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Article
Publication date: 1 March 1990

Martin Senior and Rod Morphew

The budget hotel sector in the United Kingdom was established in1985 and is now experiencing accelerated growth. If this sectorsimulates some of the developments that have…

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Abstract

The budget hotel sector in the United Kingdom was established in 1985 and is now experiencing accelerated growth. If this sector simulates some of the developments that have occurred in the US and French budget/economy hotel sectors, then traditionally‐minded operators in the country will have to reconsider some of their original long‐term strategies. The growth and success of the US and French budget/economy hotel are reviewed, and parallels with the emerging growth and success of the UK budget hotel are drawn. In summary the authors consider that the concept of service quality will provide the best foundation for successful strategies in the next decade.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 2 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 November 2012

Madhu Vij

The purpose of this paper is to provide some empirical evidence of the current trends regarding cost structures in the hospitality industry and to help reveal the present…

1949

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide some empirical evidence of the current trends regarding cost structures in the hospitality industry and to help reveal the present practices on cost structures and management adopted by the Indian hospitality sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology employed was mainly survey based with the use of structured questions. Online surveys and interviews were carried out during 2012 with management accountants, chief accountants and finance directors of hotel companies.

Findings

The results of the study suggest that hotels are increasingly challenged to find ways to reduce costs without sacrificing quality. Most of the respondents believe that good management and cost accounting practices are associated with the financial success of hotels.

Practical implications

A study on cost structures will help to identify and focus on the innovative practices that the sector needs to adopt in order to manage costs in the coming years. The findings from this study suggest companies need to modernize their cost accounting systems by implementing activity based costing. Most of the managers surveyed were of the opinion that the traditional costing system does not accurately reflect customer profitability analysis.

Originality/value

The inspiration for this paper arises from the fact that there is little empirical work on cost structures and design in the hospitality industry. Intense competition is now affecting the industry and efforts need to be made to create a sustainable model for hotels that can be adapted to an evolving market scenario.

Article
Publication date: 8 October 2018

Amal Alameeri, Mian M. Ajmal, Matloub Hussain and Petri Helo

Sustainability has become an important objective for most organizations, as it is emerging as a competitive necessity. This study aims to develop a framework for the…

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Abstract

Purpose

Sustainability has become an important objective for most organizations, as it is emerging as a competitive necessity. This study aims to develop a framework for the identification, categorization and prioritization of sustainable management practices (SMPs) in the hotel sector.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review was conducted to identify SMPs in the service sector, and a survey tool was used to categorize and prioritize the most important practices based on expert opinion. An analytical hierarchical process (AHP) was used to prioritize the main criteria and sub-criteria of SMPs. The study is composed of 8 main criteria and 33 sub-criteria relevant to the hotel sector.

Findings

It is observed that employee management and government management take top priority under the main criteria, and policy requirements, customer culture and education and training were determined to be the three most relevant sub-criteria as SMPs for hotels in UAE. The results indicate that hotels mostly focus on economic sustainability; however, the environmental and social dimensions of sustainability are ignored in management practices.

Research limitations/implications

The results are derived from four- and five-star hotels and therefore cannot be generalized. In addition, future research on specific categories of hotels is needed in other countries. The current research model can be also applied in different types of companies in tourism and other sectors.

Practical implications

Hotel managers should exert greater effort with regard to the environmental and social dimensions of sustainability practices, as they are highly important. Internationally, there has been considerable debate with regard to these issues, and at present, customers are well aware of such social and environmental efforts.

Originality/value

This study offers original insights into the area of SMP in UAE, especially in the hotel sector.

Details

International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, vol. 12 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6182

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 March 2007

Mandy Aggett

This paper aims to identify the factors that have influenced growth in the UK's boutique hotel sector, through the identification of attributes that attract consumers to these…

16060

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the factors that have influenced growth in the UK's boutique hotel sector, through the identification of attributes that attract consumers to these hotels.

Design/methodology/approach

The study methods included a review of the literature and a survey of boutique hotel consumers in the UK.

Findings

Location, quality, uniqueness, services provided and the personalised levels of service offered are identified as the top five attributes attracting respondents to these hotels. The growth of the boutique hotel sector in the UK may be attributable to consumers seeking alternatives to the standardised provision of more traditional accommodation.

Practical implications

Although this research has its limitations due to the low response rate, many of the findings support those of previous studies and may assist boutique hotel operators in meeting customer needs more effectively. Practical recommendations are made for existing boutique hotel operators and those wishing to enter the market.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first to investigate the growth of the UK's boutique hotel sector and the factors that influence the consumers' decision to purchase this type of accommodation.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 19 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2005

Pei‐Chun Lai and Tom Baum

Aims to propose possible solutions to the characteristically erratic demand fluctuations in the hotel sector by applying just‐in‐time (JIT) philosophy through the development of…

12224

Abstract

Purpose

Aims to propose possible solutions to the characteristically erratic demand fluctuations in the hotel sector by applying just‐in‐time (JIT) philosophy through the development of relationships with employment agencies.

