Buying a Piece of Paradise- A Case Study

ABSTRACT

The vacation ownership (timeshare) industry is the fastest growing segment in the hospitality industry. With this growth is the need to attain qualified managers and hospitality programs must ascertain the skills that are necessary to meet the demands of this market. The purpose of this study was to discover if there were any significant differences between traditional lodging managers and timeshare managers based upon a manager's knowledge, ability, and attitude related to their job duties. The study did discover some areas that were deemed more important to timeshare managers. These results could be used to help potential employees in the lodging industry discover what type of environment would best match their skill set.     

Consumer value and self-image congruency at different stages of timeshare ownership

An understanding of customers’ perceptions of value is fundamental to the competitive nature of all industries. Using the timeshare resort sector as a context for our studies, we explore the ways in which consumers, grouped according to their timeshare ownership stage, perceive value. Data were collected from three samples: non-owners of timeshare, recent purchasers of timeshare, and longer-term timeshare owners. Value was shown to be multi-dimensional, with a stable pattern of eleven correlated value factors evident in all three samples. The groups differed in their assessments of the different dimensions of value. In all groups, however, value was positively correlated with attitudes and future intentions regarding timeshare. Self-image congruency explained additional criterion variance. The findings demonstrate that, even among consumers who have never used timeshare, value and self-image congruency are substantial and unique predictors of attitudes and intentions regarding this tourism product.     

Informing timeshare exchange services on the drivers of customer-driven co-production

Given the continued growth of the timeshare segment and its unique characteristics as an owned leisure lodging product, adopting a service-dominant logic and developing opportunities for co-creation is highly relevant for companies that provide services to this industry. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to explore the drivers that lead to customer-driven co-production in timeshare exchange services, due to the popularity of this option among consumers owning timeshare. Our results indicate that interaction between timeshare owners as customers of the exchange company is a significant driver of customer-driven co-production. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore customer-driven co-production in the timeshare industry. Moreover, our findings are highly significant for timeshare exchange companies and point them to potential areas of improvement in their service processes that could lead to higher customer-driven co-production and, consequently, more valuable experiences.     

Dimensions and correlates of consumer value: An application to the timeshare industry

The concept of consumer value has been hailed as the “very underpinning” of marketing, yet the concept has been subjected to limited empirical research, particularly in the hospitality industry. This study investigates the value that consumers derive from ownership of timeshare holiday products. A total of 785 people answered questions regarding their background, timeshare ownership, valuing of timeshare, and satisfaction with timeshare. Confirmatory factor analyses showed consumer value to be a multi-dimensional construct comprising opportunities for relaxation, gift-giving, status, quality, flexibility, fun, new experiences, and financial benefits. These value dimensions varied with other factors such as type of timeshare ownership (e.g., weeks, points).     

Impacts of timeshare operation on publicly traded U.S. hotels’ firm value,risk and accounting performance

With 1615 timeshare resorts and 176,232 units in the U.S. in 2006 and making an economic impact of approximately $92 billion on the U.S. economy in 2005, the timeshare industry has proved as one of the fastest growing segments of the hospitality and travel industry. However, little research has investigated the impacts of timeshare operations on lodging firms’ financial issues. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of timeshare operation on lodging firm's financial value, risk and accounting performance. Findings suggest that the existence of an inverted U-shaped relationship between timeshare operation and lodging firm value; however timeshare operation shows a U-shaped relationship with ROE and no relationship with risk.     

Incentivized methods to generate electronic word-of-mouth: Implications for the resort industry

Electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) via social media and the internet is a popular channel through which consumers are communicating with other consumers. To increase eWOM effectiveness, some resorts have developed alternative methods to incentivize consumers to generate eWOM. These methods include: hiring reviewers, providing social currency to acquire products at a later date, or providing free product (stays at their resort). Under the theoretical framework of the Persuasion Knowledge Model (Friestad and Wright, 1994), the impact of these methods on consumers’ perception of the resort’s image, moral judgments regarding the methods, and attitudes toward the resort was studied through an experiment. We found that the different methods to incentivize eWOM yielded significantly different moral judgments, which then predicted consumers’ attitudes toward the resort and the resort’s image. Additionally, different levels of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and consumers’ perception of industry practice norms also had effects on consumers’ moral judgments.     

ENGAGING TIMESHARE OWNERS IN TOURISM DESTINATION MANAGEMENT: TOURISM PLANNING AND TOURISM MARKETING IMPLICATIONS

It is important to understand tourists' willingness to participate in tourism planning and the factors influencing their willingness because they are an integral part of the destination and ultimately one of the main buyers of the product. Timeshare owners are a special group of tourists who have additional connections with the tourism destination through their timeshare. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among timeshare owners' perceptions of tourism planning, civic engagement, sense of place, and willingness to participate in tourism planning.

