Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of St Andrews, April 2008.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2007. / Principal faculty advisor: Cihan Cobanoglu, Dept. of Hotel, Restaurant, & Institutional Management. Includes bibliographical references.

The central theme of this study is detraditionalization and differentiation of rock climbing in the UK. The type of climbing in the UK known as traditional climbing is taken as the "pregiven or natural order of things" (Heelas, 1996: 2) and how more contemporary rock climbing types interact with traditional climbing is explored. In line with detraditionalization, the study's premise is a loss of the 'traditional approach' to climbing in favour of more contemporary practices. For the purposes of this study rock climbing in the UK is differentiated by five climbing types; traditional climbing, sport climbing, indoor climbing, assortment climbing and bouldering. The study assumes the functioning of these climbing types to be underpinned by five cultural domains: ethics, practices, motivations, subcultural identity and lifestyle identity. Cultural domains are actions, behaviours and feelings associated with different types of rock climbing. The study explores the existence of the proposed cultural domains and hypothesises that different rock climbing types appeal to participants because within these more emphasis is placed on certain cultural domains. The study has four important theoretical pillars. First, detraditionalization and differentiation are justified as important concepts. Both are associated strongly with superficial and deeper meanings within the study. Second, an historical perspective adds context to the study and affirms the differentiated nature of UK rock climbing at a number of levels. Here, the 'great divide' (Donnelly, 2003) between traditional climbing and sport climbing is scrutinised and a history of traditional climbing developed. An exploration of values in rock climbing as well as its wider societal context forms the third theme. Subculture forms the final theoretical pillar where contemporary post-subcultural studies are explored and rock climbing differentiation aligned with a postmodern perspective. The study has two research phases: the quantitative phase is positivist in paradigm and seeks to establish a baseline for the study through establishing cultural domain existence. The qualitative phase observes their manifestation. A Liked style questionnaire was designed in the first study phase based on the initially identified cultural domains with 639 responses received from rock climbers categorising themselves into one of five given climbing types. Factor analysis did not substantiate the proposed five cultural domains. A more complex domain structure was evidenced with all sub-groups clearly showing differences in cultural domain priority. The qualitative phase observed cultural domain manifestations of fifteen climbers, twelve of whom may be described as primary subculture members (Donnelly, 1981). Four qualitative tools were developed: participant observation; recorded discussion; snapshot camera work and visual diaries. The qualitative phase tells the participants' story. Their life worlds are reflected upon using the four tools and a strong narrative exists that is the participants' climbing lives. Both research phases reveal complexity of cultural domain by climbing type and new taxonomies were offered as more accurate representations. Congruence between study phases was recorded developing three important cultural domain issues for future consideration. First, cultural domains of traditional climbing are markedly different because of the difficulty of focusing on the physicality of climbing given the nature of ascent. In contrast, contemporary climbing types (bouldering, sport and indoor climbing) easily identify with physicality and concentrated on climber's technical ability to complete difficult rock climbing sequences in relative safety. Physicality represented an important reward for contemporary climbers, whereas for traditional climbers, being in the outdoors, and the holistic experience associated with this, was held in high regard. The outdoor experience was less important in other types of climbing Second, skills of traditional climbing developed through an 'outdoor apprenticeship' are attached to specific outcomes embedded in the natural environment. It forms an essential element of safe traditional climbing practice, particularly if mountain crags are preferred. For sport climbing, indoor climbing and bouldering many of these skills are no longer necessities. This is linked strongly with a more utilitarian value base underpinning cultural domains in contemporary climbing. Finally, the complexity of the 'great divide' (Donnelly, 2003) involving other rock climbing types as well as sport climbing and traditional climbing is recognised. Assortment climbers are seen as the conduit through which climbers with broad experience may regularly bridge the great divide given the necessary skills and inclination. Assortment climbers are underrepresented in this study and account for a growing number of climbers with a flexible approach to rock climbing. Establishing cultural domains by climbing type in rock climbing remains complex. While there is a clear distinction of cultural domain manifestation in traditional rock climbing compared with contemporary rock climbing types, the common notion of what constitutes a legitimate ascent across all rock climbing types still rests within a traditional climbing interpretation. The study recommends further exploration of the interplay between identifiable rock climbing types in the UK.