Design/methodology/approach

Case study data was collected within seven London four‐star or five‐star hotel housekeeping departments and their associated external labour suppliers, the employment agencies, using in‐depth interviews, followed by documentary research and observation.

Findings

Points to a future interest in how to create and maintain good relations between three actors, in terms of the company, the recruitment industry and staff. This triangular relationship requires further empirical study in order to assess more fully the applicability of JIT principles to HRM in the hotel sector.

Originality/value

Identifies a range of human resource strategies which both build on and go beyond the models traditionally associated with the manufacturing context.

Details

Employee Relations, vol. 27 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0142-5455

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 November 2018

Anna Farmaki

This study aims to examine stakeholder interests in and influence on corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation in hotels through an instrumental stakeholder theory lens.

3607

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine stakeholder interests in and influence on corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation in hotels through an instrumental stakeholder theory lens.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews with 54 managers from several sectors of the Cyprus tourism industry were undertaken using purposive sampling.

Findings

There is a dominance of supply-chain stakeholder interests which in turn outline the CSR orientation of hotels, whereas stakeholder influence, largely shaped by the interdependent, multi-faceted nature of the tourism industry, conditions the implementation of CSR in hotels. Interestingly, stakeholder influence on CSR in hotels is not corresponding to stakeholders’ perceived saliency, indicating that stakeholder analysis needs to move beyond the consideration of salient stakeholders’ interests.

Research limitations/implications

Although the focus of this study has been the perceptions of tourism stakeholders in Cyprus, the exploratory approach adopted in the study sets the ground for further research to consider stakeholder issues regarding CSR in hotels from an instrumental perspective. In addition, insights from this study might inform practitioners in similar destinations.

Originality/value

In encouraging a holistic approach to strategic CSR in hotels, this study contributes a framework of stakeholder roles, emanating from stakeholder responsibility and stakeholder involvement in CSR in the hotel sector that will be of interest to both academics and practitioners.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 31 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 April 2013

María del Mar Alonso‐Almeida, Frederic Marimon and Merce Bernardo

The aim of this study is to compare the diffusion of certifications under two quality management systems (QMSs) in the tourism sector in Spain: the generic ISO 9001 international…

2631

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to compare the diffusion of certifications under two quality management systems (QMSs) in the tourism sector in Spain: the generic ISO 9001 international standard; and the Spanish industry‐specific “Q” standard.

Design/methodology/approach

The study pursues this objective by comparing the logistic curves of dissemination of certifications under the two standards using data obtained from official sources. This analysis is complemented with qualitative data from several case studies of Spanish hotels and restaurants.

Findings

The results show that the two standards are at different stages of diffusion: certification under the Spanish “Q” standard is increasing, while the ISO 9001 international standard seems to have reached saturation point, despite the fact that a lower number of certifications have been registered under ISO 9001 than under the “Q” standard.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this study is that it is one of the first to analyse the dissemination of quality standards in a specific sector. The findings are thus of considerable importance in extending knowledge of quality management in the tourism sector.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 33 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 February 2018

Aleksa Š. Vučetić

This paper aims to determine to what extent there is a difference in employees’ perception of abuse in the selective tourism destination in various types of specialized hotels.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to determine to what extent there is a difference in employees’ perception of abuse in the selective tourism destination in various types of specialized hotels.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of employees in specialized hotels in the selective tourism destination has the sample of 1,796 cases. Multivariate analysis of variance is used for testing the level of perception’s differences.

Findings

There is a statistically significant difference in the perception of abuse among employees in various types of specialized hotels such as wellness hotels, sport hotels, business hotels and congress hotels.

Research limitations/implications

The results offer employees’ perception of differences about abuse in various types of specialized hotels in the selective tourism destination. There is a possibility of practical usage of methodology for identification of the most often types of abuse in specialized hotels. The identification of abuse is to protect specific social structures such as employees in specialized hotels in the selective tourism destination.

