Showing papers on "Accommodation published in 2022"

User-Generated Content behavior and digital tourism services: A SEM-neural network model for information trust in social networking sites

Abstract: Social media and User-Generated Content contribute to the hospitality sector. Consumers usually post reviews, suggestions, or judgements on hotel booking websites regarding their accommodation during their travel and afterward. This article investigates the determinants that affect users’ trust in shared information related to travel acquired from social media or tourism sites. Data was obtained from 266 SNS users. Data was analyzed using both the Structural Equation Model (SEM) and the neural network model. Results show that perceived enjoyment and perceived value were the most critical factors that affected SNS users’ trust in the shared information about travel from social media or tourism sites. This paper provides valuable insight into travelers’ behavior and managerial implications of sharing information from SNS. From SNS, tourism managers should increase the delightful and fulfilling features of their websites to gain more shared information about travel.

US Physicians' Knowledge About The Americans With Disabilities Act And Accommodation Of Patients With Disability.

Abstract: More than thirty years since the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disability continue to experience health care disparities. The ADA mandates that patients with disability receive reasonable accommodations. In our survey of 714 US physicians in outpatient practices, 35.8 percent reported knowing little or nothing about their legal responsibilities under the ADA, 71.2 percent answered incorrectly about who determines reasonable accommodations, 20.5 percent did not correctly identify who pays for these accommodations, and 68.4 felt that they were at risk for ADA lawsuits. Physicians who felt that lack of formal education or training was a moderate or large barrier to caring for patients with disability were more likely to report little or no knowledge of their responsibilities under the law and were more likely to believe that they were at risk for an ADA lawsuit. To achieve equitable care and social justice for patients with disability, considerable improvements are needed to educate physicians and make health care delivery systems more accessible and accommodating.

Remedying Airbnb COVID-19 disruption through tourism clusters and community resilience

Abstract: Peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation markets have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little attention is paid to how to remedy the disruption in terms of P2P accommodation performance. This study empirically investigates the spatially heterogeneous COVID-19 disruptions in the Airbnb business and offers place-based remedying strategies through local resources, including tourism clusters and community resilience. Using real data on Airbnb operating performance and local resources in Florida, we employ spatial econometric models and visualization techniques to estimate the pandemic-disrupted Airbnb performance model. The results show that leisure and hospitality clusters and three resilience resources—social, community capital, and environmental—had spatially heterogeneous effects on Airbnb revenue and booking performance across Floridian counties during the pandemic. Furthermore, community resilience moderated the effect of tourism clusters on Airbnb performance across individual and subclustered counties. These findings enable P2P accommodation hosts and policymakers to adopt destination-specific remedying strategies to cope with the pandemic.

Peer-to-peer accommodation amid COVID-19: the effects of Airbnb cleanliness information on guests’ trust and behavioral intentions

Abstract: Purpose This study aims to explore the influence of different types of cleanliness information provided on the Airbnb platform (hosts’ sanitation labels, Airbnb cleaning protocol and previous guests’ reviews) on guests’ trust and behavioral intentions. Design/methodology/approach This study uses an online scenario-based experimental design. A two-step approach was applied to discover the proposed relationships by assessing the measurement model fit and validity of the constructs with confirmatory factor analysis and testing study hypotheses with structural equation modeling. Findings The results demonstrate that three types of cleanliness information (i.e. provided by Airbnb’s hosts, platform and customer reviews) had statistically significant effects on customers’ trust and behavioral intentions. Practical implications The research results provide practical recommendations for Airbnb hosts and peer-to-peer accommodation platforms on using several types of textual and visual cleanliness information to influence guests’ attitudes and behavioral intentions. Originality/value This study advances knowledge by introducing new factors affecting guests’ trust and behavioral intentions in peer-to-peer accommodation settings and differentiating the effects of different sources of cleanliness information and different types of guests’ trust.

