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1 – 10 of over 6000Viriya Taecharungroj and Steve Millington
The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast amenity mixes of innovation districts worldwide and to identify the types of amenities in the districts.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast amenity mixes of innovation districts worldwide and to identify the types of amenities in the districts.
Design/methodology/approach
Urban amenity data were collected from Google Maps as 31,236 points of interest (POIs) in 24 innovation districts. The data were compared and categorised based on the density and diversity of amenity mixes using correspondence analysis. An overall amenity space of the 24 innovation districts was created using correlation and social network analyses.
Findings
This study found that innovation districts have broad ranges of diversity and density. Five groups were identified by correspondence analysis, including retail, foodie, balanced, emerging and health-care districts. The amenity space of innovation districts created using correlation and social network analyses categorised amenities into four broad types – necessary, anchor, vibrant and contextual amenities – based on eigenvector centrality scores and density.
Practical implications
To improve their innovation districts, managers are encouraged to create a foundation of innovations with anchor amenities, to ensure the “live-work-play” environment with necessary amenities, to foster buzz and vibes with vibrant amenities and to strengthen the identity and authenticity with contextual amenities.
Originality/value
Despite some understanding, no previous research has thoroughly analysed the amenities available in innovation districts. This study is the first to comprehensively explore the amenities in innovation districts using data from Google Maps. Place managers can use the method introduced in this research to analyse innovation districts and other kinds of places.
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Jinkyung Jenny Kim, Jin-Soo Lee and Heesup Han
This study aims to draw on customer experience theory to shed light on how hotel in-room amenities foster customer experience, which continues to form brand attitude and loyalty…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to draw on customer experience theory to shed light on how hotel in-room amenities foster customer experience, which continues to form brand attitude and loyalty before and during the pandemic. Also, this study assesses the impact of the pandemic in the relationships among proposed constructs on the basis of risk perception theory.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative approach was deployed using a total of 379 responses, for evaluating the measurement model through confirmatory factor analysis and testing proposed hypotheses through structural equation modeling.
Findings
The findings provide initial support for the predictions, except for the influence of brand attitude on brand loyalty before the pandemic. Particularly, the analysis results observe that the effect of tangible amenities on customer experience was stronger before the COVID-19, whereas the impact of intangible amenities on customer experience is greater during the pandemic. Furthermore, the results validate the significant moderating influence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the path between customer experience and brand loyalty.
Practical implications
This present study guides hotel professionals to be more effective in the management of appropriate in-room amenity to create a satisfactory customer experience, which contributes to brand loyalty in the with-corona era.
Originality/value
The study differs from earlier studies in that it investigates how the pandemic changes the role of hotel in-room amenities on customer experience, which, in turn, increases brand attitude and brand loyalty for the first time.
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Miyoung Jeong and Marketa Kubickova
Creating memorable experiences for customers at the individual property is one of the primary goals in hotel management across all segments. Adopting the concept of the ingredient…
Abstract
Purpose
Creating memorable experiences for customers at the individual property is one of the primary goals in hotel management across all segments. Adopting the concept of the ingredient branding, this study aims to attempt to identify the effects of bathroom amenity brands on customers' attitudes toward the hotel brand image and their behavior intentions toward a hotel brand. Specifically, this study assesses the importance of bathroom amenities on customer experience. It also examines the effects of bathroom amenity and their sustainable practices on hotel brand image and behavior intentions. Lastly, it provides suggestions for hoteliers in selecting right and appealing bathroom amenities while enhancing customers' hotel experience.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a 3 (hotel service level: economy, midscale, vs luxury) × 2 (bathroom amenity brand: luxury vs general) × 2 (bathroom amenity packaging: bottle vs dispenser) between-subjects experimental design. A total of 557 useable surveys were obtained to test the study's hypotheses.
Findings
The results reveal that customers had a better hotel image when high-end brand bathroom amenities in a bottle were offered. Specifically, when economy hotels provided high-end brand bathroom amenities, customers had a better hotel image, which lead to strong return intentions. Typically, bathroom amenities in the bottle were perceived better than those in the dispenser when it came to the hotel image.
Practical implications
The findings of this study reconfirm that the level of hotel service, bathroom amenity brand and bathroom amenity packaging jointly affect hotels' overall image. Specifically, the generic bathroom amenity in the dispenser somewhat degrades the image of the hotel for economy hotels; however, the image of hotel is not significantly affected by the type of bathroom packaging when the hotel has luxury bathroom amenities. Thus, hotel management should pay more attention to selecting the bathroom amenity brand, which can offer more memorable experience for customers.
Originality/value
Little research has been documented on the effects of hotel bathroom amenity brands on customers' attitudes toward hotel brand image and their psychological behaviors in the hotel industry, lacking rigorous theoretical examinations. The current study provides several important contributions not only to the body of knowledge but to the hotel industry.
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This research aims to investigate how Chinese leisure travelers value hotel amenities when they book hotel rooms in Hong Kong.