This study was based on a questionnaire survey of U.S. timeshare owners. The total sample size was 302. A two‐stage structural equation modeling approach was applied in data analysis. Results from the measurement model suggested that the model fit the data quite well. Results from the structural model suggested that timeshare owners' perceptions of tourism planning, their past history of civic participation, and their sense of place significantly impact their willingness to participate in tourism planning, while timeshare owners' past experience in political participation did not significantly affect their willingness to participate in tourism planning. Implications of the findings in tourism planning and tourism destination marketing are presented.     

Strategy Communication in Family-Owned Restaurants: Ad Hoc and Ad-Lib

ABSTRACT

Most New Zealand restaurants are small family-owned businesses, which could be expected to communicate their purpose, business strategy, and goals to their employees. However, this expectation may be at odds with the informal mode of a family operation. This exploratory study therefore examines the communication of strategies in family-owned restaurants to determine the likely impact of family ownership on strategy communication. Interview data from family business owners and employees indicate that communication was largely ad hoc, relating to tactics more than strategies, and that many owners lacked the skills needed to operate a profitable and successful business. The weak understanding of strategic business skills identified may explain the high rate of failures identified in the New Zealand restaurant industry.     

Tourist holiday options: timeshare versus competition

The timeshare industry's success has been limited by an unenthusiastic reception from consumers, governments, investors, and the media. The everincreasing world population, increasing GDP, and improved communications resulting from the technological revolution, all indicate an expanding tourism market. Although timeshare's market share is currently increasing more rapidly than most other tourism sectors, to achieve its full growth potential the industry must improve its imagemarketing and products must be tailored to the requirements of consumers. Timeshare must demonstrate a significant social and economic contribution in order to obtain publicsector support and government incentives made available to traditional tourism industry.     

Effectiveness of the hotel websites in Singapore: A perspective from Business‐to‐Business (B2B) organisations

Internet marketing in hotels allows potential users to learn about the hotels, to tour hotel facilities and to compare prices among other benefits without directly interacting with a hotel representative. For some users, Internet is the first and only channel consulted when booking hotel accommodations. In the present age, Internet is increasingly becoming both an opportunity and a challenge for hotel marketers. The opportunity lies in reaching users directly through Internet sites. The challenge is to get the guests’ attention long enough to tell the marketers’ story (Connolly, Olsen and Moore, 1998). It has always been controversial as to how effective Internet marketing can be. Both firms and researchers have indicated that the measuring of effectiveness of Internet marketing is a multidimensional question. This study sought to examine the effectiveness of business‐to‐business Internet marketing in the hotel industry in Singapore through analysing the differences between the travel agents expectations of service and hotels’ understanding of those expectations. A total of 66 hotel websites in Singapore were scanned to give the features analysis. On the basis of the perception scores of 112 inbound travel agents, the study identified the gaps between the users and the website provider (hotel industry).     

Influence of brand relationship on customer attitude toward integrated resort brands: a cognitive,affective, and conative perspective

ABSTRACT

Despite the significance of understanding customer behavior in the integrated resort setting, only limited research has been conducted on this topic. Thus, this study aims to identify and assess the antecedents of integrated resort brand loyalty from the perspective of Oliver’s cognitive, affective, and conative theory of attitudinal brand loyalty model. . A total of 443 respondents who had experienced integrated resorts participated and completed a survey questionnaire. A positive relationship was observed between two-way communication and brand attitude, emotional exchange and brand attitude, brand partner quality and brand attitude, and brand attitude and behavioral intention toward integrated resort brand. Results revealed the association between cognitive, affective, and conative dimensions and integrated resort brand value. This notion suggests that integrated resort brands carry a high awareness of relationship, and the brand will invoke an emotional value in customers. Therefore, integrated resorts should consider customer–brand relational aspects to achieve long-term success for the integrated resort brand.     

Perceptions of Job Satisfaction and Job Performance in the Timeshare Industry

ABSTRACT

This study examines timeshare sales representatives' perceptions with respect to demographic and job related factors. Three leading U.S. timeshare companies were solicited to participate in this research. They were asked to distribute surveys to their sales representatives. The data were analyzed through the use of analysis of variance and a post hocmultiple comparison procedure to understand the timeshare sales representative perceptions of job satisfaction and job performance. The results show that there are demographic influences on the perceptions of job satisfaction and job performance.     

Entrepreneurial Characteristics,Motives, and Business Challenges: Exploratory Study of Small- and Medium-Sized Hotel Businesses

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to gather information about the determinants and characteristics of the owners/managers of small- and medium-sized hotels (SMSHs) and identify various issues in starting up and operating businesses in the United Arab Emirates. The results of this study reveal that the majority of the owners/managers of SMSHs in the United Arab Emirates are male, young and middle age, and relatively new to the tourism industry. The motivations for the business ventures of the entrepreneurs include wanting to be financially independent, become one’s own boss, involvement in family business and the opportunities of the hotel business. Among the key business challenges highlighted by the owners/managers of SMSHs are stiff competition in the hotel industry, increased operating costs, reduced demand, and lack of skilled employees. Several key strategies have been employed to face these challenges. These include offering competitive pricing, improving the marketing and channels of promotion, enhancing the quality of service and providing superior customer service.     