An online reviews-driven large-scale group decision making approach for evaluating user satisfaction of sharing accommodation

Abstract: • It develops the user satisfaction criteria of peer-to-peer accommodation. • The individual opinions are aggregated by group consensus decision. • A minimal variance weights based feedback model is proposed for consensus. To promote the development of the peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation in sharing economy, it is important to understand and ensure the determinants of high-level user satisfaction. Focusing on factors that affect the travel experience of P2P accommodation users, this article proposes a large-scale group decision making (LSGDM) based method with online reviews to evaluate user satisfaction of sharing accommodation. Firstly, the user demands (UDs) reflecting the actual concerns of users are extracted by combining negative and positive reviews from P2P accommodation platform Airbnb, where negative reviews are classified by sentiment analysis, TF-IDF and Word2Vec technology are used for extraction and the further verification of UDs from all online reviews is performed. Secondly, the level of satisfaction is evaluated through online responses from P2P accommodation users in a large-scale group of decision makers. Thirdly, the final degrees of satisfaction are ascertained by the proposed LSGDM approach, which includes subgroup clustering and a minimal variance weights based feedback mechanism for fair weights allocation under the condition of reaching consensus. Finally, the conclusions further serve as references for improving the performance of P2P sharing accommodation.

The Effect of the Vergence-Accommodation Conflict on Virtual Hand Pointing in Immersive Displays

Abstract: Previous work hypothesized that for Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) displays a mismatch between disparities and optical focus cues, known as the vergence and accommodation conflict (VAC), affects depth perception and thus limits user performance in 3D selection tasks within arm’s reach (peri-personal space). To investigate this question, we built a multifocal stereo display, which can eliminate the influence of the VAC for pointing within the investigated distances. In a user study, participants performed a virtual hand 3D selection task with targets arranged laterally or along the line of sight, with and without a change in visual depth, in display conditions with and without the VAC. Our results show that the VAC influences 3D selection performance in common VR and AR stereo displays and that multifocal displays have a positive effect on 3D selection performance with a virtual hand.

Does accommodation work? Mainstream party strategies and the success of radical right parties

Abstract: This research note investigates how mainstream party strategies affect the success of radical right parties (RRPs). It is a widespread view that mainstream party accommodation of radical right core issue positions would reduce the radical right's success. Empirical evidence for this claim, however, remains inconclusive. Using party level data as well as micro-level voter transitions between mainstream and RRPs, we re-evaluate the effectiveness of accommodative strategies and also test whether they work contingent on specific conditions, e.g., the newness of radical right challengers or the existence of a cordon sanitaire. We do not find any evidence that accommodative strategies reduce radical right support. If anything, our results suggest that they lead to more voters defecting to the radical right. Our findings have important implications for the study of multi-party competition as they challenge what has become a core assumption of this literature: that accommodative strategies reduce niche party success.

How do consumers select between hotels and Airbnb? A hierarchy of importance in accommodation choice

Abstract: Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of key decision-making attributes on consumers’ choice of accommodation among and between hotels and Airbnb. Design/methodology/approach The study used a choice-based conjoint approach using 21 key decision-making factors that impact consumers’ choice of accommodation across five segments ranging from economy to luxury. Latent class estimation was used to identify segments of respondents who tend to have similar preferences for accommodation. Findings The results showed the presence of a consistent pattern of decision-making across the five accommodation segments, culminating in a hierarchy of importance in accommodation choice. The 21 key decision-making attributes comprised three tiers in order of decreasing importance: quality and service, amenities, and accessibility and safety. Further, latent class analysis indicated the presence of a hotel group and an Airbnb group of customers, which allowed us to identify how both types of providers might maximize the value of their offers to encourage customer switch. Research limitations/implications The accommodation landscape is extremely dynamic (particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds) and complex. The present study cannot capture all of its intricacies but provides an invaluable foundation for future research on the topic of consumer choice in an evolving and competitive accommodation market. Originality/value Extant research on accommodation choice has focused on hotels or Airbnb only. Moreover, research that has considered both types of accommodation simultaneously is limited in its conceptual and methodological scope. The present study synthesizes the fragmented literature on consumers’ accommodation choices and offers a holistic and coherent schematic – the hierarchy of importance in accommodation choice – that can be used by future researchers and practitioners alike.