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to investigate how Chinese leisure travelers value hotel amenities when they book hotel rooms in Hong Kong.
Design/methodology/approach
The research method was based on a conjoint analysis approach. Conjoint models were developed to determine how people make decisions and what they really value in products or services.
Findings
Price had the highest average importance value, followed by airport/local area shuttles, wireless internet, breakfast and quality of coffee/tea. Price, airport/local area shuttles and wireless internet were rated as being relatively more important than breakfast and quality of coffee/tea.
Research limitations/implications
This research has some limitations in terms of the generalizability of its findings to all hotels and travelers. First, only four hotel amenities were considered. Second, the research focused on Chinese leisure travelers staying in hotels in Hong Kong. Finally, the sample only consisted of leisure travelers.
Practical implications
This research shows that providing complimentary breakfast and free access to quality coffee/tea when a hotel already provides a shuttle service and free wireless internet does not add much value to the overall hotel product from the customer’s point of view. Moreover, it provides insights into how hotel professionals can customize and select the amenities they provide to impress their customers.
Originality/value
This research has significant implications for hotel managers’ efforts to formulate and implement strategies or tactics in their daily operations or long-term plans through the selection of hotel amenities.
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Toni Repetti, Susan Roe and Amy Gregory
The purpose of this study is twofold: to determine hotel customers’ preference among hotel amenities pricing strategies, specifically a bundled, all-inclusive charge in the form…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is twofold: to determine hotel customers’ preference among hotel amenities pricing strategies, specifically a bundled, all-inclusive charge in the form of a resort fee, a limited choice resort fee at a lower price or a la carte pricing, and to determine whether hotel customer prefer bundled or partitioned pricing when faced with a mandatory resort fee.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey of participants aged 18 years and older who had taken an overnight leisure trip in the past six months is conducted. A fixed-choice set conjoint analysis is performed to analyze the 353 usable surveys.
Findings
Results of this conjoint analysis show that 67 per cent of respondents prefer bundled pricing over partitioned pricing. Respondents also show higher utility for no resort fee and paying for amenities based on usage instead of being forced to pay a mandatory resort fee.
Practical implications
Guest preferences for pricing strategies can provide hotel operators with valuable information on how to establish pricing structures. Results suggest that hotel operators could benefit from presenting a bundled price inclusive of room rates and mandatory fees.
Originality/value
This is the only known study that examines mandatory fees in which customers receive additional amenities or services in exchange for an additional surcharge. This study also adds to the literature on pricing research in the hospitality industry.
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The purpose of the study is to introduce modeling of common neighborhood amenities as packages, rather than as separate independent variables in a single model. Results from the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to introduce modeling of common neighborhood amenities as packages, rather than as separate independent variables in a single model. Results from the standard modeling technique of including separate controls for each amenity are provided for comparison. A secondary purpose is to provide price and time‐on‐market implications for amenities in seasoned versus newly constructed properties.
Design/methodology/approach
Common neighborhood amenities are grouped according to the total amenity bundle offered by each neighborhood. Hedonic pricing, hazard modeling, and two‐stage least squares regression are used to estimate price and time‐on‐market impacts for six common amenities.
Findings
Neighborhood tennis courts, clubhouses, boating facilities, and golf courses, as well as several amenity packages, significantly impact property values. Valuation of particular amenity packages differs between newly constructed and seasoned homes. Time‐on‐market results are less convincing.
Research limitations/implications
Neighborhood amenities considered separately can produce misleading results, so amenity packages should be included in future research. Specific numerical results would not apply to other markets and perhaps not to other time periods.
Practical implications
The study offers evidence regarding which neighborhood amenities are valued most highly in newly constructed properties, which is of interest to developers. The study also offers evidence on which amenities are valued more highly in seasoned properties, which is of interest to buyers due to concerns about re‐sale values.
Originality/value
The study offers the first grouping of neighborhood amenities into packages to more closely resemble the way buyers consider amenities during the purchase decision. The study is also the first comprehensive survey of commonly‐offered neighborhood amenities.
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Piyali Ghosh, Geetika Goel and Mohit Ojha
Government of India has been addressing the issue of homelessness through shelters in urban areas, mandated with provision of basic amenities including drinking water and…
Abstract
Purpose
Government of India has been addressing the issue of homelessness through shelters in urban areas, mandated with provision of basic amenities including drinking water and washrooms. This research paper aims to investigate into the condition of such homeless shelters in terms of importance of and satisfaction from mandatory amenities therein as perceived by users, i.e. urban homeless poor.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from a survey spanning a sample of 401 shelter inmates have been used to construct a service quality performance matrix (SQPM) to analyse the importance of amenities and satisfaction of shelter inmates out of these amenities. A priority order of these amenities for improvement has been drawn thereafter with a customer satisfaction index (CSI).