Dissertation (Th. D.)--Boston University, 2011. / This dissertation argues that in the aftermath of religious communal violence in Indonesia, Christian mission practice should take the form of hospitality. A fundamental Christian tradition, hospitality has been theologically reclaimed in recent decades and has become central to the contemporary discourse on mission and religious pluralism. This dissertation particularizes the broader discourse by identifying the missiological dimension of local Indonesian hospitality as a vital Christian interreligious practice in the aftermath of religious communal violence. [TRUNCATED]

This doctoral investigation explores the area of emotional labour in relation to aggressive customers’ behaviours. In more detail, it is focussing on the way employees engage in emotional labour, which can be done either by surface acting or deep acting, when they are interacting with aggressive customers and the consequences that may arise due to this method. The thematic and narrative literature review conducted by the researcher on the initial stages of this thesis provided the basis and foundations of the creation of the initial conceptual framework on managing the negative consequences of surface acting when interacting with aggressive customers and achieving the desired deep acting during those interactions. The researcher follows the constructivist / interpretivist philosophical approach in her study, and adopts the methodological triangulation for conducting her primary research by using a combination of two qualitative methods, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The semi-structured interviews were contacted first, and the focus groups, as an additional method, had the purpose of either validating the results or adding to them accordingly. This study revealed that employees are only engaging in surface acting when they are interacting with aggressive customers. This results in a number of negative consequences. The current research has focussed on how to overcome those negative consequences. It further explored the ways that would engage employees in deep acting during those challenging interactions with aggressive customers and the positive effects. The results were presented in the empirically validated conceptual framework that has been created. The findings of this doctoral investigation have contributed both in theory as well as practice. The theoretical contributions include innovative additions to the existing theoretical gaps in the area of emotional labour in terms of how to overcome the negative consequences of surface acting and enhance the use of deep acting during interactions with aggressive customers. Further on, there are also contributions in the literature of the hospitality industry that has been under-researched in regards to this area. In addition, this research is adding to the existing knowledge of how to handle aggressive customers since it is including important findings on how to handle employees’ emotions so that aggressive customers are being treated more effectively. This also benefits the theory of marketing by offering the opportunity for further researchers to use the current empirically tested theoretical framework in order to test the relationship between engaging in deep acting and eliminating customer dissatisfaction. In terms of practical contributions, this research is adding knowledge to the hospitality industry employees, the management and the industry as a whole. While utilising this framework, both management and employees will be able to offer more genuine emotions to their aggressive customers and therefore be able to achieve the best possible results for the organisations they are working for.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the business traveler's behavior is influenced by brand loyalty. This brand loyalty, which became evident through the use of a survey, was then to be thoroughly evaluated. In order for this information to be best understood and utilized as the basis of future marketing strategies, much research was undertaken and its significance explained in relation to the airline industry as it exists at present. The results and conclusions of this study indicate that the airline industry is, for the most part, taking a successful approach in attracting business travelers. These travelers' business is highly valued due to the frequency with which they pay full-fare rates. The airlines view business travelers as a potential for great profit and their actions are in line with these philosophies.

The area of investigation concerns the possible uses of the Bar BF Ranch in Smithville, Missouri. The business that will ultimately lead to the greatest growth potential is sought. Two possibilities are outlined. The major finding for a growth industry is that of breeding extremely rare straight Egyptian Arabian horses. They are unequaled in classic beauty and thus possess a high profit potential as a genetic pool for the Arabian market world wide. The alternate growth concept for the Bar BF Ranch would be as a quest ranch specializing in horseback riding. The site has been approved for this use by the Dude Ranchers Association of America. The author concludes that the breeding of straight Egyptian Arabian horses will be the primary objective of the Bar BF Ranch, based upon industry findings and return of investment potential.

