Theory in hospitality management

This paper comments on the absence of any commonly agreed theoretical framework about hospitality management. A tentative proposition is made for a model which identifies the inter-dependent and inter-related elements of hospitality management which might be used as a basis for management teaching and development as well as for research.     

A computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) approach in teaching research methods

The aim of this study is to evaluate the extent to which the engagement of hospitality students in computer-mediated asynchronous discourse in a postgraduate research methods course results in higher-order thinking. In order to identify their overall behavioural engagement in the discourse elements of the course, quantitative data from running the course in WebCT was obtained using the “track students” function. The threaded discussions were converted into text files and loaded in NVivo for content analysis. In addition, the students’ course evaluation questionnaires were used to assess their perceived benefits from the asynchronous discourse on research methods. This study shows that computer-supported collaborative learning allows students to become active and reflective learners by engaging in high order thinking activities. The results of this study highlight the options that hospitality management educators may consider as part of their teaching and learning strategies.     

Restaurants’ social enterprise business model: Three case studies

ABSTRACT

This research explores the application of the Social Enterprise business model within the context of the hospitality industry. In order to achieve this goal, a qualitative primary research was conducted through three case studies. The research suggests that hospitality social enterprises encounter many unique challenges as a result of social mission implications. The research provides a foundation for industry and academic recommendations. Most importantly, detailed recommendations such as strategic planning, strict budgeting, and mission/profit balance are derived for hospitality social enterprise managers to improve efficiency and counteract industry-specific challenges.     

The Relationships between National Identity,Hospitality, and Satisfaction among Foreign Hotel Guests

The main objectives of this paper are to examine the effect of hotel hospitality on the satisfaction level of foreign guests in the context of the hotel industry, as well as to explore the moderating effect of national identity (country-specific hospitality) on the relationship between hospitality and guests’ level of satisfaction. In this study, “national identity” refers to the distinctive cultural elements of a specific country that are incorporated into the hotel’s service design. This study, involving 315 foreign guests at Malaysian hotels, used survey administration as the main data collection method. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis was performed and statistical support for the effect of hospitality on the patrons’ satisfaction with their hotel stays, as well as the moderating effect of national identity on satisfaction levels, were found. This study also proposes a new scale to measure “country-specific hospitality”.     

Cross-institutional collaboration networks in tourism and hospitality research

This paper examines cross-institutional collaboration in tourism and hospitality research using a co-authorship network model based on papers published in six top-tier tourism and hospitality journals over the past 20 years. Data analysis reveals that multi-author, multi-university studies are the fastest-growing type of authorship structure in tourism and hospitality research. We use several network measures to evaluate the intensity of research collaboration among academic institutions in tourism and hospitality disciplines. Institutions with tourism and hospitality programs worldwide are ranked according to their centricity in cross-institutional research collaboration networks and categorized according to their characteristics in collaboration. The empirical analysis shows significant associations between research performance and a university's centricity position in cross-institutional research networks. Through advanced social network analysis, this study provides new insights into institutional collaboration in tourism and hospitality research over the past two decades.     

Attracting and retaining food servers: How internal service quality moderates occupational stigma

This study examines the abilities of internal service quality (ISQ) to moderate occupational stereotype for restaurant food servers. Food servers at restaurants responded to two surveys measuring ISQ and occupational stereotype. It was concluded that ISQ overcomes occupational stereotype to attract and retain food servers in the hospitality industry. This investigation contributes to the hospitality literature and to a better understanding of the world of waiters, especially in reference to employee turnover, employee retention, and motivation to work in the food service industry. This research used an integrative model which may be applied to service sectors outside hospitality.     

A partial least squares structural equation modeling approach for examining multidimensional values of Taipei Zoo

The values associated with a tourism product, such as a hospitality facility, an attraction, or a destination, are intangible for independent evaluation. Meanwhile, tangible features of a tourism product can be used as predictor variables in causal research to assess the values as dependent variables. In the meanwhile, the multidimensional values may function independently from each other. Under this condition, consideration should be made in designing the values as a formative model and using partial least squares structural equation modeling to illustrate its relationships with the predictor variables. This paper uses the Taipei Zoo as a case study by conducting a survey of 472 visitors. The results demonstrate how different conceptual model designs can affect the statistical results and ultimate decision-making concerned with the value design of a tourism product.     

Towards decolonising tourism and hospitality research in the Philippines

In recent years, scholars have focused their attention on demarcating the neocolonial situations that permeate the tourism and hospitality academy. The ‘critical turn’ in tourism studies called for the decolonisation of tourism and hospitality research. In this paper, I explore and challenge the state of tourism and hospitality research in the Philippines, by analysing the works of Filipino tourism and hospitality academics. Through a systematic quantitative literature review, I identify the research themes investigated by Filipino scholars on Philippine tourism and hospitality and examine the methodologies and epistemologies employed in the selected research outputs. The findings indicate that colonial legacies and neocolonial situations are strongly present in Philippine tourism and hospitality knowledge production. To challenge these scenarios, I suggest a decolonial agenda informed by Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino psychology), a native epistemological perspective. This article serves as a contribution to the epistemological decolonisation of tourism knowledge production in Asian contexts.     

