Joseph A. Ismail

East versus West: A comparison of online destination marketing in China and the USA:

The internet is playing an increasingly important role in destination marketing. To explore the current situation of online marketing in major destinations, this study compared destination marketing organisation (DMO) websites in the USA and China. By applying a modified balanced scorecard approach, website marketing strategies, web page designs, marketing information and technical qualities were evaluated. The main purpose was to determine similarities and differences among the official DMO websites in the USA and China. Four tiers of DMO websites were evaluated: state tourism offices and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) in the USA, and provincial and city tourism administrations in China. US DMO websites were found to be superior to those in China in terms of marketing strategies and information, and US CVB sites received the highest evaluations. Based on the evaluation results, recommendations were made on how DMOs can improve their websites to develop them into more effective destination marketing tools.

Dazed and confused? An exploratory study of the image of Brazil as a travel destination

The tourism industry in Brazil has been growing sharply in the past few years. Among its visitors, US citizens are one of the most important and attractive markets for the Brazilian tourism industry. It is believed, however, that most Americans still know little about Brazil and what it has to offer. This study had three objectives: determine the images that American citizens interested in travel and tourism have of Brazil as a travel destination, determine if they differentiate Brazil from neighbouring Hispanic countries and group them according to similar images of Brazil. Online discussion groups on travel and tourism were used to obtain a sample of this population. The results indicated that ‘natural attractions/interest’ and ‘vacation atmosphere/exoticness’ were the two most important images of Brazil among the respondents. The results also indicated that respondents were unable to differentiate Brazil from Hispanic countries.

Purchase Attributes of Wine Consumers with Low Involvement

Abstract The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in wine consumption. With this increase comes the need to understand how consumers choose wine. Wine consumers have different types of experiences and expectations, and a one bottle fits all method of catering to wine consumers is not an appropriate marketing strategy. Consumer segmentation based upon involvement with wine is critical to understanding buying behaviors. This study used factor analysis and logistic regression to identify the wine novice and what marketing cues they use to purchase wine. The results identified key marketing cues wine novices use to purchase wine and revealed yet another involvement category: the emerging wine learner.

Using RevPAR to analyze lodging-segment variability

Abstract The higher the RevPAR, the greater the volatility in a hotel investment—but theres also more money to be made.

Incidence of the Impacts of Room Taxes on the Lodging Industry

This article addresses the question of tax incidence or the ultimate sharing of the burden of room taxes assessed on the lodging industry between guests and the lodging industry. The study presents a new analysis of elasticity of supply of lodging services, but draws on an earlier study of elasticity of demand in making this assessment. The elasticity of supply is measured at 2.86, in comparison with - .44 elasticity of demand for lodging services. This results in tax incidence of 6.2, which means that about

Analysis of Room Taxes Levied on the Lodging Industry

6 out of

Heavy Spenders, Medium Spenders, and Light Spenders of Japanese Outbound Pleasure Travelers

7 of the tax is ultimately paid by guests and

Employee Theft and Efficacy of Certain Control Procedures in Commercial Food Service Operations

1 is paid indirectly by the lodging industry.

Promoting organizational effectiveness by defining managerial conduct

This article summarizes a study of the impacts of room taxes on the lodging industry by (1) reporting on the findings of Phase II of an overall study assessing the negative impacts on number of rooms rented of room taxes levied on the lodging industry, and (2) applying the price elasticity of market demand found in step 1 to the average amounts of room taxes paid, as measured in Phase I of the overall study. The elasticity measurement comes from a statistical model based on data from a national probability survey of the properties owned by members of the American Hotel and Motel Association taken in spring 1990.

Impacts of Room Taxes on the Lodging Industry

Abstract The two main objectives of this study were to profile expenditure-based segments (heavy, medium, and light spenders) of Japanese outbound pleasure travelers and to identify the determinants of travel expenditure. Identifying groups with different levels of expenditure and comparing the differences among those groups can be a useful method of segmentation for the travel organizers. The main findings indicate that (1) expenditures increase with age, party size and length of trip as expected, (2) those traveling with a spouse, boy or girl friend and parents spend more, (3) summer is the peak expenditure period, (4) travelers to U.S. mainland, Canada, Europe, and Oceania showed greater propensity to spend compared to travelers to Asian countries, but travelers to Hawaii and Guam spent less, and (5) honeymooners and traveling for combined business and pleasure purposes are big spenders.