Originality/value

Research could serve as a good example for future practical and theoretical research in the field of abuse and specialized hotels. The paper can be used as a methodological tool to show how to identify the most often types of abuse in specialized hotels in a concrete selective tourism destination.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 30 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 February 2019

Aye Aye Myat, Nora Sharkasi and Jay Rajasekera

Studies show that internet has become a major force propelling growth in tourism sector in many countries. An appropriate diffusion of the information and communication technology…

1069

Abstract

Purpose

Studies show that internet has become a major force propelling growth in tourism sector in many countries. An appropriate diffusion of the information and communication technology (ICT) services can facilitate visibility of hotels and lodges on search sites and third-party booking websites and thus influence demand. It also helps leverage the use of social media for promotion and customer acquisition purposes. Recently, Myanmar, with impressive historical world heritage sites, is witnessing a tourist boom; more hotels are opening up and achieving competitive advantage by offering free internet connectivity to guests and locating their premises in the vicinity of an ICT infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to investigate ICT readiness to support the lodging industry in Myanmar by focusing on one sub-index of the Network Readiness Index (NRI, a term heavily used by World Economic Forum). The paper focuses on the “Network Use” component of NRI, pertaining to the effect of the “quality of the Internet connection” available to lodges, and its association with the following dimensions: customer service: the availability of ICT services to guests, such as internet connectivity and availability of ATM in the vicinity; digital marketing: the use of social media, keeping records of guests and analyzing aggregate data to extract business insights; and business-to-business online booking: the use of online booking via major third-party intermediary websites like Expedia, Booking.com and Agoda.com.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys were conducted in three major touristic cities in Myanmar: Bagan, Mandalay and the capital city, Nay Pyi Taw. A total of 101 valid questionnaires were used. Survey questions were centered around the following themes: internet connection problems, digital marketing activities, and online booking directly or via third party digital intermediary. The data are presented and interpreted by descriptive statistics and regression analysis.

Findings

Though, Myanmar is new to internet and commercial use of ICT, the awareness of the importance of leveraging social media and online booking for business development is surprisingly high in the lodging sector. On average, about 80 percent of surveyed hotels are present on the WWW through a dedicated hotel website. However, most websites lack an online booking capability. As a result, and due to a global trend, online booking through third-party intermediaries has become the dominant option for hotel booking arrangements in Myanmar. Agoda, founded in Bangkok in 2002, was found to be the number one choice for online booking intermediary in Myanmar, followed by Booking.com. Analysis of the logistic regression revealed that it was highly likely that areas around ATMs have better internet connectivity. As expected, it was also found that it is very unlikely that hotels reporting a problem in internet connectivity will be able to provide internet service to their guests. Despite the presence of problems in internet connectivity in Mandalay and Bagan cities, located away from the capital; most hotels in these cities resort to leveraging social media for promotion and customer/guest development. The analysis also revealed that cities located away from the capital are more aggressive in leverage online third-booking intermediaries.

Research limitations/implications

While researchers were hoping for a higher participation rate in the survey, especially in the city of Mandalay, data collection was challenging, a number of hotels/lodges denied participation. This may have some implications on the generalization of results. However, over 70 and 45 percent of hotels/lodges in the capital city and the ancient city of Bagan, respectively, had participated in the survey.

Practical implications

Tourism has a great potential for growth in Myanmar. This research recommends ways to achieve and sustain competitive advantage for the lodging sector, which is vital for tourism.

Originality/value

Though a considerable research exists on tourism and the recent advances of the ICT sector in Myanmar, the country’s readiness for the actual usage of the internet for the development of tourism has not been specifically addressed. This paper explores this with compelling research findings useful for policy makers as well as players in the tourism sector.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 30 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 February 2021

Laurent Yacoub and Samer ElHajjar

Many researchers have attempted to outline the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the growth of economies across the world. Few researchers consider addressing the…

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Abstract

Purpose

Many researchers have attempted to outline the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the growth of economies across the world. Few researchers consider addressing the COVID-19 pandemic as a crisis that needs effective crisis management measures. In particular, there is a gap in research that maps a way forward that managers can use as a guide to recover and revive the hospitality industry after the pandemic. This paper aims to fill this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through interviews with 26 hoteliers managing 4- and 5-star hotels in the city of Beirut. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Findings show that the level of preparedness toward dealing with such a pandemic had been low. Hotels have been focused on ensuring transparency with the employees, providing adequate information and decentralizing power to the departmental levels to deal with the impacts of COVID-19. Operationally, hotel managers are shifting focus toward more safety-conscious operations across all departments; emphasizing the importance of local tourists rather than complete dependence on foreigners as a source of revenue; increasing flexibility in bookings and cancellations to incentivize customers. Shifts are expected to be made, making operations in hotels more technologically-aligned and focused.

Research limitations/implications

The aim of this study is to address the managerial reactions of the hotel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the potential strategic approaches that hotels might adopt in the future. A focus on the Lebanese context can provide scholars with a new model and inform managers on how to approach a crisis of such nature and magnitude, especially in a country that is facing its worst political and economic crisis. The main challenge of this paper is that it examines the hotel industry only in the Lebanese context. The development of the hospitality sector cannot be studied outside the institutional context in which it operates.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to study to which extent hotel managers were prepared to deal with a crisis the size of a global pandemic, what shifts in strategies were implemented and what is the future of the hospitality industry?

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 33 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

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