How does smog influence domestic tourism in China? A case study of Beijing

ABSTRACT

This study took Beijing as a case to examine the potential impact of smog on the domestic demand of tourist destinations in China. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to explore and confirm the causal relationships between perception of travel risk, travel dissatisfaction, negative destination and avoidance tendency. It is found that the Mainland Chinese residents have a strong perception of the potential travel risk caused by smog in Beijing. Moreover, the impact of travel risk perception on avoidance tendency is indirect and works through the mediating variables such as travel dissatisfaction or negative destination image.     

Tourism climatic condition over PDR Korea

ABSTRACT

Climatic condition has a remarkable influence on tourism activity. This paper evaluates the tourism climatic condition over DPR Korea applying Tourism Climate Index (TCI). Results show that (1) climate of present resorts is favorable to tourism from mid-April to early October, with TCI scores for most of them well above 70 (very good) from mid-April to late June; (2) seven key tourism resorts have a very good tourism climatic condition, with Mt Guwol, Sariwon, Nampo and Pyongyang at a higher TCI score; (3) six proposed sites have higher TCIs during warm season, and tourism industry could be planed and developed.     

Effect of Supervised Work Experience on Perception of Work in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry

ABSTRACT

This study examines how supervised work experiences, among other factors, affect tourism and hospitality undergraduates' perception of work in the industry. Other factors include parents' influence, students' experience with the industry as customers, family connections with the industry, previous industry-related work experience and sources of information about the industry. Perceived importance of tourism to the destination was also included, in view of the specific changes taking place in the tourism environment of the destination under study. Results indicated that undergraduates in junior students were influenced more by their parents while senior students their SWEs. The study offers recommendations to alter or enhance students' perception about industry work.     

Consumer Confidence Regarding the Safety of the US Food Supply

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the perceptions of Kentucky consumers regarding the safety of the nation's food supply. Data were collected through a telephone survey of 728 respondents. Overall, most consumers were very or somewhat confident in the nation's food supply. Significant differences were noted among consumers based on age, gender and household income. The most likely locations for food safety problems were identified as food processing plants, followed by restaurants. Respondents that were most confident in the nation's food supply believed food poisoning occurred less frequently than those who were not confident in the food supply. Those consumers who were very confident and somewhat confident in the food supply had a significantly different perception of health risks in food from germs, pesticide residues and preservatives than those who had no confidence in the food supply. Respondents with someone in the household working in the foodservice industry were not significantly different in their confidence of the nation's food supply, or in their opinion of where food safety problems occur, than those who did not. Implications for the foodservice and hospitality industry are discussed.     

Sexual Harassment in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT

Prudent restaurant managers and owners should be aware of new trends in their industry. One of the most recent trends or challenges that the restaurant industry is facing is that of sexual harassment lawsuits. As the cost of litigation and dollar amount of settlements increase substantially, restaurant managers and owners should take a proactive view at sexual harassment in Hong Kong from the perspective of their employees. Hong Kong today is no different than any other major city in the world with attorneys (Solicitors and Barristers) advertising on television and in newspapers, therefore managers and owners in the restaurant industry must realize the significance of a work environment free of sexual harassment. The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of restaurant employees in Hong Kong concerning sexual harassment.     

Resort Timesharing:

This article traces the growth of resort timesharing to its present position as a major element in the tourism field. It documents this growth in spite of an unfavorable public image produced by unethical and insulting sales practices common to some in the industry in its formative years. The author draws from several surveys of timesharing buyers and the public conducted by Ragatz Associates, a Eugene, Oregon, survey and research firm prominent in the resort development industry. He suggests that the trend in "vacation ownership," as timesharing is now being called, is away from fee simple ownership of a specific timeshare week to more flexible concepts providing more affordability and use options.     

Impact of dark patterns on consumers’ perceived fairness and attitude: Moderating effects of types of dark patterns,social proof,and moral identity

Despite the likely prevalence of deceptive dark patterns tactics in the tourism industry, specifically in online travel agencies (OTA), there is a dearth of dark patterns research in tourism literature. This study offers comprehensive knowledge regarding dark patterns tactics and how they influence consumers’ perceived fairness and their attitude toward OTAs. Two separate scenario-based experimental studies were conducted to test the moderating effects of social proof and types of dark patterns tactics as well as moral identity. Drawing on social influence and social proof theories, the authors demonstrate the moderating effect of social proof on the relationship between dark patterns practices and perceived fairness and attitude toward OTAs. Under the low stock message condition, the influence of deception on fairness and attitude perception was greater under negative social proof in comparison to a positive one. The results demonstrate that deception interacts with moral identity to influence fairness and attitude, confirming the moderating role of moral identity.