Growth of Budget Hotels in China: Antecedents and Future

The Chinese hotel industry is undergoing brisk growth, particularly in the budget hotel segment. Thus, an exploratory study was conducted to determine the factors facilitating growth of the budget hotel market. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threat analysis was undertaken to identify future trends and to assess market potential. Relevant implications and suggestions were made to the industry so as to remedy the identified weaknesses and overcome the threats. Some regression models about the expansion of different star-rated hotels in China were also developed. It was found that overall disposable income was the most significant factor in explaining and predicting the number of budget hotel rooms.     

Customer responses to intercultural communication accommodation strategies in hospitality service encounters

With the increasing pace of globalization, hospitality firms are serving more and more international customers from distinctively different cultural backgrounds. In order to enhance intercultural consumption experiences, some hospitality firms have implemented two types of communication accommodation strategies: (a) match the cultural background of the service provider and the customer and/or (b) use the customer's native language to facilitate communications. This study aims to examine how such intercultural communication accommodations influence customers’ service encounter experiences. A 4 (communication accommodation: language congruence, ethnic congruence, language and ethnic congruence, and no accommodation) × 2 (focus of communication accommodation: intercultural vs. interpersonal) factorial between-subject experimental design was employed using videotaped hotel check-in scenarios as experimental stimuli. The findings suggest that consumers respond to communication accommodation strategies with increased felt pleasure, arousal, and dominance. Furthermore, accommodation strategies contributed to the perceived symbolic value of the service encounter, especially when employees expressed the intercultural focus of communication accommodation practices. The study results provide insights for hospitality practitioners in managing service encounters in today's highly global world.     

Prediction versus accommodation in economics

ABSTRACT

Should we insist on prediction, i.e. on correctly forecasting the future? Or can we rest content with accommodation, i.e. empirical success only with respect to the past? I apply general considerations about this issue to the case of economics. In particular, I examine various ways in which mere accommodation can be sufficient, in order to see whether those ways apply to economics. Two conclusions result. First, an entanglement thesis: the need for prediction is entangled with the methodological role of orthodox economic theory. Second, a conditional predictivism: if we are not committed to orthodox economic theory, then (often) we should demand prediction rather than accommodation – against most current practice.     

基于二元语义信息处理的航空枢纽军供站选址方法

针对航空枢纽军供站的选址决策问题,提出了基于二元语义信息处理的群决策的选址方法;构建了航空枢纽军供站选址指标体系;介绍了二元语义的概念及其集结运算算子;并进一步给出了评价选址问题的具体步骤。最后通过一个实例,验证了该方法的有效性及实用性。     

Can Diversity Training Discriminate? Backlash to Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Diversity Initiatives

A growing number of companies are including lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) issues as part of their diversity initiatives and training. A potential problem with including LGB issues is the backlash from some employees who believe that such orientations are wrong. Further, given existing civil rights legislation it is not unreasonable for these employees to feel that their religious beliefs should be accommodated. This requires the organization to carefully balance the rights of religious objectors to such training while providing adequate support for LGB employees. This paper analyzes three cases where employees felt they were discriminated against because of their belief systems. In addition to identifying the key factors that led to the feelings of discrimination, the paper offers suggestions to prevent future occurrences.

Operators’ Perceptions of Energy Use and Actual Saving Opportunities for Tourism Accommodation

The last decade saw increased efforts by the tourism sector globally to understand and manage its energy requirements and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In recognition of the substantial amounts of energy consumed by the accommodation industry coupled with low levels of energy efficiency, this study explores current practices and opportunities for the New Zealand accommodation sector. An energy survey of 242 accommodation providers and analyses of 15 detailed energy audits are used to identify operators’ perceptions on energy use, implementation of energy savings measures, savings potentials and implementation costs. The results identify that there is a substantial gap between the positive perceptions held by operators and levels of implementation. Despite substantial theoretical knowledge on barriers to energy efficiency and conservation, there still seems to be a need to address the apparent gap through enabling policy frameworks and partnerships that go beyond the individual business. Good understanding and recognition of energy as a substantial cost factor in themselves seem to be insufficient motivators for action and will not lead to the necessary cuts in GHG emissions as demanded by global climate change mitigation goals.     

The economics and implications of moratoria on tourism accommodation development as a rejuvenation tool in mature tourism destinations

This paper fills a literature gap on the economic rationale and implications of moratoria on accommodation development in mature tourism destinations. Moratoria are government-led capacity controls, which reduce market competition and seek to create economic rents. The paper provides a comprehensive set of economic foundations justifying the enactment of moratoria in situations characterised by over-capacity, low profitability, little innovation, environmental damage, strategic behaviour and sectoral imbalances. It notes that the implementation of these controls could be related to regulatory capture, rent seeking and clientelism. While capacity controls can restrain tourism over-expansion and can help fix some of its undesirable consequences, they may lead to multiple and varied unforeseen effects on the rejuvenation process and on the rest of the economy, issues also addressed in the paper. Moratoria relate to the concept of de-growth, which is a highly contested area of discussion. A moratorium does not ensure renovation of private and public capital or maintain the natural environment. It may give rise to detrimental strategies by firms, opening up room for corruption. To be effective, a moratorium must be accompanied by complementary policies, besides being coherently embodied in a broader tourism and regional rejuvenation strategy.     

Stakeholders’ views of travelers’ choice of Airbnb

This study investigated the views of travelers’ choices of informal accommodations, Airbnb in Hong Kong from the perspectives of three stakeholders. A qualitative approach was applied, both interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. A total of 69 participants shared their views on why users choose Airbnb over traditional hotels. The findings highlighted that hoteliers and Airbnb users presented different rankings on the determinants of accommodation choice. The implications of the destination image and the population density were discussed. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for any city/country where has a similar cultural background and population density.     

Transforming policy through local wisdom

The powerful forces of technology, the global economy, and demographic changes are reshaping how people live and how communities function all around the world. Many observers are concerned about the impact of these forces on the quality of life in communities and people's ability to mitigate the negative impacts associated with rapid social and economic transformation. Indeed, confidence has waned in the ability of established institutions and governments to respond to these challenges. Local communities are meeting these future challenges by tapping the wisdom and energy of their neighbors and together, forging relationships and building upon the assets in their environments. In short, they are building community. Their work pushes government and more established institutions to think differently about how to create opportunities, achieve equity and improve lives. This essay illustrates how inserting the community building approach into policymaking can produce better policies that reflect the wisdom, experience and voice of local constituencies and proposes a strategy for improving policymaking by transforming the policy process itself into one that builds community.     

基于地区功率平衡的新能源最大接纳能力评估

新能源出力具有的随机波动性特点,使其不能像常规电源一样输出稳定可控的功率。大规模新能源并网必然会对电力系统的安全稳定运行带来挑战。随着新能源装机容量的快速增长,为了使新能源的建设速度与电网建设及负荷发展相适应,减少弃风弃光现象,对当前阶段的新能源接纳水平做出准确的评估显得尤为重要。以某省份实际运行情况为例,考虑了调峰、网架输送能力等制约新能源接纳能力的主要因素,提出了一种基于省内各地区功率平衡的最大新能源接纳能力评估方法,为各地区新能源的装机规模与建设时序提供参考。