Showing papers in "Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research in 2004"
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors tested the fit of the theory of planned behavior with potential travelers from Mainland China to Hong Kong as the sample (n = 328) and found that data fitted the TPB model moderately well and explained respondents' traveling intention.
Abstract: Tourist behavior theories have been the focus of research in many tourism studies, but how travelers’ behavioral intention in choosing a travel destination is developed has rarely been investigated. This study tested the fit of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with potential travelers from Mainland China to Hong Kong as the sample (n = 328). Results showed that data fitted the TPB model moderately well and explained respondents’traveling intention. Attitude, perceived behavioral control, and past behavior were found to be related to respondents’travel intention. Recommendations were provided for government and tourism bodies to market Hong Kong as a destination for Mainland Chinese travelers.
354 citations
TL;DR: This article examined the influence of prior knowledge on travelers' information search behavior and found that expertise is a function of familiarity and both familiarity and expertise affect travelers'information search behavior, however, the magnitude and direction of the effects of travelers' familiarity on their information search behaviour are different from the effect of their expertise.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of prior knowledge on travelers’information search behavior. This study examined prior knowledge as having two dimensions: familiarity and expertise. The influence of familiarity and expertise on information search was examined utilizing a structural equation modeling approach. The results of this study provide support for multidimensional prior knowledge. The results also indicate that expertise is a function of familiarity and both familiarity and expertise affect travelers’information search behavior. However, the magnitude and direction of the effects of travelers’familiarity on their information search behavior are different from the effects of their expertise. Findings suggest that although the effect of familiarity on internal search is positive and on external search is negative, the effect of expertise on internal search is negative and on external search is positive.
126 citations
TL;DR: U.S. hotel brands and international hotel brands headquartered in the United States have increasingly evolved away from being hotel operating companies to being brand management and franchise admin... as mentioned in this paper. But this is not the case for all of them.
Abstract: U.S. hotel brands and international hotel brands headquartered in the United States have increasingly evolved away from being hotel operating companies to being brand management and franchise admin...
94 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a previously researched positive relationship between long-term debt and growth opportunities in the U.S. lodging industry is investigated, in further detail, and a prior study is presented.
Abstract: This article investigates, in further detail, a previously researched positive relationship between long-term debt and growth opportunities in the U.S. lodging industry. In addition to utilizing va...
70 citations
TL;DR: Work-family conflict has been receiving increased attention in research as mentioned in this paper, and it is hypothesized that for lower-income Hispanics, work can be seen as a release from family conflict issues.
Abstract: The issue of work-family conflict has been receiving increased attention in research. This research extends the literature by applying emerging work-family conflict theory in the hospitality industry. The research was done in seven hotels with a primarily Hispanic (91%) workforce. It was found that, expectedly, work-to-family conflict issues were related to lower job satisfaction. It was also found, quite unexpectedly, that family-to-work conflict issues were related to a higher job satisfaction. It is hypothesized that for this group— primarily lower-income Hispanics, work can be seen as a release from family conflict issues.
70 citations
TL;DR: This article examined the relationship between national values and tipping customs in a sample of 45 nations and found that national values predict international differences in customary tip sizes as well as international differences between the number of tipped professions.
Abstract: This study examines the relationships between national values and tipping customs in a sample of 45 nations. The results of the study conceptually replicate and extend the work of Lynn, Zinkhan and Harris (1993) by demonstrating for the first time that national values predict international differences in customary tip sizes as well as international differences in the number of tipped professions. They also indicate that customary tip sizes for different service professions are related to different values, suggesting that the important functions of tipping vary across service contexts.
55 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors highlight the effects of individual characteristics and the influence of psychological factors on choice behavior within the context of managerial decisions and present the literature based on the managers'individual characteristics.
