Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1992. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 120).

Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Tourism and Hospitality Management Faculty of Business Cape Peninsula University of Technology / Environmental management is a new phenomenon, one which affects not only the way that individuals live their lives today but also how businesses operate. Environmental policies cannot simply be introduced, especially in the hospitality industry. Although the industry thrives off customer satisfaction, like any other business it relies on making a profit each financial year for it to stay operational. This research was undertaken to determine if implementing an environmental policy has any effect on the financial statements of a select group of hotels within the Cape Metropole. In answering this question, the researcher was able to establish what the relationship between implementing environmental management policies was and the effect it has on the financial side of a specific group of hotels. “Hotels are also being pressured to move towards triple bottom line reporting (3bl), involving the relationship between profit, people, and planet” (Kleindorfer, Singhal & Van Wassenhove, 2005:482). “To encourage an environmentally more responsible behavior in the hotel sector, it was necessary to demonstrate the cost savings of these practices” (Bohdanowicz, 2005:188-205). The research methodology consisted of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Interviews were conducted with participants from key organizations, and with people who were linked to the hotel industry and environmental management. These included government organizations, SARS, which deals with all tax-related laws in South Africa, Eskom, the country’s energy providing company, as well as with a travel agency which deals with hotel bookings on both a local and international level. A focus group was also undertaken to ensure that the problems being researched were discussed fully by likeminded people, and by those who were directly involved with carrying out these policies in hotels. Questionnaires were sent to all the four- and five-star hotels within the Cape Metropole to assess the current situation relating to environmental management and their financial profit or loss. The research determined that implementing environmental policies has both a positive and negative effect on financial statements, thus proving that there is a direct link between the two. The findings clearly showed that environmental policies, whilst good for the surroundings and the environment, can be financially draining for a business if not properly planned prior to implementation. With correct research, however, this can be done in the correct manner, with results that are positive for both the environment and for the company’s financial statements.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Electronic commerce, popularly referred to as e-commerce, is the latest catchphrase surrounding the Internet and its many functions. In the past, the Internet was solely used for information seeking, but the 21st century has brought a new global economy to the fore – one that is conducted online. Tourism is seen as a driver of economic growth, contributing both to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of South Africa (SA) and creating jobs in the hospitality sector. E-commerce does not only provide a platform for business to be conducted online but also an opportunity for consumers to interact directly with industry. Many studies have been done previously about the perceived benefits of e-commerce in the retail sector, yet none in Cape Town and at five-star hotels in particular. It is well known that holidaymakers conduct an online search prior to booking accommodation; some of those potential guests in turn choose to finalise their bookings online. The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of e-commerce in five-star hotels in the Cape Town Metropole. The main objective of this study was to define what e-commerce is for five-star hotels in the Cape Town Metropole and determine if the hotels are using e-commerce as a booking method. Online questionnaires were used to gather primary data and a literature review was presented as secondary data. The findings of this study showed that all the hotels surveyed use online bookings and half of the respondents believe Online Travel Agents (OTAs) generate more revenue than traditional methods of room reservation. When asked to rank methods of room’s reservations, there was a slight difference between telephone bookings and e-commerce as number one. This could mean that while electronic methods are popular, they have not completely replaced traditional methods. The researcher recommends that five-star hotel managers train the rooms’ division staff to respond to negative reviews on social media, as this was one of the findings. The hotels should also learn how to effectively use their social media presence to increase room sales.

The significant growth in the South African tourism industry in recent years has placed much focus on the hospitality sector in the country. The hospitably sector performs a vital role in the South African economy, as is the case globally, to provide accommodation to international and national tourists. Guest houses in particular have become one of the fastest growing components of the South African tourism industry. However, operating a guest house is not merely providing a bed, shower and breakfast facility for which a client pays and hopefully returns again in future. Rather, it involves significantly more than providing physical amenities. Not only does a potential entrepreneur require a suitable facility in a well-positioned location, but guest house owners and management must adhere to various strenuous safety, security and service measures, as well as municipal by-laws, in a tough and ever-changing business environment. The central theme and the main objective of this study was to investigate the safety, security, service and legal measures that need to be adhered for the successful management of a guest house in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. Together with an outline of the various steps required to start a guest house, a sub-objective was to compile a guest house manual that can be used by new and existing guest house owners and managers to improve their business. The target group was divided into two sections, namely guest house owners and managers on the one hand, and guest house clients on the other - hence two separate questionnaires were developed and used as measuring instrument for the empirical study. The results revealed that clients in the Metro are in general satisfied with the service they receive and safety they experience when staying in guest houses in the Metro. The premises are mostly neat and clean, the towels and bedding are regularly replaced and clean, while the parking bays are sufficient and safe, staff members friendly and approachable, and bookings are done promptly. Over and above the different by-laws to observe, it is the duty of owners and management to provide clients with a safe, secure environment with excellent service, and with sufficient lighting at the entrances, parking and reception areas. All staircases should be steady and iv non-slip, and swimming pools should have secured fencing around and/ or should be covered by safety nets. Staff should follow the correct procedures in emergencies, while concerted efforts should be made to adapt guest houses for the specific needs of disabled and elderly clients. To prevent the outbreak of food poisoning, and to ensure personal and kitchen hygiene, as well as the correct storing of food, are other important responsibilities of owners and management. Therefore, for a guest house to be managed successfully, the owners and management must take into consideration the required safety, security, service and legal measures.

