The main purpose of this degree project is to reveal the Airbnb customer’s preferences and quantify the impact of non-market factors on the market price of tourist accommodation in Berlin, Germany. The data retrieved from Airbnb listings, publicly available on Inside Airbnb (2017), was supplemented on indicator of sharing economy accommodation using machine learning method in order to distinguish between amateur and business-running professional hosts. The main aim is to examine the consumers’ preferences and quantify the marginal effect of "real sharing economy" accommodation and other key variables on market price. This is accomplished by model approach using hedonic pricing method, which is used to estimate the economic value of particular attribute. Surprisingly, our data indicates the negative impact of sharing economy indicator on price. The set of motivations of consumers, which determine their valuation of Airbnb listings, was identified. The trade-off between encompass and parsimony of the set was desired in order to build an effective model. Calculation of proportion of explained variance showed that the price is affected mainly by number of accommodated persons, degree of privacy, number of bedrooms, cancellation policy, distance from the city centre and sharing economy indicator in decreasing order.

This diploma thesis deals with the elaboration of the project documentation of the construction of the Blanice accommodation facility. The object has a rectangular shape. The proposed building is located in Vodnany. The accommodation facility is designed for 28 people and 32 seats in the restaurant. The building is designed as a four-storey, partly basement. On the underground floor there are storage areas, technical background. On the first floor there is a main entrance, a reception and a restaurant with technical facilities for the staff. On the second and third floor there are guest rooms. On the second floor there is also a room for people with limited mobility. The building is bricked from brick blocks with a flat roof Keywords.

With increasing trust and utilization of the Internet, the sharing economy is emerging in the tourism and hospitality marketplace. This study focused on tourist non-purchase intention to use peer-to-peer accommodation. To explore the non-purchase intention, the relationship between perceived risk and tourist non-purchase intention to use peer-to-peer accommodation, as well as the relationship between impeding factors and perceived risk were tested. The study employed survey data (N = 280) gathered from active adult U.S travelers who have never used peer-to-peer accommodation before and have no intention to use peer-to-peer accommodation in future. The results showed that six impeding factors (i.e., lack of trust, perceived cognitive effort, perceived cost, perceived safety and security, perceived service quality, perceived cleanliness) had significant effects on tourists’ perceived risks. Two perceived risks (i.e., Performance Risk, Psychological Risk) had significant effects on tourist non-purchase intention. Based on the results. both academic and practical implications are provided.

In un Paese come l’Inghilterra che, a differenza dell’Italia, non conosce, strumenti di gestione del pluralismo religioso come le intese e/o i concordati, l’istituto giuridico prescelto da legislatore per raggiungere questo risultato anche in campo giurisdizionale, è stato l’arbitrato: alle comunità religiose presenti nel Regno Unito, è stato concessa la facoltà di poter istituire propri organi giudiziari in conformità all’Arbitration Act del 1996 le cui decisioni potranno, ad alcune condizion, spiegare efficacia esecutiva nell’ordinamento statale. All’approfondimento dell’originalità di questa scelta è dedicato il presente elaborato che, partendo da un’analisi storica di alcune esperienze passate di gestione del pluralismo religioso (Capitolo I), che dimostrano che il tema non è affatto nuovo, passa a delineare i principi cardine degli arbitrati religiosi legati indissolubilmente al carattere multiculturale della società inglese in quanto finalizzati a garantire il principio di uguaglianza in una società di “diversi” (Capitolo II).Oltre che all’analisi dell’Arbitration Act del 1996, che rappresenta la cornice normativa di riferimento dei faith-based approaches to dispute resolution, il terzo capitolo è dedicato alla descrizione della struttura e del funzionamento dei tribunali religiosi islamici ed ebraici. Nella parte finale della ricerca saranno prese in considerazione le criticità dell’istituto dell’arbitrato religioso e alcune proposte in senso migliorativo. / In a country like England which, unlike Italy, does not know, instruments of management of religious pluralism such as agreements and Concordats, the legal institution chosen by the legislator to achieve this result also in the jurisdictional field, has been arbitration: the religious communities present in the United Kingdom have been granted the right to establish their own judicial bodies in accordance with the Arbitration Act of 1996, whose decisions may, to some conditions, explain their enforceability in state law. To the deepening of the originality of this choice the present paper is dedicated which, starting from a historical analysis of some past experiences of managing religious pluralism (Chapter I), which show that the subject is not new at all, goes on to outline the cardinal principles of religious arbitrations inextricably linked to the multicultural character of English society as they are aimed at guaranteeing the principle of equality in a society of "different" (Chapter II). In addition to the Arbitration Act of 1996, which represents the framework reference legislation of the faith-based approaches to dispute resolution, the third chapter is dedicated to the description of the structure and functioning of Islamic and Jewish religious courts. In the final part of the research the critical aspects of the institution of religious arbitration and some proposals in an improvement sense will be taken into consideration.