Abstract: Decision choice, risk attitude, and uncertainty have all been developed in numerous research works. A large amount of literature has been dedicated to decisional orientation within the context of firm management. Most of the articles and theories present choice behavior as rather rational and exclusively geared toward business. Few authors highlight the effects of individual characteristics and the influence of psychological factors on choice behavior within the context of managerial decisions. The first objective of this article is to present the literature based on the managers’individual characteristics. In the second part of the article, we study the influence of individual characteristics on the decision making of entrepreneurs in the tourism industry. Research data were obtained from a survey of hotel/restaurant managers of small- and medium-sized firms.
52 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the equivalence of a psychographic model of the student travel market across the two markets: the Australian and U.S. was evaluated using a multiple group comparison in covariance structure.
Abstract: The primary purpose of this article is to use a multiple group comparison in covariance structure to test the equivalence of a psychographic model of the student travel market across the two markets: the Australian and U.S. Path modeling is used to achieve this objective. The relationships between major psychographic factors such as cultural values, personality, travel motivation, preferences for activities and lifestyle are examined. A self-administered personally handed questionnaire received responses from 528 U.S. and 424 Australian undergraduate students. Several models are investigated to compare the regression coefficients across the two student groups to test the significance of differences. Significant differences were found in eight out of nine hypothesized paths. Thus, despite the model being conceptually equivalent for the two student groups, the strengths of relationships among the variables are different. The article concludes with a discussion of the research and marketing implications of t...
51 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the impact on customer loyalty of giving customers an informed choice in determining their service experience, and by providing relevant information about the choices, customer loyalty was maintained or improved following a service failure.
Abstract: This study examined the impact on customer loyalty of giving customers an informed choice. The main objective was to find that if giving customers a choice in determining their service experience, and by providing relevant information about the choices, customer loyalty was maintained or improved following a service failure. The study examined the interactive effects of the foreseeability of the service failure on the choice manipulation. A 3 (choice: no choice, uninformed choice, or informed choice) by 2 (foreseeability: unforeseeable or foreseeable service failure) design was used to test the effects of informed choice on customer loyalty. The principal finding was that customer loyalty was highest in the informed choice and foreseeable condition. This would suggest that hospitality managers should give choices to their customers as well as relevant information about their choices. Additionally, it suggests that management identify possible service failures, making them foreseeable to both customer and ...
48 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors conducted a survey with 2,000 5-star hotel guests to establish how frequent guests to two properties on the Gold Coast, Australia perceived the current effectiveness of the marketing strategies used to create guest loyalty.
Abstract: With the changing focus of marketing in the hospitality industry having moved toward relationship marketing and establishing loyalty among customers, it is fundamental for hospitality and tourism organizations to establish what their consumers think in terms of strategies used by hotel properties to secure their loyal customer. This article outlines the results of research conducted with 2,000 5-star hotel guests to establish how frequent guests to two properties on the Gold Coast, Australia perceived the current effectiveness of the marketing strategies used to create guest loyalty. A market segmentation of the different levels of the so-called loyal guest is presented, and a gap analysis of existing versus preferred rewards for loyalty is discussed.
44 citations
TL;DR: The higher overall conflict exists between spouses, the more likely they employ information gathering as a conflict resolution mode, and information gathering and family discussion induced higher levels of satisfaction among couples.
Abstract: The purposes of this study were to explore spousal interpersonal-conflict level and resolution modes used in determining a family vacation destination and to assess spouses’satisfaction about the d...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the properties of a shortened version of the Tourism and Hospitality Organizational Climate Schemas (THOCSOCS) in a tourism and hospitality environment.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the properties of a shortened, and therefore more conveniently applied, version of the seven dimension Tourism and Hospitality Organizational Climate Sc...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined consumers' perceptions of frustration as it relates to service failure in service-based transactions and found that consumers' propensity to complain was related to their perceptions of receiving adequate information in the customer-server exchange regarding service failures, negative attitudes toward complaining was not significantly related to information inadequacy or perceptions of consumer frustration.