Predicting mobile hotel reservation adoption: Insight from a perceived value standpoint

With the attempt of further supporting the overwhelming demand for reservation, a few hospitality corporations have launched mobile hotel reservation (MHR) services. For the acceptance of MHR by individuals is indispensable to the successful implementation of MHR, it is critical for practitioners and academics to understand the factors influencing the adoption of MHR. This study examines the adoption of MHR from the value perspective by proposing and examining a new research model that can capture both gain and loss elements influencing individual value perceptions on behavioral intention to adopt MHR. Data from 235 usable questionnaires, collected in Taiwan, were tested against the research model using the structural equation modeling approach. The results indicated that perceived value was a predictor in explaining the customer's adoption of MHR. From the benefits point of view, perceptions of information quality and system quality were the two critical components significantly influencing perceived value of MHR. On the sacrifice side, the effects of technological effort and perceived fee on perceived value were significant. This study will be helpful to researchers in developing and testing MHR related theories, as well as to hospitality firms in understanding individual value perceptions of utilizing MHR and implementing successful MHR system to attract more customers. Theoretical and managerial implications of our results are discussed.     

Big data research in hospitality: From streetlight empiricism research to theory laden research

There is little doubt that Big Data is taking the center stage in academic research. For such reason this Editorial Viewpoint is intended to help authors drive a research agenda that is not only innovative but grounded in theory. An opportunity exists to demystify the view that with vast amount data the numbers will speak for themselves. Researchers can assist by creating synergies between Theory-driven and Data-driven research, especially since theory should play a critical role in driving critical dialogue about generating new knowledge. The goal of hospitality research with Big Data should be to create a virtuous research cycle between theory and data that generates knowledge and provide a better understanding that advances a more robust hospitality theory. This will help us rethink and inquire what constitutes knowledge in order to better understand the past, present, and future of hospitality research.     

The way forward: Leadership research in the hospitality industry

This paper constructs a framework for researching leadership in the hospitality industry and reviews previous approaches to hospitality leadership. Four paradigms were constructed from an analysis of the general field of leadership and are used to represent the underlying perspectives of researchers who operate within them. As a result of this analysis the paper seeks to demonstrate how each paradigm can contribute to the application of leadership theory to the hospitality industry and provides a number of new avenues for future research.     

Asynchronous video interviews in the hospitality industry: Considerations for virtual employee selection

Hospitality organizations utilize a variety of selection tools to hire the best candidates. Traditionally, hospitality recruiters have relied on face-to-face interviews for choosing the most qualified candidates to represent the firm. While real-time Internet-based interviewing platforms are increasingly utilized among hospitality organizations, a cutting edge technology-based interviewing phenomenon has emerged: the use of asynchronous video interviews (AVIs). In order to conduct this modality of interviews, employers send text-based questions electronically and the candidate records his or her responses using a webcam via various proprietary software platforms. Following the promise of reduced costs and increased efficiencies, many organizations have adopted this modality of interviews; however, little research has been conducted regarding their effectiveness among both providers and users. Additionally, the appropriateness and alignment of AVI in the hospitality industry for the use of selecting service representatives should be investigated. In light of this, the present research examines the literature on interviewing modalities, predictive validity of selection tools, and electronic Human Resources and presents several propositions as well as an agenda for future research. Furthermore, the present research presents a conceptual model for AVI using the literature on electronic Human Resources as a backdrop.     

Entrepreneurial bricolage,ambidexterity structure,and new venture growth: Evidence from the hospitality and tourism sector

This study aims to investigate the links between entrepreneurial bricolage, ambidexterity structure, and new venture growth in the Chinese hospitality and tourism industry. Survey data were collected from 345 entrepreneurs involved with new hospitality and tourism ventures in China. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses of this study. The results indicate that both the combined and balanced dimensions of ambidexterity play mediating roles between entrepreneurial bricolage and new venture growth performance. By exploring the underlying mechanism of the relationship between entrepreneurial bricolage and new venture growth in the hospitality and tourism sector using a comprehensive theoretical model viewed through the lens of ambidexterity, the theoretical and practical implications for management are addressed, and possible directions for future research are discussed.     

Leadership competencies for hospitality management staff in Thailand

This study investigates factors that influence leadership in Thailand's hospitality industry. The results show that interpersonal skills are the most important competency for Thai hospitality managers. There were significant effects of age, managerial experience, and hotel management types on the importance of levels of leadership competencies. The few studies which exist on Thai hospitality management competencies are combined with the results of this study to propose a leadership competency framework that can be used as a basis for further developing an internationally competitive Thai hospitality industry.     