Fault Estimation and Accommodation of Fractional-Order Nonlinear, Switched, and Interconnected Systems

Abstract: This discusses the fault estimation (FE) and fault accommodation (FA) methods for fractional-order systems. First, two Lyapunov theorems of input-to-state practical stability are presented for fractional-order systems, based on which an adaptive FE/FA scheme is provided. Such a scheme ensures the faulty system is input-to-state practically stable (ISpS) with respect to estimation errors. Furthermore, new results are extended to fractional-order switched and interconnected systems: for the former, an FE/FA method is proposed which fully reveals the tradeoff between the value of the fractional order, each mode's dynamics, and switching law; for the latter, a cyclic-small-gain theorem of the fractional-order system is given under which both decentralized and distributed FE/FA methods are proposed.

Gaze‐Matched Pupil Steering Maxwellian‐View Augmented Reality Display with Large Angle Diffractive Liquid Crystal Lenses

Abstract: Maxwellian‐view structure exhibits several advantages in augmented reality (AR) displays, such as high efficiency, always‐in‐focus (no vergence‐accommodation conflict (VAC)), and simple optical structure. However, the bottleneck of Maxwellian‐view is its tiny eyebox. Extensive efforts have been devoted to enlarge the eyebox of the Maxwellian‐view system based on pupil duplication or pupil steering by creating multiple viewing points, however, the important gaze matching is neglected. Once the virtual image center deviates from the user's eye gaze, it will bring an unnatural viewing experience. Herein, a gaze‐matching Maxwellian‐view AR system with an enlarged eyebox is demonstrated. In the meantime, this AR system also maintains the properties of aberration‐free, high efficiency, highly transparent for ambient light, and relatively large field of view. Moreover, two layers of off‐axis cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) lenses are applied as the optical combiner in the system, which is lightweight and compact. The off‐axis angle of such a CLC lens is as large as 60 degrees, which plays a vital role in future Maxwellian‐view AR headsets.

Distributed Fault Accommodation of Multiple Sensor Faults for a Class of Nonlinear Interconnected Systems

Abstract: This article considers the design and analysis of a distributed sensor fault accommodation scheme for a class of nonlinear systems, modeled as interconnected subsystems. Each subsystem is subject to possible local sensor faults or may be impacted by a sensor fault in a neighboring subsystem due to the exchange of information between neighboring controllers. The proposed adaptive approximation-based distributed fault accommodation scheme is triggered in the event that a sensor fault is detected. The stability of the closed-loop system in the presence of sensor faults is rigorously analyzed both for the period prior to the detection of the fault, as well as after the detection of the fault when the fault accommodation scheme is activated. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is illustrated by a simulation example.

A Study of Inbound Travelers Experience and Satisfaction at Quarantine Hotels in Indonesia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract: The tourism and hospitality sectors contribute significantly to the Indonesian economy. Meanwhile, COVID-19 affects these sectors. During the pandemic, the Indonesian government applied quarantine regulations at designated hotels to support its tourism industry. Since COVID-19 is becoming endemic and travel bans are being relaxed, hotel satisfaction becomes a crucial factor in quarantine hotels. If guests have a positive experience while staying at these hotels, they are likely to return for a staycation or vacation in the near future. The study examined 4856 reviews from Google reviews on 15 quarantine hotels in Indonesia. Following word frequency calculations in a matrix, UCINET 6.0 is used to analyze the network centrality and perform CONCOR analysis. The CONCOR analysis categorizes the review data into five categories. As quantitative analysis was performed, exploratory factor analysis was grouped into six variables: tangible, assurance, frontline, accommodation, quarantine, and location. As a result, tangible, assurance, and frontline negatively impacted guest satisfaction. Furthermore, three other variables: accommodation, quarantine, location, which have a positive influence, will lead to increased trust from inbound travelers. For managerial implication, results allow managers of quarantine hotels in Indonesia to focus more on improving tangible, assurance, and frontline factors.