Abstract: Based on the customer-server exchange, this investigation examines the phenomenon of consumer frustration. Specifically, this investigation examines consumers' perceptions of frustration as it relates to service failure in service-based transactions. The results indicate that consumers'(a) propensity to complain was related to their perceptions of receiving adequate information in the customer-server exchange regarding service failures, (b) negative attitudes toward complaining was not significantly related to information inadequacy or perceptions of consumer frustration, and (c) perceptions of information inadequacy were significantly related to perceptions of consumer frustration in the customer-server exchange.
TL;DR: The state of North Carolina was ravaged by the effects of successive hurricanes, followed by the worst flooding in 500 years during September and October of 1999 as mentioned in this paper, and the state's hotel rooms were evacuated at the request of the state hotel association.
Abstract: During September and October of 1999, the state of North Carolina was ravaged by the effects of successive hurricanes, followed by the worst flooding in 500 years. At the request of the state hotel...
TL;DR: In this paper, a sample of 466 cross-border diners living near the U.S.-Canada border provided information about an array of potential influencing variables, including ethnocentrism, value drivers, variety seeking, awareness, affective/social considerations, ease of border crossing, perceived differences between restaurants on the two sides of the border, and distance fromthe border.
Abstract: Consumers who cross national borders potentially participate in multiple consumption experiences. This study focuses on one of the most common—the dining experience. It examines the variables that motivate or inhibit crossing national borders to dine and profiles motivational segments of cross-border diners. A sample of 466 cross-border diners living near the U.S.-Canada border provided information about an array of potential influencing variables. Factor analysis revealed the existence of eight dimensions: ethnocentrism, value drivers, variety seeking, awareness, affective/social considerations, ease of border crossing, perceived differences between restaurants on the two sides of the border, and distance fromthe border. Ethnocentrism and affective/social considerations exerted the strongest influence on consumer cross-border-dining perceptions and behaviors. Three distinct motivational segments emerged—variety seekers, comfort seekers, and value seekers. Discussion profiles each segment, identifies mark...
TL;DR: In this article, a multi-stage synthetic model is presented to aid hotel room pricing, including fixed and variable costs, profit goal, and identification of the best hotel rooms for each room.
Abstract: This study presents a multi-stage synthetic model designed to aid hotel room pricing. The complicated factors used in this model include fixed and variable costs, profit goal, identification of mar...
TL;DR: The authors conducted a survey with 600 randomly sampled residents to identify the factors that contributed to residents' support for or opposition to land-based casinos in Kentucky, and found that education, employment status, and religion were significant factors.
Abstract: This study pursues who the proponents and opponents of casino gaming are, focusing on the currently debated introduction of land-based casinos in Kentucky. A survey was conducted with 600 randomly sampled residents. Qualitative Choice Models were considered to identify the factors that contributed to residents’ support for or opposition to casino gaming. A Logistic Regression (Logit) model was chosen and education, employment status, and religion were found significant in the model. The fact that more respondents opposed the legalization of the proposed land-based casino gaming leaves the debate wide open to continued discussion.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined determinants of cash compensation of chief ex-employees in the casino industry and found out how the industry may improve its executive compensation structure to enhance shareholder wealth.
Abstract: In an attempt to find out how the casino industry may improve its executive compensation structure to enhance shareholder wealth, this article examines determinants of cash compensation of chief ex...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors conducted an interdisciplinary study of price presentation in fine dining and quick-service segments and found that the degree of this effect could vary within the industry depending on the nature of a segment: fine dining, casual dining, and quick service.
Abstract: In the hospitality field, pricing research is mostly limited to economic implications of pricing decisions (yield management), choices in pricing practices, and reference pricing. Price presentation and its impact on consumer preference, however, is another aspect of pricing research that has not been as well developed. The current study makes an effort to fill this gap through an interdisciplinary study of price presentation drawing from the fields of biology, psychology, marketing and hospitality management. The obtained results demonstrated that the method of price presentation has a significant effect on overall consumer preference and the perceptions of quality and value. Furthermore, the results also indicated that the degree of this effect could vary within the industry depending on the nature of a segment: fine dining, casual dining, and quick service. The impact of price presentation, left versus right, on consumer preference was found to be significant in fine dining and quick-service segments b...