<p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att ge en bild av den livsstil som boende i en ekoby har. Detta har gjorts genom en analys med en teoretisk modell innehållande värden, attityder och handlingar. Två informanter har intervjuats för att ge förståelse för hur värden och handlingar stämmer överens och om det finns genomförda handlingar som inte bottnar i grundläggande värden. Resultatet visar att beslutet att bo i en ekoby är väl genomtänkt och grundas på viktiga värden. Strävan efter att leva ett enkelt liv är det centrala, vilket kopplas ihop med global rättvisa. Även frihet, både i form av fysiskt utrymme och vad gäller möjlighet att bestämma över sin vardag, är viktigt. Vidare betonas den gemenskap som livet i ekobyn ger. Handlingar som grundas på materiella värden, som konsumtion, hög boendestandard och att arbeta heltid, prioriteras inte. Det är varken möjligheten att leva ett miljövänligt eller hälsosamt liv som är de främsta motiven till valet att bo i en ekoby. Informanterna har ett väl sammanvävt värdesystem. I stort sett alla handlingar motiveras av grundläggande värden.</p> / <p>The purpose of the thesis is to describe the lifestyle of people living in an eco village. A theoretical model containing values, attitudes and actions has been used for the analysis. Two informants have been interviewed to create an understanding for how values and actions are corresponding and if there are any actions that have been carried out which aren’t based upon fundamental values. The result shows that the decision to live in an eco village is well considered and is based upon important values. The ambition to live a simple life is essential and is connected to global justice. Freedom is also important, both in the sense of physical space and also the possibility to control everyday life. Further, the fellowship that the life in the eco village gives is emphasized. Actions that are based upon material values, like consumption, a high standard of living and a full-time job aren’t given priority. It’s neither the opportunity to live an environmental-friendly nor a healthy life which are the premier reasons for the decision to live in an eco village. The informants have a well-connected value system. Almost all the actions are based upon fundamental values.</p>

This study used multilevel measurement modeling to examine the differential difficulties of math and reading items for Grade 6 students participating in Ontario’s provincial assessment in 2005-2006, in relation to whether they received a setting accommodation, had a learning disability (LD), and spoke a language in addition to English. Both differences in difficulty between groups of students for all items (impact) and for individual items (differential item functioning) were examined. Students’ language backgrounds (whether they spoke a language in addition to English) were not significantly related to item difficulty. Compared to non-accommodated students with LD, math and reading items were relatively difficult for accommodated students with LD. Moreover, the difference in overall impact on math items was larger than on reading items for accommodated and non-accommodated students with LD. Overall, students without LD and who did not receive a setting accommodation outperformed students with LD and/or who received a setting accommodation as well as accommodated students without LD. It is important to note that, because this was an operational test administration, students were assigned to receive accommodations by their schools based on their individual needs. It is, therefore, not possible to separate the effect of the setting accommodation on item difficulty from the effects of other differences between the accommodated and non-accommodated groups. The differences in math and reading item difficulties between accommodated and non-accommodated students with LD may be due in part to factors such as comorbidity of LD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or a possible mismatch between the setting accommodation and the areas of disabilities. Moreover, the results of the present study support the underarousal/optimal stimulation hypothesis instead of the premise of the inhibitory control and attention for the use of setting accommodation. After controlling for the impact across all items of setting accommodation and LD, several math and reading items were found to exhibit differential item functioning (DIF). The possible sources of DIF were (1) math items that were not adherent to specific item-writing rules and (2) reading items targeting different types of comprehension. This study also found that the linguistic features of math items (total words, total sentences, average word length, monosyllabic words for math) and reading items (word frequency, average sentence length, and average words per sentence for reading) were associated with math and reading item difficulties for students with different characteristics. The total sentences and average word length in a math item as well as total words in a reading item significantly predicted the achievement gap between groups. Therefore, the linguistic features should be taken into account when assessments are developed and validated for examinees with varied characteristics.

This study used multilevel measurement modeling to examine the differential difficulties of math and reading items for Grade 6 students participating in Ontario’s provincial assessment in 2005-2006, in relation to whether they received a setting accommodation, had a learning disability (LD), and spoke a language in addition to English. Both differences in difficulty between groups of students for all items (impact) and for individual items (differential item functioning) were examined. Students’ language backgrounds (whether they spoke a language in addition to English) were not significantly related to item difficulty. Compared to non-accommodated students with LD, math and reading items were relatively difficult for accommodated students with LD. Moreover, the difference in overall impact on math items was larger than on reading items for accommodated and non-accommodated students with LD. Overall, students without LD and who did not receive a setting accommodation outperformed students with LD and/or who received a setting accommodation as well as accommodated students without LD. It is important to note that, because this was an operational test administration, students were assigned to receive accommodations by their schools based on their individual needs. It is, therefore, not possible to separate the effect of the setting accommodation on item difficulty from the effects of other differences between the accommodated and non-accommodated groups. The differences in math and reading item difficulties between accommodated and non-accommodated students with LD may be due in part to factors such as comorbidity of LD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or a possible mismatch between the setting accommodation and the areas of disabilities. Moreover, the results of the present study support the underarousal/optimal stimulation hypothesis instead of the premise of the inhibitory control and attention for the use of setting accommodation. After controlling for the impact across all items of setting accommodation and LD, several math and reading items were found to exhibit differential item functioning (DIF). The possible sources of DIF were (1) math items that were not adherent to specific item-writing rules and (2) reading items targeting different types of comprehension. This study also found that the linguistic features of math items (total words, total sentences, average word length, monosyllabic words for math) and reading items (word frequency, average sentence length, and average words per sentence for reading) were associated with math and reading item difficulties for students with different characteristics. The total sentences and average word length in a math item as well as total words in a reading item significantly predicted the achievement gap between groups. Therefore, the linguistic features should be taken into account when assessments are developed and validated for examinees with varied characteristics.