Prosumer-to-customer exchange in the sharing economy: Evidence from the P2P accommodation context

Abstract: Numerous prosumers who share their spare resources have contributed significantly to sharing economy development in recent years. Existing research on the sharing economy has primarily focused on the service demand side of consumers, thus neglecting the service supply side of individual prosumers. Understanding of the service exchange between prosumers and customers in the peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing economy remains limited. Drawing on the motivation, opportunity, and ability (MOA) model and social exchange theory, we developed a conceptual framework to explore how prosumers’ service attributes influence consumers in a P2P accommodation sharing context. Using 313 questionnaires and 112 paired objective data points from prosumers in one popular P2P accommodation platform (i.e., Xiaozhu.com), this research found that prosumers’ economic motivation, service flexibility, and service knowledge level have distinct effects on consumers’ transactional-based and relational-based participation. We also found a moderating role of prosumers’ shared property management on these effects.

Criteria selection and decision making of hotels using Dominance Based Rough Set Theory

Abstract: Accommodation is one of the necessities of tourists and travel agencies' significant responsibilities. With the growing competition and profit-making various tour organising companies have started providing attractive accommodation options to the travellers to win their choices. Present research performs a case study on accommodation providing hotels through designing a strategy to enhance their profit earrings by welcoming more and more tourists. The methodology comprises rough set theory (RST) using the Dominance Based rough set theory (DRST) on the collected data of selected variables such as location, facility, value for money, etc., of hotels. Correspondingly, if and then decision rule has been used to classify these variables. The statistical methods regression analysis has also been used to define each variable's relationship and influence on concerned authorities' decision-making. The results show that hotels and tourists can benefit from the proposed strategy and help in decision making by understanding tourist behaviour, increasing profit, improving services, and quality of hotels.

The Welfare Effects of Peer Entry: The Case of Airbnb and the Accommodation Industry

Abstract: We study the welfare effects of enabling peer supply through Airbnb in the accommodation industry. We present a model of competition between flexible and dedicated sellers (peer hosts and hotels) who provide differentiated products. We estimate this model using data from major US cities and quantify the welfare effects of Airbnb on travelers, hosts, and hotels. The welfare gains are concentrated in specific locations (New York) and times (New Year’s Eve) when hotel capacity is constrained. This occurs because peer hosts are responsive to market conditions, expand supply as hotels fill up, and keep hotel prices down as a result. (JEL L11, L83, L86, L88, Z31)

Jobs, Crime and Votes: A Short‐run Evaluation of the Refugee Crisis in Germany

Abstract: Millions of refugees made their way to Europe between 2014 and 2015, with over one million arriving in Germany alone. Yet little is known about the impact of this inflow on labour markets, crime and voting behaviour. This paper uses administrative data on asylum seeker allocation and provides an evaluation of the short-run consequences of the refugee inflow. Our identification strategy exploits the fact that a scramble for accommodation determined the assignment of asylum seekers to German counties, resulting in exogenous variation in the number of asylum seekers per county within and across states. Our estimates suggest that those migrants have not displaced native workers but have themselves struggled to find gainful employment. We find moderate increases in crime, and our analysis further indicates that while at the macro level increased migration was accompanied by increased support for anti-immigrant parties, exposure to asylum seekers at the micro level had a small negative effect.

Is this time <i>really</i> different? How the impact of the COVID‐19 crisis on labour markets contrasts with that of the global financial crisis of 2008–09

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a more severe labour market crisis in 2020 than that witnessed during the 2009 global financial crisis. As a consequence of lockdown measures, which have been the main cause of damage to labour markets, the deepest impacts in 2020 have been found in middle-income economies, while certain sectors, such as accommodation and food services, and groups, especially young women, have proved to be particularly vulnerable. Contrary to adjustment processes during the global financial crisis, the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a greater rise in inactivity than in unemployment. Policy support needs to be maintained to avoid an unequal recovery.