The constant growth of hotels worldwide is due to the increase of tourists every year. The hospitality industry is one of the most stable industries. Boutique Hotels, however, are starting to emerge more and more in every country and is a somewhat new concept in developing countries. In El Salvador the hospitality industry has a steady economic growth. Therefore, service and hospitality companies are born every year. With the concept of “Boutique Hotel” relatively new in El Salvador and occupancy rates increasing every year, it is the right time to open a Boutique Hotel with personalized services and unique features to attract customers, locals and foreigners. This is how the idea of Casa de Piedra Boutique Hotel was born. It is located in the capital of El Salvador, with a colonial style and offering a variety of services that will be relevant to our customers. It will rely on personalized customer services, unique features, décor and design, and trained personnel as key success factors. The target market will be mostly business people, conference and meeting attendees, and private companies outbound employees. The owner’s knowledge of the hospitality industry in El Salvador and the know how to run a company will play key parts in the success of the company. The financial plans and a five year expansion plan demonstrates the venture’s profit potential.

The Online Hotel Booking System was developed to allow customers to use a web browser to book a hotel, change the booking details, cancel the booking, change the personal profile, view the booking history, or view the hotel information through a GUI (graphical user interface). The system is implemented in PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) and HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language).

Thesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010. / In recent years, the South African hotel industry has experienced increasing demand for hotel's services. At the same time, mounting costs of energy affects energy performance and public image. Energy management is a new approach to address those widespread problems. This study aimed to suggest good management practices and develop a "self-help" approach, to reduce the demand and costs of energy for the South Africa hotel industry. This is expected to result in monetary savings and conservation of energy resources. This has been done by conducting survey within seven selected hotels in Cape Town, metropolitan of South Africa. In addition, through the "self-help" guide, approaches to energy management system are also described, showing the ways for hotels to achieve better energy performance. Potentials for savings from good housekeeping are estimated to 10 - 15%. The "self-help" guide is recommended to be improved through implementation in pilot hotels; and the proposal set of benchmarks need to be different for hotels in different provinces of South Africa considering the differences in climate conditions. The result of this study range from presenting the energy conservation awareness, barriers, method of conservation, financial and institution mechanisms, policy measures, status of energy use and propose strategy to develop a "Self-help" guide for energy management in South African Hotel industry. It has been found that energy monitoring has been done in the South African Cape Town hotels. From the total energy consumed by this industry, electricity accounts 80% of it of which air conditioning takes the biggest share (about 50%) and the remaining for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), diesel and others fuels. In addition, through the "self-help" guide, approaches to energy management system are also described, showing the ways for hotels to achieve better energy performance. Potentials for savings from good housekeeping are estimated to 10 - 15%. The "self-help" guide is recommended to be improved through implementation in pilot hotels; and the proposal set of benchmarks need to be different for hotels in different provinces of South Africa considering the differences in climate conditions.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / The hotel sector has been identified as experiencing the largest numbers of employees leaving their jobs within a short period of employment when compared to other sectors of the economy. The large number of employees leaving hotels within a short period of employment is perceived as detrimental towards business’ success. This research is about testing the strength of the relationship between employee retention variables and employee retention in hotels in Cape Town, South Africa. The researcher firstly consulted literature (secondary data) in order to understand the hotel employee retention phenomenon. From the literature findings, the objectives of this research were formulated. The research objectives were built based on the literature findings in order to assess the strength of relationships between employees’ perceptions of employee development, employee compensation, work engagement, good working relationship between line managers and subordinates, long working hours on the one hand; and employee retention in the hotel sector on the other hand. As the research aimed at testing relationships between variables, a quantitative research method was deemed the appropriate approach. Structured questionnaire surveys, using non-probability sampling, were applied in the form of a convenience approach. Hotels willing to participate in the study were selected, as Cape Town has a large population of hotels. Data for this study was collected over a period of ten months. A bivariate analysis was applied in this research in the form of correlation and Chi-square tests, after descriptive statistics were done. Reliability tests also measured the level of internal relatedness of the variables used to explain employee retention and related constructs. The variables and constructs used in this study were tested for relationships. The major results showed that there are highly significant relationships between employee retention, on the one hand, and employee compensation, employee development, working relationship, work engagement, and working hours, on the other hand.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / The study identifies and examines evidence on how customer loyalty is influenced by hotel product innovation. This examination helps to understand differentiation and the competitive benefits of innovation in product and loyalty for such innovation. The innovation influence provides rationale to extend product innovation as a strategy to differentiate, compete, and gain loyalty in the hotel industry. With increased competition in the hospitality industry, the examination of hotel product innovation becomes imperative for both practical and theoretical relevance. This examination was done using a survey method to collect data from 242 travellers who visited Cape Town, stayed in a graded hotel, and visited Kirstenbosch Gardens during the period of the study. This quantitative survey was supported by data triangulation approach with respondents chosen using systematic random sampling. The semi-structured questionnaire comprised mainly closed-ended and a few open-ended questions. The study found that hotel product innovation has greater influence on customer loyalty and hotel choice. However, not all product innovations have the same level of influence, and not all influences are statistically significant. Therefore, the degree of influence was found to be a useful enabler of competitive and loyalty strategy in the hospitality industry.