TL;DR: Research and current practice in many organizational settings suggest that high retention ratios result from positive work environments as discussed by the authors, and for the majority of organizations with seasonal business, Hohenberger et al.
Abstract: Research and current practice in many organizational settings suggest that high retention ratios result from positive work environments. For the majority of organizations with seasonal business, ho...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors attempted to identify financial factors that affect bond ratings of hotel and casino firms by estimating a bond-rating prediction model based on 5-year weighted average values of financial variables.
Abstract: This study attempts to identify financial factors that affect bond ratings of hotel and casino firms by estimating a bond-rating prediction model. The ordinary least square model based on 5-year weighted average values of financial variables was able to correctly predict 60% of the bond ratings of hotel and casino firms rated by Moody’s. The model shows that number of times interest earned ratio, return on assets, and total assets have a significant impact on the bond rating of hotel and casino firms. The findings suggest that large hotel and casino firms with high return on assets and great debt service coverage tend to receive high bond ratings from Moody’s.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the relationships among two dimensions of organizational climate and several indices of individual and unit-level effectiveness, and proposed that an organization's service and training climate would be related to employee capabilities.
Abstract: For the current study, the authors examined the relationships among two dimensions of organizational climate and several indices of individual and unit-level effectiveness. Specifically, the article proposes that an organization's service and training climate would be related to employee capabilities—operationalized in terms of frontline service capabilities and managerial support capabilities—and that such capabilities would be related to unitlevel measures of employee turnover and sales growth. Using survey and operational data from 201 management and frontline staff members in 22 units of a national restaurant chain, the results from correlation and regression analyses generally supported the proposed relationships. This study replicates and extends previous research and provides a foundation for future conceptual development and empirical work in this research area.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an empirical study of lodging industry executives' beliefs regarding strategic issues that they consider to be most important, and the results of an exploratory factor analysis indicate that among 20 potential strategic issues rated by executives in the study, three fundamental strategic directions exist.
Abstract: This article presents an empirical study of lodging industry executives’ beliefs regarding strategic issues that they consider to be most important. The authors theorize that fundamental factors exist indicating certain commonalties regarding executives’mental models about strategic issues.The possible influence of an industry macroculture is investigated as a source of similarity of mental models among executives competing in the lodging industry, and hypotheses are developed and tested regarding the sources of the macroculture. The results of an exploratory factor analysis indicate that among 20 potential strategic issues rated by executives in the study, 3 fundamental strategic directions exist. Furthermore, the results of the study indicate that professional journals, associations, conferences, and previous employment may be sources of the macroculture. Implications for research and practice are presented.
TL;DR: In this article, a literature review demonstrates that there is still a clear gap in benchmarking relating to tourist destinations and suggests a benchmarking model for use in measuring and improving the performance of tourist destinations.
Abstract: As a performance management and improvement method beyond comparison research, benchmarking was originally carried out within manufacturing businesses to identify gaps and suggest the relevant techniques to close them. Subsequently, it has been modified by different researchers and also applied to service industries, such as accounting, hotels, and transportation. Despite this, a literature review demonstrates that there is still a clear gap in benchmarking relating to tourist destinations. In line with the theoretical background, this article therefore aims to suggest a benchmarking model for use in measuring and improving the performance of tourist destinations.
TL;DR: An understanding of the role of relationship building and the constructs that are important to developing business-to-business relationships can assist salespersons in developing successful strategies as discussed by the authors, which can also assist salesperson to develop successful strategies.
Abstract: An understanding of the role of relationship building and the constructs that are important to developing business-to-business relationships can assist salespersons in developing successful strateg
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors suggested that an informed choice maintains or increases loyalty as a result of causing customers to share the responsibility for service failures, but the research, however, was...
