Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research (AHTR) An International Journal of Akdeniz University,

Pages 107-136

Authors: Samson Omuudu OTENGEI, Geofrey BAKUNDA, Mohammed NGOMA, Joseph M. NTAYI, and John C. MUNUNENE

This paper empirically tests the link between cultural orientation, market orientation, service innovation capabilities of owner-managers and the level of inward internationalisation of African-ethnic restaurants. Data were obtained from 201 African-ethnic restaurants. A two-step approach was used, i.e. (i) a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to generate a measurement model; and (ii) a structural equation model (SEM) to test the hypotheses. All the predictor variables are positively and significantly related to the degree of inward internationalisation and the relationship is strong enough to cause a 41 per cent variance. Since it is cross-sectional in design, the study cannot be fully relied upon to draw inferences regarding causality among the variables. The results suggest that owner-managers who develop the three capabilities succeed in enhancing inward internationalisation. The current study could be among the very few to propose a framework that brings together major managerial (dynamic) capabilities that are presumed to be vital in enhancing inward internationalisation.

Pages 140-161

Authors: Xuan TRAN, Ni Putu Kumala DEWI, Zachary JENKINS, Duy TRAN, and Ngoc VO

Although Smith Travel Accommodations Report (STAR) benchmarks hotel performance against its competitive aggregate and local markets, hotel managers consider STAR as a reference document rather than a strategy model for hotel competition. Recent research report managers prefer less information to use it as clues for a decision rather than more information not to be able to make a decision. It is imperative for hotel managers to use STAR as a clue for the competition. Limited research has focused on techniques to build a clue for STAR as a practice strategy. The present study has built two matrices by STAR indices. After that, game theory strategies were conducted to forecast the outcomes whenever hotel mangers change price. A sample of hotel guests who stayed in seven top hotel destinations in the U.S. during the ten-year period (2005-2015) was selected in the scenario with two assumptions: (1) there are two players in the U.S. meeting business: Player 1 includes hoteliers in Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland and player 2 includes hoteliers in Orlando, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York and (2) customers in a hotel of player 1 prefer staying in the hotel of player 1 rather than staying in the hotel of player 2 and vice versa. Findings indicate that two matrices have provided hoteliers with simple clues of different strategies in each month during the year to maximize their revenue.

Pages 17-25

Authors: Jing (Bill) XU and Pimtong TAVITIYAMAN

Few researchers have examined Japan’s inbound tourism and the youth market. This study examines factors that drive travelling youths from Hong Kong to Japan. Focus group interviews is the methodology used and the findings indicate that Hong Kong young people are motivated to travel to Japan mainly because of some pull factors (Japan’s “natural wonders, man-made attractions and events,” “traditional culture” and “the hospitality and shopping opportunities”) and some trip-related features and push factors. These findings pave the way for more effective marketing strategies that Japan can use to target Hong Kong’s youth market for its tourism industry.

Pages 32-51

Authors: Dipendra SINGH, Edwin N. TORRES, and April ROBERTSON-RING

Whereas past research studied the impact of online reviews on a hotel’s image, the present study analyzes the impact of various measures of customer engagement on the local market ranking of a hotel. For these purposes, the researchers collected data on a sample of hotels including the number of reviews, absolute rating (i.e. 1-5 stars), and market ranking (i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd place) on TripAdvisor. The authors tested the relationships between number of reviews, market ranking, overall rating and number of booking transactions. Results revealed that the absolute rating of the hotel was a significant factor in determining its market ranking, whereas other elements such as the number of reviews were not. Since the logarithm used by TripAdvisor and other review sites is of a proprietary nature, research that illuminates the relationships between overall rating, market ranking, and number of reviews, helps illuminate scholar’s and practitioner’s understanding of how to improve hotel performance and online image.

Pages 70-82

Authors: Roselyne N. OKECH

This study identifies the wine tourism product and the experience as well as factors that contribute to wine preferences and consumption. This is a case study of wine tourists’ visiting the Auk Island winery, Twillingate and Rodrigues winery, Markland both in Newfoundland Province. The research results reveal that most of the visitors came to the wineries because they were on vacation, wine tasting and wine purchasing. The study further revealed that quality of wines, wine taste tour and value for money influenced their decision to purchase the wines. Overall, there were significant relationships found in demographic characteristics and wine references and these findings, have an implication for wine tourism promotion in the Province in future.