Thesis (D. Min.)--Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill., 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-96).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill., 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-96).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill., 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-96).

Thesis (M.A.)--Regis University, Denver, Colo., 2006. / "Master of Arts, Adult Education"--T.p. Title from PDF title page (viewed on Aug. 29, 2006). Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis investigates the factors that influence air passengers in their food and beverage outlet patronage intentions in the airside areas of commercial airports. Commercial operations, including the provision of food and beverages are becoming more important for airport operators. Air passengers’ behaviour in the airside setting is not always following rational decision‐making processes. Due to the nature of the setting and due to a loss of behavioural freedom, behaviour is influenced by the airside context. Extant literature on airport commercial operations has not yet addressed the question of factors influencing passengers’ outlet patronage intentions. Consumer theory usually accepts one of three perspectives: The rational‐choice, the behavioural influence and the experiential perspective. The review of literature on consumer behaviour in the field of food and beverage shows that none of the three theoretical perspectives sufficiently explains behaviour in the airside context and the need for a less paradigm‐dependant approach is derived. This methodological gap around the need for a less paradigm‐dependent approach is addressed through a mixed‐methods case study approach, during which both qualitative and quantitative evidence is analysed in order to explore the effect of the airside context and other factors on air passenger outlet patronage intentions. One medium‐sized German commercial airport serves as typical case for a class of German commercial airports. Evidence is collected mainly in‐situ in the airport’s airside area. The findings reveal that, besides the airport context, personal and outlet‐related factors have an influence on behaviour. Those factors can then be related to three emotional states that passengers may experience, namely AirsideFear, AirsideStress, and AirsideEnjoy. Depending on the type of trip, air passengers show different outlet patronage intentions, resulting in the need to adjust the extant view on passenger typologies. The role of service brands in the airside setting is explored, revealing that service brands are important for very frequent flyers mainly. Findings are discussed in light of extant literature and an Airport Airside Outlet Patronage Model is developed. The thesis concludes by offering a new perspective on airside consumption. This study contributes to the knowledge of the subject field by highlighting the conceptual gap in the literature, as well as by aiming to close it. This is achieved by exploring the factors that influence food and beverage outlet patronage intentions. On a methodological level, the mixed‐methods case approach aims at overcoming the limitations caused by the application of one of the three different paradigms in extant consumer behaviour literature.

Employability has become a key consideration for graduates, and society. Increasingly the trajectory of individuals at age 18 involves the completion of an undergraduate level degree qualification. This thesis presents a sociologically grounded study into the dialogic construction of employability in final year hospitality students and recent hospitality graduates. Drawing on a nationwide sample of UK based hospitality graduates, as they transition beyond undergraduate level higher education, a new understanding of the way in which employability is narrated and individuals position themselves within the competitive context surrounding employability, has been uncovered. The study therefore evaluates the way in which employability is constructed and narrated as a result of graduates’ social and cultural capital, their experience of higher education, career focus and way in which identity is constructed. Through the utilisation of a dialogic narrative approach the social dimensions of employability have been considered within this study. As a result this research sits in contrast to the dominant conceptions of employability, whereby agency is elevated in importance, which pertain within society. The duality between structure and agency is taken into consideration by drawing on the work of Bourdieu and Giddens. Assumptions surrounding the somewhat linear trajectories into employment which are anticipated by many, are challenged and structural influences, identified through the multivoiced nature of dialogue are analysed in conjunction with the agency exhibited by individuals. Identity is also used in order to help understand employability and to frame the narrative and reflexive processes that are undertaken within the construction of graduates’ narratives of employability. Drawing on 28 interviews this study reveals how individuals narrate employability in different ways, based on their experience of higher education and intended trajectory, upon completion of their degree. The socio-cultural background of individuals is also highlighted as a mediating and influencing factor within the process of engagement with learning and development within higher education, and subsequent constructions of employability. It is argued that hospitality graduates are not effectively prepared for the transition into employment on completion of their degrees and therefore work needs to be done in order to better prepare them for employment both within and beyond the hospitality industry. The hospitality industry itself is also not doing enough in order to support the development of students and graduates in order to encourage career development within the field. This has led to a number of recommendations being made in order to better help the development of employability in hospitality graduates through undergraduate curriculum and associated work related experience.

Thesis ( M Tech( Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011 / This study investigates the perceptions of the accommodation sector regarding the tourism value chain in the Western Province of Rwanda. The fact that the study could assist local communities with poverty alleviation in Rwanda has raised the issue of how the perceptions of the accommodation sector could be used to enhance the value chain so that it would benefit all the participants in the industry in that province.The study is undertaken to improve the understanding of the perceptions held by accommodation service providers regarding the tourism value chain. In order to achieve this, the researcher set out to gain a greater knowledge of tourism development planning, as well as to investigate the possible socio-cultural, economic and political impacts that could follow the effective implementation of the tourism value chain on the accommodation sector. Both the positive and the negative impacts of a tourism value chain on the local communities in Western Province of Rwanda were examined.In terms of the national tourism policy, tourism has become a priority. It is regarded as an economic activity that can contribute more than any other sector to poverty alleviation. This study therefore examines the current perceptions held by the practitioners of the industry as they develop tourism products and services in the country. In addition, the study examines the key benefits and concerns of the accommodation establishments about the tourism value chain

The purpose of this paper is to produce a travel counselling course which could be subscribed to by students from Canada and abroad, which, upon completion, would qualify them to work in a travel agency.

The growth of international tourism and the attendant economic benefits to the world nations, has been phenominal since the end of the second world war. It is considered that the industry's upsurge will continue even in the phase of various constraints exemplified in high fuel cost, constant increase in fares and the threatening world-wide recessions. Developed as well as developing countries have gained substantially from the industry. A recent development shows increasing tourist traffic towards developing countries, while developed countries still hold their fort in stable growth of tourist receipts. The strategic beneficial effects of international tourist industry are often quantified in terms of foreign exchange earnings, employments offered, and the Real Estate super-structures; but in general,the industry has innumerable direct and indirect benefits to any nation engaging in the trade. The objective of this thesis is to demonstrate by comparative analysis and proven parameters that the international tourist industry which is given low priority in development in Nigeria, can equally contribute to the nation's economic growth as other industrial sectors which receive high priority and patronage in development. The data for this paper are gathered from primary sources which are i) responses by the Federal and State Governments' tourism-related offices; ii) government publications e.a. the Third National Development Plan of Federal Republic of Nigeria; and iii) Books and collections. The secondary sources include reports,periodicals and hospitality industry publications. To formally establish the international tourist industry in Nigeria, all the governments (Federal, State and Local) and the private sector in the country, should commence the development of the industry with research and feasibility studies, to be followed by proper planning at all levels and based on the result of the research and feasibility studies.

The purpose of this study is to adapt and combine the following methods of sales forecasting: Classical Time-Series Decomposition, Operationally Based Data and Judgmental Forecasting for use by military club managers.