The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate, in an exploratory way, the state of the art of the application of brand alliances, with a particular focus on the practice of dual branding, in the field of lodging. More precisely, this research aimed at identifying and evaluating the determinants of industry adoption of, and customer satisfaction with, intra-company dual branding strategies in the US lodging industry. The primary purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of dual branding in the field of the lodging industry, a phenomenon that is still insufficiently explored in the literature. In fact, the scarcity of literature pertaining to the lodging industry has forced this study to consider the research related to other segments and industries where dual branding strategies have been studied. Therefore, this study intended to expand the existing body of knowledge, advancing the theory of brand alliance from an industry and consumer perspective, as well as adapt, refine, and utilize a scale suitable for the measurement of dual branded hotels' customer satisfaction. This dissertation used an exploratory sequential mixed method approach. In the first qualitative phase, face-to-face and telephone interviews with operational hotel managers, corporate hotel managers, real estate development and management companies' managers, owners, and presidents, as well as hotel and lodging associations' professionals have been conducted. In addition to relevant and significant findings and results obtained through the hotel industry professionals interviewed, themes, constructs, and variables useful in the refinement and adaptation of a dual branding customer satisfaction scale were attained. Consequently, the second quantitative phase consisted of an online administration of a scenario-based questionnaire to dual branded hotels' customers of a dual branded lodging property aimed at identifying and evaluating the determinants of customer satisfaction. The ultimate purpose of this research has been to understand the main issues of implementation of dual branding practices and strategies in the lodging context. In particular, it has been to highlight and provide managerial, theoretical, methodological, and practical implications and recommendations for the US lodging industry, in the adoption of intra-company dual branding strategies. The suggestions offered in the study are relevantly timed to what is happening within the lodging industry, offering implications for both academia and industry.

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With the rapid development of Virtual Reality (VR) technology, theme park companies are eager to apply VR technology to their attractions. Operating as highly hedonic consumption businesses, theme parks need to make sure that they offer unique and memorable experiences to customers in order to enhance their competitive advantages. However, empirical data is needed to understand whether and how VR technology will enhance visitors' experiences, including the quality of their experience, customer delight, and customer loyalty. Therefore, this study aims to examine how VR influences visitor's theme park experience quality, customer delight, and customer loyalty. Based on an in-depth literature review, a research model and hypotheses were developed. Through a self-administered questionnaire, empirical data was collected from theme park visitors who have experienced VR attractions during the past three months. According to the results of the study, the hedonism factor is the most important antecedent of customer delight, which in turn stimulates customer loyalty. Additionally, customer loyalty toward the VR attraction shows positively and partially mediated effects between customer delight and customer loyalty toward the theme park that contains the VR attraction. The study contributes to the empirical study of VR technology application and the concept of customer delight in the entertainment sector of the tourism industry. This study also suggests that theme park operators should emphasize offering a hedonic experience to customers. Suggestions for future research are also provided.

This thesis explores the inner workings of a consumer-driven niche market that has rapidly developed to the point of maturity. The Bed and Breakfast industry, a micro-industry of the hospitality industry, has become a popular lodging phenomenon and entrepreneurial lifestyle. The purpose of this study is to determine if it is possible to succeed in operating a Bed and Breakfast business. The Bed and Breakfast industry is examined, and research findings are discussed. Financial prosperity is difficult, given the huge fixed costs, small number of rooms and corresponding limits on generation of revenue. Operation size, competition from larger hotels and ambiguity in guest expectations are just a few of the factors that make profitability in the Bed and Breakfast industry very difficult. However, changing guest lifestyles, socioeconomic conditions and increased Internet use provide opportunity for the Bed and Breakfast product. Feasibility of turning profit is explored, and predictions for success in the future of Bed and Breakfast industry are presented.

<p>In this information age, the Internet has found a role in various industries such as transportation, advertising, etc. The travel industry, in which communication between travellers and travel service providers is a very important component, has as much potential as any other industry to make full use of this new medium. Already, most travel agencies and travel service providers promote their products and services using web sites. Searching for information online is now seen by many people as a way to save time and cost, especially in their travel activities. In order to fully deploy the Internet within the travel industry, understanding the use of the Internet in tourism is critical. This research sets out initially to examine the role and the impact of the Internet in the whole of the travel industry. But in order to define an achievable scope of work and because of its importance in South Africa at this time, tourism within the travel industry was chosen as the focus of the work.</p>

This research study assessed Korean students' perceptions and overall satisfaction levels regarding the effectiveness of their hospitality internship experiences. Relationships with demographic characteristics were identified. The sample was comprised of 74 senior-level university students enrolled in hospitality and/or tourism management programs who were completing an internship in Korea. Generally, students exhibited low agreement levels on the internship program aspects being investigated. Previous work experience was the most common factor influencing students' perceptions of their internship experiences. Agreement levels increased with length of prior work experience. Type of internship workplace, expectation of an employment offer, age and gender were found to influence students' perceptions of the internship experiences.

