questions. Data were collected in hotel settings in Opatija Riviera (Croatia) and Slovenia’s coastal region. A total of 253 (Croatian sample) and 172 (Slovenian sample) completed and usable questionnaires were gathered. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis. The conducted statistical analysis revealed similarities in both surveys. The research results identified high level of guests’ expectations and perceptions regarding the hotel service quality, and importance of intangible aspects of hotel service.

Impact of CRM Implementation on Hotel Efficiency: Evidence from the Slovenian Hotel Sector

Managers know that it is easier to get business from existing customers than to attract entirely new customers. Many firms therefore aim to form deeper and stronger relationships with their customers in order to increase loyalty and repeat purchases. A central concept in this regard is customer relationship management (CRM). However, while previous research shows there are benefits attached to forging closer ties with customers, there are also some costs involved. Yet, very little research has investigated the central question of whether CRM endeavours are an efficient use of a firm's resources. In this paper, the authors address this gap and investigate the effect of CRM implementation on the cost and technical efficiency of hotels. They find support for the hypothesis that while CRM increases technical efficiency, it decreases cost efficiency. The authors discuss the managerial implications of their findings and provide directions for future research.

A hotel sustainability business model: evidence from Slovenia

This research explores and develops a hotel sustainability business model (HSBM) to study the sustainability orientation of the Slovenian hotel industry. Based on a comparative analysis of the existing sustainability and triple bottom line models, the usual content of a three-line HSBM (economic, environmental and sociocultural) was extended to include customer satisfaction, environmental education and power to implement changes. Financial, marketing and tourism sustainability experts investigated best practices in sustainability measurements and gathered appropriate sustainability indicators; expert opinion and the Delphi method refined and reduced an initial 79 indicators to 36 operational indicators, able to fulfil the HSBM's sub-categories within the extended triple bottom line. The HSBM's concept was used to study the sustainability of Slovenian hotel firms to reveal how important these indicators are for hotel managers and do they monitor them. Results indicated strong importance and measurement of economic and marketing indicators, such as profitability and customer satisfaction. Following the socialist tradition, companies recognise the importance of human resources, but the importance of environmental education and awareness building, biodiversity, and the establishment of partnerships with stakeholders to implement sustainable tourism development are neglected. Economic performance was, for example, monitored by 66% of respondents, environmental performance by 28% and social performance by 42%.

Does Triple Bottom Line reporting improve hotel performance?

Triple Bottom Line (TBL) reporting is a comprehensive approach to achieve sustainability as it integrates reporting on environmental, social and financial issues. While society is pushing hotels to increase their commitment to TBL reporting, opinions are divided as to whether TBL reporting affects hotel performance. The present study uses the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method to address this important question. Our results, based on a sample of Slovenian hotels, support the hypotheses that more extensive reporting on environmental, social and financial issues lead to better hotel performance. We show that reporting on environmental issues has a slightly higher impact on performance than reporting on social and financial issues. We discuss the implications of the study and provide directions for future research.

The performance of the Slovenian hotel industry: evaluation post‐privatisation

AbstractThis study analyses the technical efficiency of Slovenian hotels using the data envelopment analysis method. Multiple inputs and outputs are included in the analysis, ranging over the period 2005–2007. The results reveal an increase in efficiency over the period analysed. The results also confirm that factors such as the hotel's year in business, star rating and size are positively related to efficiency variations between hotels. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Privatization, market competition, international attractiveness, management tenure and hotel performance: Evidence from Slovenia

This paper tests several hypothesis related to the impact of privatization, market competition, management tenure and international attractiveness on the cost efficiency of tourist hotels. We measure efficiency using the innovative Bayesian frontier methodology. The data involve a sample of Slovenian hotels which operate in a highly dynamic environment. From the results, it is clear that hotel efficiency is positively related to privatization and international attractiveness, and negatively related to longer management tenure. No significant link, on the other hand, is found between market competition and hotel efficiency. Further discussions of these findings and related managerial implications are provided.

The influence of perceived value on customer loyalty in Slovenian hotel industry

Perceived value has an enormous influence on customer behavior, because it influences his decisions on product choice, purchase intentions and repeat purchasing. Most frequently it appears in connection with quality and customer satisfaction. The purpose of this article is to present the role of perceived values as marketing tool for assuring customer loyalty in Slovenian hotel industry, where knowing a guest and understanding his wishes and expectations plays an essential part. By means of qualitative marketing research it was ascertained that the offer of Slovenian hoteliers does not differ in general from the offer of other hoteliers; this is why they are trying to expose characteristics which are most appreciated by guests. They are laying great emphasis on culinary art, creation of homelike feeling and integrated experience.

ACCOUNTING SKILLS HOTEL ENTERPRISES NEED TODAY

The article presents a view of current happenings in the business and economic environment that are significantly influencing the knowledge requirements of modern accountants both worldwide and locally. First, we define the specific skills accountants are required to have apart from an in-depth expert knowledge of accounting. These skills have set the final boundary between accounting and ookkeeping. Later, the perspectives of certified accountants in Great Britain and Slovenia, as well as accountants working for Slovenian hotel enterprises are presented as regards the key factors influencing a change in accountants' tasks. Finally, the skills of modern accountants are presented, along with the underlying education and training system needed for gaining the title of a certified accountant.

Intellectual capital in the hotel industry: A case study from Slovenia

Human, structural and non-end-customer-relationship capital in the hotel industry need end-customer-relationship capital to reflect themselves in financial performance, as a study of the Slovenian hotel industry has shown. Till now the classical intellectual capital (IC) model and its applications has dealt with three categories: human, structural and relationship capital. The paper takes a step further in the evolution of the IC model for the hotel industry and divides relationship capital into two categories: end-customer-relationship capital that only refers to relations with end-customers and non-end-customer-relationship capital that embraces relations with all the other customers and/or partners. Such an approach enabled us to measure the influence of each IC category on the financial performance of hotel firms separately. The application of this model in the Slovenian hotel industry showed positive correlations between all pairs of IC categories. Although the total IC has a significant impact on financial performance, the study shows that only end-customer relationships proved to have a strong direct impact on financial results. The study suggests that Slovenian hotel management should improve IC by investment in human capital and information technology, both of which are connected to the urgent need for speeding up the process of direct distribution channels development in the category of end-customer-relationship capital, thereby directly influencing the financial performance of Slovenian hotel firms.