Ali A. Poorani

An Analysis of Skills and Competencies of Full Service Hotel Technology Managers

ABSTRACT A survey of 104 hotel managers was conducted to identify the Information Technology (IT) skills and other competencies needed by IT managers at the hotel property level. A factor analysis was conducted to condense 42 skills identified through review of literature and a focus group. The three most important skills needed for a hotel IT manager were Communication (3.60), Critical Thinking (3.57), and IT Knowledge (3.42). The study concluded that soft skills were among the most important skills for the hotel IT managers job requirements.

Financial characteristics of bed-and-breakfast inns.

A survey of 403 U.S. bed-and-breakfast inns in 46 states found that financial returns for large operations were generally better than those of small as B&Bs. Besides asking typical demographic-data...

The Adoption of Restaurant-Based E-Service

Restaurant services are currently available through conventional Internet access through PCs, Macs and laptops. However, there is ongoing change at the customer end where the use of Web-ready mobile devices such as cell phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) is steadily increasing. This study evaluated the customer acceptance of restaurant e-services across two types of computing devices: (a) conventional lap/desk devices (PCs, laptops, Macs) and (b) mobile handhelds (Blackberries and Palm Pilots). Findings indicate that perceived ease of use with mobile handhelds is comparably more important toward the adoption of restaurant-based e-services as opposed to conventional lap/desk devices, where perceived usefulness was marginally more important. Findings are discussed within the context of the emerging mobile Internet and how restaurateurs need to better leverage this medium.

Franchising as a Business Expansion Strategy in the Bed and Breakfast Industry: Creating a Marketing and Development Advantage:

This study examined the applicability of hotel franchising to the bed and breakfast industry and explored whether there was a significant need for marketing and other services of a hotel franchising company. A questionnaire survey of 2,000 innkeepers throughout the United States was conducted resulting in 403 usable responses. The findings of the study included the willingness of the present innkeepers to become members of a hotel franchising company with respect to size, previous hospitality experience, and profitability. With regard to franchising, the following conclusions were drawn: Although innkeepers have unmet marketing and sales needs, franchisers have not yet persuaded innkeepers that they can fulfill these needs effectively.

A Profile of Bed and Breakfast and Inn Operations and Their Financial Characteristics

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the typical size, cost and income generation of B & Bs and Inns throughout the United States, and to formulate a profile of Innkeepers in terms of the age at which they began Innkeeping, their previous hospitality experience and their current career satisfaction. The subjects of the study were 424 Innkeepers (N= 424) in 46 states responding to a written questionnaire. The findings of the study included acquisition, financing and profitability as measured by return on total investment with respect to size, location, age, and previous hospitality experience. More specifically the study concluded that innkeepers are attracted to this occupation primarily for the perceived quality of life and resultant intrinsic rewards, and secondarily for the potential extrinsic or financial rewards.