Abstract: Previous research has suggested that an informed choice maintains or increases loyalty as a result of causing customers to share the responsibility for service failures. The research, however, was ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors illustrate the use of repeated measures experimental design in hospitality research and discuss the methodological implications of using repeated measures in the context of research projects. But, they do not discuss the effect of the repeated measures on the quality of the results obtained.
Abstract: High internal validity and longitudinality of research projects are very important to ensure confidence in the results obtained. Experimental designs are highly recommended to ensure internal validity; repeated measures can aid in designing longitudinal studies. This article illustrates the use of repeated measures experimental design in hospitality research. Methodological implications are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, a comparison between United States customers and Hong Kong customers in restaurant service expectations is used to demonstrate that latent variable scores are more appropriate than simple average scores for cross-cultural comparisons.
Abstract: Current cross-cultural comparisons in hospitality and tourism research are largely based on differences in simple average scores. This method assumes equal weights for the items and hence fails to address cross-cultural differences in the relative importance of each attribute in comprising the overall evaluation. In this study, a comparison between United States customers and Hong Kong customers in restaurant service expectations is used to demonstrate that latent variable scores are more appropriate than simple average scores for cross-cultural comparisons. The two samples demonstrate differences in relative importance for some items measuring restaurant service expectations. By calculating the latent variable score both with and without factorial invariance, researchers can decompose cross-cultural differences into a component due to item responses, and a second component due to unequal item-construct relationships. It is demonstrated that meaningful cross-cultural comparisons are possible only when non...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide a well-balanced overview of all the different facets of the phenomenon of interconnections by covering aspects and issues related to regionalism and deterritorialization; culture and heritage; ecotourism; political; and socioeconomic issues.
Abstract: This book consolidates under one cover the current thinking and research on one of the most significant changes in tourism, namely, the concept of interconnections at various levels of tourism. Strategic alliances between rival companies, vertical integration between and across firms, collaboration between public and private sectors, and partnerships between countries and regions have become common practice in tourism. This theme is addressed from a Southeast Asian perspective by focusing on the way in which individual countries have coalesced (or have attempted to coalesce) with each other and the “outside” world under the banner of regionalism and globalization. The book aims to provide a wellbalanced overview of all the different facets of the phenomenon of interconnections by covering aspects and issues related to regionalism and deterritorialization; culture and heritage; ecotourism; political; and socioeconomic issues. This is achieved by clustering research papers/chapters into five parts, each part focusing on one particular issue. However, an introductory chapter is provided at the beginning of the book, which effectively analyzes the theoretical underpinnings of the concept of interconnections and offers a clear analysis of the current tourism demand and supply situation in Southeast Asian countries. Each chapter includes an extensive and in-depth literature review of the related topic; plenty of examples and up-to-date industry and research-based information; wellpresented and explained case studies; maps, photographs, and other illustrations to make arguments clear; and an extensive list of references. The book is reader-friendly, which is demonstrated in its writing style and language. All chapters offer an excellently presented, comprehensive, and timely synthesis of internationally conducted research. Part 1 explains the political discourse behind tourism by bringing to light some systematic questions regarding the tensions associated with the interconnections. Two chapters focus on regional-centered political issues. In the first chapter, Michael Hall clearly illustrates how tourism becomes part of the new political geography of globalization, and of Asia in particular, as a result of the changing and dynamic role that individual states play in relation to the global political environment and the tourism policy. The role of political stability and ethics as tools for tourism development is also thoroughly debated and supported by a review of past studies and plenty of examples. However, globalization and growth in long-haul and intraregional traffic is found to lead to increased competition and tensions between destinations within Southeast Asia. To address the latter, planning and policymaking actors should understand the nature of interconnections and the functional structure of the regions. To that end in his chapter, Pearce Douglas develops and examines a comprehensive, five-step approach for analyzing tourism in a region. By investigating the concept and role of nodal functions and hierarchies, the proposed framework provides a holistic, systematic, and rigorous analysis of tourism in a region that overcomes previous