abstract: This dissertation focuses on lighting and the dining experience as an experiential phenomenon at upscale restaurant setting. The aim is to better the understanding of the impact of lighting on upscale dining experiences, on a global scale. In addition, special emphasis was given to understand the theatrical approach of lighting in staging the dining experience. This research follows a sequential exploratory, mixed-methods approach, which consisted of a qualitative phase, followed by a quantitative phase. The qualitative phase gathered data in the form of interviews and observations, which was then analyzed using thematic analysis. The second phase involved creating a measure which I term, ‘DineLight,’ as an instrument to assess correlational relationships between lighting and specific dimensions of the upscale dining experience. The quantitative data was analyzed using a two-tailed Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results revealed that lighting can affect four aspects of the overall dining experience; atmosphere, service, sociality, and food. This research revealed a new perspective when looking at the impact of lighting in a certain context, beyond the atmosphere perception. The results of qualitative data and quantitative data were combined and produced two main reference tables for lighting at upscale restaurant setting; lighting characteristics and approaches, and lighting fixtures. These two tables operate as guidelines for successful lighting practices in upscale restaurants. This research demonstrates the applicability of the ‘DineLight’ instrument to reveal new insights regarding the upscale dining experience, contributing not just to research in the area of lighting design, but also providing practical applications for restaurateurs and others in this industry. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Architecture 2017

A presente investigação utiliza como método a Dialética-histórico-estrutural para analisar a apreensão teórica das práticas de hospitalidade. O estudo de caso escolhido é a cidade de Caxias do Sul -RS, incluindo a sua transformação históricosocial recorrente às mudanças na sociedade caxiense e, como recorte de análise, utiliza-se a Festa da Uva. A hospitalidade é muitas vezes sinônimo de gestão hoteleira e de atendimento com qualidade no setor turístico, limitando, esse contexto, a compreensão da complexidade estabelecida no tempo de encontro entre visitantes e visitados, como um processo de ênfase voltada a um saber-fazer humano. A hospitalidade é mais subjetiva e valoriza o sujeito nas relações. Ela pode ser vivenciada, mas dificilmente treinada, pode proporcionar o acolhimento e o convívio entre os seres humanos. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-05-14T19:40:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Renata S Plentz.pdf: 1269824 bytes, checksum: 114a6f32aaf58bac1641d8cd9c906c95 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-14T19:40:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Renata S Plentz.pdf: 1269824 bytes, checksum: 114a6f32aaf58bac1641d8cd9c906c95 (MD5) / Theoretical apprehension of hospitality practices has minimized the way hospitality is treated. It has become a synonym for hotel management and quality service in the tourism sector. Consequently, these actions have limited the understanding of the complexity established during the time hosts and guests interact to an emphasis process focused on a human know-how. This research project investigates the hospitality conception in the city of Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil, including its historic social transformation originated from changes in the city's society. The Grape's Festival is used as cross section for analisys.

Thesis (MTech (Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005 / This study illustrates the practical value of incorporating the assessment of data obtained from surveys conducted on tourists' views of current service offerings at eating establishments. The findings from such surveys can assist tourism and the hospitality industry managers to identify priorities for product and service improvements. In essence, the research report examines how tourists (both domestic and foreign) make the choice of an eating establishment. It also examines how greater understanding of user-satisfaction (tourists) with the hospitality products or services may improve planning for the development of these service offerings. In order to conceptualise the research problem, a review of literature is provided of selected aspects of visitors perceptions in the Cape Metropolitan region. Moreover, these aspects (facilities for children, persons with disability, special attention for pensioners, African dishes on offer) are also considered based on the argument that the views of visitors on current service offerings should be given far more prominence than generally occurs at present. The survey of two hundred tourists was conducted during the peak holiday season of December 2004 to January 2005 in the Cape Metropolitan region of South Africa. The survey examined views and perceptions of visitors about a range of services at eating establishments. Survey results reported selected aspects of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the services of eating establishment in the Cape Town city centre, Waterfront and Camps Bay. The researcher concludes that current service offerings at eating establishments in the Cape Metropolitan region do little to accommodate visitors whose primary reasons for visiting are to experience the South African food and wine, especially cultural-specific foods, as well as accommodating the needs of disabled visitors, children and old age pensioners. The implications of the findings will assist relevant authorities to help enhance service offerings.