The little steel industrial community Hofors is situated in Gästrikland on the border to Dalarna and its population is decreasing every year. The biggest housing operator is in a place where they must tear down a lot of buildings because they do not have enough tenants. But what do people really want in an apartment and in the surroundings? What is needed to make it attractive? That is something that this study will discuss and in the end it will lead to a proposal of an area that is suitable for a new housing and a few proposals to make the existing apartments more attractive.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att ge en bild av den livsstil som boende i en ekoby har. Detta har gjorts genom en analys med en teoretisk modell innehållande värden, attityder och handlingar. Två informanter har intervjuats för att ge förståelse för hur värden och handlingar stämmer överens och om det finns genomförda handlingar som inte bottnar i grundläggande värden. Resultatet visar att beslutet att bo i en ekoby är väl genomtänkt och grundas på viktiga värden. Strävan efter att leva ett enkelt liv är det centrala, vilket kopplas ihop med global rättvisa. Även frihet, både i form av fysiskt utrymme och vad gäller möjlighet att bestämma över sin vardag, är viktigt. Vidare betonas den gemenskap som livet i ekobyn ger. Handlingar som grundas på materiella värden, som konsumtion, hög boendestandard och att arbeta heltid, prioriteras inte. Det är varken möjligheten att leva ett miljövänligt eller hälsosamt liv som är de främsta motiven till valet att bo i en ekoby. Informanterna har ett väl sammanvävt värdesystem. I stort sett alla handlingar motiveras av grundläggande värden. / The purpose of the thesis is to describe the lifestyle of people living in an eco village. A theoretical model containing values, attitudes and actions has been used for the analysis. Two informants have been interviewed to create an understanding for how values and actions are corresponding and if there are any actions that have been carried out which aren’t based upon fundamental values. The result shows that the decision to live in an eco village is well considered and is based upon important values. The ambition to live a simple life is essential and is connected to global justice. Freedom is also important, both in the sense of physical space and also the possibility to control everyday life. Further, the fellowship that the life in the eco village gives is emphasized. Actions that are based upon material values, like consumption, a high standard of living and a full-time job aren’t given priority. It’s neither the opportunity to live an environmental-friendly nor a healthy life which are the premier reasons for the decision to live in an eco village. The informants have a well-connected value system. Almost all the actions are based upon fundamental values.

This research explores aspects of small tourism businesses in a Canadian context. A number of authors (e.g., Getz and Nilsson, 2004; Hall and Rusher, 2004; Lynch and Tucker, 2004; Morrison and Teixeira, 2004a/b) have noted that while small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are acknowledged as an important parts of the tourism industry, they are underrepresented in the academic literature. Of the small business research that has been conducted, a sizeable portion has focused on industries other than tourism; the tourism-specific research on SMEs has predominately been conducted in Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand and has frequently focused on a single segment of the industry, often the small accommodation sector. Little research of this nature has been done in a Canadian context. The study was set in Stratford and Goderich, Ontario, and compares and contrasts two parts of the tourism industry: the accommodation and food and beverage sectors. The study focused on small business owners and examined three main aspects: their motivations for starting/purchasing the business, how they evaluated the success of the business and the experiences they had while running the business. The research also set out to examine the demography of Canadian tourism SME owners and how they defined small business. A mixed methods approach was adopted. Data were collected through mailed questionnaires which were followed up with semi-structured interviews. Findings showed that despite motivations being similar between study sites and industries, the paths that lead owners to their business varied greatly. Though ‘lifestyle’ motivations were predominately cited, financial considerations were also noted. Owners frequently used financial calculations to measure the achievement of their lifestyle motivations. The experiences owners had with their business were overwhelmingly positive and were grouped into six themes: changes in the industry, relationship building, staffing, the importance of customer service, financial costs of running a small business and time management. The results of this study confirmed that Canadian tourism SME owners in Stratford and Goderich, Ontario, possess similar motivations, measurements of success and experiences as their national and international counterparts.