Submitted by Mariana Dornelles Vargas (marianadv) on 2015-04-13T18:09:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 inovacao_servicos.pdf: 1133552 bytes, checksum: 614f1c7ab8b9708e706da5f736409aaa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-13T18:09:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 inovacao_servicos.pdf: 1133552 bytes, checksum: 614f1c7ab8b9708e706da5f736409aaa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Nenhuma / A ascensão do setor de serviços na economia nacional segue uma tendência mundial. Aliadas a esse crescimento, as práticas inovadoras que começam a ser empregadas por empresas de serviços representam ingredientes essenciais na sustentação de vantagens competitivas. Além disso, inovações existentes num setor são transferidas a outros setores, agregando maior valor às atividades realizadas e aos serviços prestados. Por exemplo, a introdução de conceitos hoteleiros ao ambiente hospitalar traz ao segmento novas alternativas no atendimento dos pacientes e de seus familiares. O objetivo do presente trabalho é descrever e analisar que inovações em serviços estão surgindo a partir da introdução das práticas de hotelaria nos hospitais. A pesquisa se baseou no estudo de dois casos. Foram analisados dois hospitais: um de natureza pública e o outro de natureza privada, localizados na cidade de Porto Alegre ?RS, que representam formas distintas de governança. A escolha dos mesmos deu-se, principalmente, pela presença de uma gerência hoteleira interna, responsável por controlar as atividades vinculadas ao setor de hotelaria. Foram realizadas entrevistas presenciais e por e-mail com profissionais tanto da área médica quanto do setor de hotelaria dos dois hospitais, com o intuito de identificar quais seriam essas inovações. Durante a coleta dos dados, além das entrevistas, foi realizada uma observação in loco nas dependências dos hospitais, reforçando, assim, as análises apresentadas durante as entrevistas. A partir das categorias de análises criadas e da coleta de dados, algumas conclusões puderam ser observadas. Em primeiro lugar, as gerências hoteleiras dos hospitais ainda são incipientes, não obtendo muita autonomia na tomada de decisão. Em segundo lugar, as inovações em serviços percebidas geralmente estão baseadas nas abordagens ad hoc (interação entre prestador e cliente). Uma terceira conclusão levou à constatação de que a hotelaria hospitalar ainda é um sinônimo de apoio aos serviços de saúde. Finalmente, inferiu-se que as práticas hoteleiras poderiam tornar mais agradáveis os ambientes hospitalares, bem como poderiam qualificar o atendimento prestado ao cliente. / The ascension of the services' sector in the national economy follows a world-wide trend. Allied to this growth, the practical innovators that start to be used by companies of services represent essential ingredients in the underling of competitive advantages. Moreover, existing innovations in some sector are transferred to other sectors, adding bigger value to activities and services. For example, the introduction of hotel concepts to hospital environment brings attendance's alternatives to patients and theirs family. The aim of this work is to describe and analyze which innovations in services are appearing as result from the introduction of hotel practices in the hospitals. The research is based on two case studies. Public and private hospitals had been analyzed, both located in the city of Porto Alegre - RS and representing distinct forms of management system. The choice of those hospitals was given, mainly, for the presence of an internal hotel management, responsible for controlling all activities from hotel sector. Interviews had been conducted in person and also through email, with professionals from the medical area as much as the hotel sector of the two hospitals, in order to identify which would be these innovations. During data collection, in addition to interviews, participant observation was carried out in both hospitals, thus enhancing the analysis presented during the interviews. From the analytical categories created and the data collection, some conclusions could be observed, such as: i) the hotel managements of the hospitals are still incipient, not getting a lot of autonomy in decision-making, ii) the innovations are usually perceived services based on ad hoc approaches (interaction between provider and client), iii) a hospital hotel is still synonymous with support health services, iv) the hotel practices become more pleasant hospital environments, and may qualify the service rendered the client.

Os Contramapas de acolhimento têm como objetivo reconhecer e registrar em comunicação cartográfica as formas de acolhimento encontradas em diferentes espaços da cidade com as suas respectivas conexões e permeabilidades. A metodologia utilizada a criação dos Contramapas é um processo cartográfico subjetivo amparado no pensamento do filósofo Jacques Derrida sobre a prática da hospitalidade para perceber e representar a verdadeira potência de acolhimento dos espaços das cidades e suas arquiteturas. Sem a intenção de estabelecer comprometimento com a exatidão dos mapas e processos cartográficos convencionais, as formas de acolhimento representadas nos Contramapas possibilitaram representar as maneiras de convívio entre diferentes grupos na cidade, apontando a real dimensão das urgentes necessidades de revisão das políticas de hospitalidade entre diferentes. As análises dos Contramapas atrelada à revisão das políticas de hospitalidade iluminam potencialidades até então não percebidas ou não descritas nas arquiteturas e espaços da cidade, que atuam como agentes de hospitalidade, amizade e acolhimento do por vir. / The Hospitality Counter-maps aim to recognize and register, by cartographic communication, welcome forms in different city spaces with their respective connections and permeabilities. The used methodology is a subjective cartographic process supported by the philosopher Jacques Derrida´s thoughts about the practice of hospitality to perceive and represent the true hospitality power of the cities spaces and their architecture. Disregarding the intention of being committed to the conventional mapping and cartographic processes, the hospitality forms represented on the Counter-maps allowed to show the ways of interaction among different individuals and different groups in the city, pointing out the real dimension of the urgent revision needs of the current hospitality policies. The Counter-maps analysis and the resulting review of the hospitality policies enlightened the potentialities hitherto not perceived or described in the architectures and spaces of the city, functioning as agents that empower hospitality, friendship and the still to come.