Conceptual model for analysing management development in the hospitality industry: A UK perspective

This paper presents a conceptual, contingent model of hospitality management development (MD). Having explored the dimensions and relationships in the model, it is then applied to the UK hospitality industry through analysing the nature of the hospitality industry for potential influences on MD and evaluating research into its practice. The embryonic model is presented as a vehicle to enhance understanding of the complex influences and contexts of hospitality MD and to distinguish distinctive characteristics of MD in the hospitality industry.     

Complexity of occupational health in the hospitality industry: Dynamic simulation modeling to advance immigrant worker health

Hispanic immigrant workers, who are heavily employed in low-skill/low-wage lodging and foodservice jobs, work in environments that induce disproportionate health and safety risks. Traditional research approaches have produced only partial insights into the risks of Hispanic immigrant hospitality sector workers, failing to fully capture the underlying dynamic, structural, and systemic complexity of hospitality worker health. This paper has three objectives: (1) to outline the multifaceted and disproportionate health and safety risks of these workers; (2) to introduce a systems paradigm with potential to contribute to more promising approaches in occupational health and safety research in tourism and hospitality; and (3) to elaborate on how computational simulation modeling can fortify occupational health and safety research in tourism and hospitality, and offer a heuristic example of a risk prevention model among Hispanic immigrant hospitality workers rooted in a stakeholder-based system dynamics modeling approach.     

A Review of Personality Research in the Tourism and Hospitality Context

Most commentators agree that human relations are central to tourism and hospitality. Different personalities thus display different reactions to the same task. This article provides an overview of prior studies on personality in the context of tourism and hospitality. Using EBSCOHost's Hospitality & Tourism Index, the largest online database for tourism and hospitality research, we analyzed published articles on the topic. Broadly speaking, prior studies can be grouped into the seven dimensions of disposal, biological, intrapsychic, cognitive, social, and adjustment in personality research, plus brand personality. Interestingly, our results show although the Internet has become one of the major marketing channels for hospitality and tourism, only a small number of published articles are related to consumers' online behavior. We thus propose that this area be further researched in the future.     

Is digital technology the magic bullet for performing work at home? Lessons learned for post COVID-19 recovery in hospitality management

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly brought about a number of disruptions to when and where work is undertaken for hospitality employees. The rapid spread of COVID-19 forced many hospitality managers to use digital technologies to perform work from home, termed digital work connectivity. Yet little is known about how hospitality employees cope with it. The purpose of this study is to investigate an important yet underspecified issue as to how digital work connectivity can be detrimental for employees’ work behavior.Design/methodology/approachWe test our hypotheses using multi-wave and multi-source data collected from 467 middle managerial-level hospitality employees in China.FindingsThe findings show that digital work connectivity can lead to self-control depletion, which in turn is associated with disengagement from work. Further, the findings show that relational energy is an important resource that can buffer the detrimental effects of digital work connectivity on hospitality employees.Practical implicationsThe association of digital work connectivity with employee withdrawal behavior highlights the urgent need for hospitality enterprises to have clear guidelines that regulate technology use at home for work purposes.Social implicationsOur research shows that the absence of clear guidelines in relation to the use of digital technology for work at home risks producing unintended consequences for both hospitality employees and their enterprises.Originality/valueOur research draws from recent advances in resource allocation theories of self-control and adopts a more nuanced approach to uncover a counterintuitive reality that while people use digital technology to remain connected with work, doing so can actually contribute to their withdrawal behavior.     

Deciphering ‘Islamic hospitality’: Developments,challenges and opportunities

This paper examines the principles and practices of Islamic hospitality, outlining the diverse ways in which Islam intersects with ‘hospitality’ and the ‘hospitality industry’. The intangible elements of Islamic hospitality are initially discussed, particularly the importance of the host–guest relationship and differing cultural interpretations. The discussion then evaluates the tangible aspects of Islamic hospitality through identifying trends, developments and challenges within the hotel sector, the food production and service sector, and the festivals and events sector. The work adopts a global perspective, examining Islamic hospitality with reference to both OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) countries and non-OIC countries. The paper also considers new sector opportunities and acknowledges the social difficulties associated with the development of Islamic hospitality within the Western world, notably Islamophobia. Finally, the paper indicates ways forward for future research.     

Recruiting the Best

Abstract

This study investigates which workplace opportunities or offerings most influence hospitality studentss' likelihood of choosing and recommending a particular hospitality company. Data collected from hospitality management indicates that, consistent with previous research, Career Development and a Positive Work Environment continue to be important factors in influencing studentss' choice of employment. New for this study is the Quality of Life issue, a significant factor for this generation of hospitality management students. The study findings provide further recommendations for hospitality recruiters to attract and retain entry-level managers.