Findings
The results of SQPM show ten items registering high importance-low satisfaction. Amenities such as utensils for cooking and psycho-social counselling are important but not available. Priority-wise amenities that need to be improved are: psycho-social counselling, facility of referral and transport, utensils for cooking, childcare facilities, waste management, adequate fire safety measures, recreation space, pest and mosquito control, first aid and kitchen/cooking space and equipment needed for cooking.
Practical implications
A total of 10 amenities have been ranked in order of priority, for which, the government needs to define its improvement action plans for delivering maximum satisfaction to inmates of shelters out of their stay.
Originality/value
The findings reveal that urban homeless staying in shelters are being deprived of many of the amenities earmarked as mandatory. Existing studies on shelters in India are usually descriptive, providing a summary of available amenities therein. This study is the first to contribute to literature on housing by applying SQPM and CSI on amenities available at homeless shelters.
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Anil Bilgihan, Scott Smith, Peter Ricci and Milos Bujisic
Advances in technology and in subsequent guest-related amenities have the potential to improve the guest experience and also increase both guestroom revenues and ancillary room…
Abstract
Purpose
Advances in technology and in subsequent guest-related amenities have the potential to improve the guest experience and also increase both guestroom revenues and ancillary room revenues. Innovative technologies will be one of the prime differentiators of hotel companies in the twenty-first century. However, it is important for hoteliers to answer questions such as which technology amenities do their guests desire when choosing overnight accommodations? Further, what are the importance levels assigned by guests of these various technology amenities? This study aims to answer the question of how leisure travelers may differ or be similar to business travelers with regard to in-room technology amenities.
Design/methodology/approach
The target population of this study consisted of 2,500 US residents whose email addresses were randomly drawn from a national database company. A series of t-tests and ANOVA were conducted to answer the research questions.
Findings
High-speed internet access and guest device connectivity were perceived more important by business travelers than by leisure travelers.
Research limitations/implications
Recognizing guests’ technology needs and answering those needs are important for hotel operators to remain competitive. While some segments perceive more value in certain technologies, for others it might be an indifferent amenity.
Practical implications
The amount of time guests spend in their rooms directly correlates to increased revenues from in-room dining, in-room amenities offered and, in general, all pay-for-use products and services such as the internet and movies. Therefore, with the right assortment and offering of technology amenities, hotels will increase their revenues from these ancillary revenues. Moreover, a hotel property with the right mixture of desired in-room amenities and services can charge higher rates for their guestroom sales.
Originality/value
The results of this study provide insights into the changing attitudes toward in-room entertainment technology that many hotel developers should take note of.
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This study aims to analyze whether and how condominium shared utilities and facilities (e.g. community spaces), of which buyers assume a share of the ownership upon acquisition of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze whether and how condominium shared utilities and facilities (e.g. community spaces), of which buyers assume a share of the ownership upon acquisition of a residential unit, affect the condominium unit price over time.
Design/methodology/approach
The transaction price of each unit reflects the quality of the residential unit and the properties of the shared facilities. Based on the hedonic pricing method, this study assesses the impact of shared amenities on unit resale prices, using an original data set on condominium unit resale transactions and the status of housing characteristics for both condominium units and condominium buildings.
Findings
Results show that holding other conditions constant, a meeting room and an external space that can host events increase the unit resale price by approximately 7 and 16 per cent, respectively. Some community amenities such as a meeting room may increase its impact later in the condominium’s lifetime.
Research limitations/implications
Because of the proprietary nature of data, the analysis focuses on high-end condominium properties in central Tokyo. Although it is difficult to single out the shared amenities’ effects on condominium resale prices from potentially confounding factors, this study partially overcomes this issue by including explanatory geographical variables (e.g. ground heights).
Practical implications
The results suggest that a shared facility that hosts social interactions among residents significantly affects the resale market value of housing units and that their magnitudes may change over time.
Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study provides the first empirical evidence of the impacts of shared structures on condominium unit sales using micro-level transaction data in Japan.
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In‐room entertainment technology continues to evolve in the hotel industry. However, given the multitude of entertainment products available in the market place today, hoteliers…
Abstract
Purpose
In‐room entertainment technology continues to evolve in the hotel industry. However, given the multitude of entertainment products available in the market place today, hoteliers have little clarity of guests' willingness to pay for those in‐room entertainment technology amenities. In this highly competitive environment for travelers, lodging managers should better understand what in‐room entertainment technology amenities their guests will purchase. The purpose of this study is to explore accepted pricing levels for in‐room entertainment technology amenities by hotel guests.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 2,500 US travelers was drawn randomly from a national database by rent‐a‐list.com for this study. An online survey was distributed. The response rate was 16.32 percent with 408 respondents.
Findings
Findings showed that guests want most of the in‐room entertainment technology amenities as complimentary. However, they are willing to pay for gaming consoles in their guest rooms.
Originality/value
This is the first paper that investigates the phenomenon of in‐room entertainment technology amenities. Implications are vital for hotel firms that aim to install the amenities.
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