Delighting Hotel Guests with Sustainability: Revamping Importance-Performance Analysis in the Light of the Three-Factor Theory of Customer Satisfaction

Abstract: Tourism has a key role in the global economy, and it is a significant contributor to environmental degradation and climate change. Concurrently, it is one of the most exposed businesses to the deterioration of environmental quality. Inside the tourism sector, the hospitality industry accounts for nearly 30% of emissions and in recent years has begun to introduce voluntary tools to manage the environmental impacts of its operations. Among these instruments, ecolabels ensure compliance with specific environmental performance criteria and reliable communication. In Italy, Legambiente Turismo is the most widespread tourism ecolabel that awards over 300 hotels. Previous investigations have shown that firms implementing environmental sustainability practices may gain economic advantages in terms of savings thanks to increased efficiency and reduced waste. At the same time, when evaluating firms’ performance, it is relevant to explore how customers perceive the actions implemented by the accommodation industry to minimize the environmental impact of its activities. Through a survey addressed to the customers of an eco-labeled hotel, this paper investigates if green practices form a specific dimension of service quality and if these green practices are considered by hotel guests as excitement factors among hotel service quality attributes. Results show that customers identify environmental practices as a specific dimension of eco-labeled hotels. Moreover, applying the three-factors theory of customer satisfaction, findings identify hotel green practices as delighting guests if properly delivered and communicated. Findings have significant implications both from a theoretical and managerial viewpoint, as they show that customers positively recognize the hotel’s commitment toward the natural environment, representing a significant differentiation strategy on the market.

Association between housing and health of refugees and asylum seekers in Germany: explorative cluster and mixed model analysis

Abstract: Accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees (ASR) in Germany differs in many ways depending on a range of political, structural, social, and environmental factors. These contextual differences present a challenge for assessing health impacts of refugee accommodation. We aimed to devise a broad typology of refugee accommodation that allows to assess associations between housing and health of ASR.We performed a cluster analysis of population-based, cross-sectional secondary data in Germany to identify clusters of refugee accommodation. We then assessed health disparities across clusters by performing bivariate analysis and linear mixed model regression analysis.We identified four clusters, three of them reflected different types of private accommodation and one pointed to collective accommodation. The collective accommodation cluster clearly differed from the private accommodation clusters in terms of space, area, level of restrictions, social connections and respondent satisfaction. Across private accommodation clusters we also found differences in space, area, and level of restrictions. In regression analysis, belonging to one of the private accommodation cluster was significantly associated with better mental health compared to belonging to the collective accommodation cluster. Physical health was significantly lower in one private accommodation cluster characterized by poor access to public transport and a higher level of restrictions compared to a private accommodation cluster showing better connections and a lower level of restrictions.We demonstrate that unfavourable conditions cluster in collective accommodation with negative outcomes for mental health but not for physical health. We also found health disparities across types of private accommodation. We conclude that housing plays a role in the production of health inequalities in ASR but needs to be assessed in a differentiated, multidimensional way.

Entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from the Business Formation Statistics

Abstract: Applications for new businesses from the US Census Bureau’s monthly and weekly Business Formation Statistics fell substantially in the early stages of the pandemic but then surged in the second half of 2020. This surge has continued through May 2021. The pace of applications since mid-2020 is the highest on record (earliest data available is 2004). The large increase in applications is for both likely new employers and nonemployers. These patterns contrast sharply with those in the Great Recession, when applications for likely new employer businesses and in turn actual start-ups of employer businesses declined sharply and persistently. The surge in new business applications has been uneven across sectors. Ten three-digit North American Industry Classification System industries account for 75% of the surge. Dominant industries include Nonstore Retail (alone accounting for 33% of the surge), Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, Truck Transportation, and Accommodation and Food Services. Given that existing small businesses in Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services have suffered especially large declines in the pandemic, these patterns are consistent with restructuring induced by the pandemic.