Kelly J. Semrad

Does Discounting Work in the Lodging Industry

The central intent of this econometric case study analysis is to examine the relationship between discounting room rates and hotel financial performance. The study provides a theoretical framework that investigates the fundamentals of discounting and empirically assesses the efficacy of the discounting process in the lodging industry. The study adopts an error correction model to properly account for the dynamics of the industry. The results indicate that the variables may be modeled as an integrated process and which are linked in the long run and also possess a short-term relationship. The research findings suggest that discounting works both in the short term and the long term only if the discount rate exhibits serial correlation or nonstationary tendencies.

The impact of discounting room rates on in-house restaurant sales.

This study investigates whether discounting hotel room rates during low seasons of demand influences in-house hotel restaurant sales in a positive way. A linear regression function was utilized to assess the relationship between discounting room rates and the hotels in-house restaurant sales. The model summary provided results indicating that the discounting of room rates during the low season did not significantly influence in-house restaurant sales. The value of this study lies in the empirical results that may provide guidance to the revenue management practices of hotel managers.

The internationalization benefits of a music festival: The case of the Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival

A longitudinal research design was used to assess the potential internationalization benefits that may occur when hosting a music festival in a small island destination (SID). A macroeconomic analysis was used to assess these benefits. The results reveal that a music festival may make a positive economic impact and provide internationalization benefits for a small economy under the eclectic paradigm and the ownership, location, and internationalization framework. The study contributes to the understanding of music festivals as a strategic resource to enhance the competitiveness of SIDs.

A Destination Performance Analysis through the Comparison of Touristsand Stakeholders Perceptions: The Case of Curaao

The case study investigates the destination attributes that are necessary for a small island destination to possess in order to develop a sustainable competitive advantage in the Caribbean. The study then compares the perspectives of various tourism stakeholders to determine whether different stakeholder groups may have varying views regarding the small island destination attributes that are of greatest importance to tourists. The study uses an importance-performance assessment to determine the specific destination attributes that are important to tourists who arrive at a small island destination. An ANOVA is then used to determine if there are statistical differences across the tourism stakeholders’ groups regarding the attributes they feel tourists would rate as most important. The results for this case study reveal that destination managers should not heavily focus on culture and heritage as a primary destination attribute, but should focus on guaranteeing safety, transportation on the island, and on providing high quality restaurants for tourists. The findings also indicate that there are potential discrepancies amongst the stakeholders’ evaluation of important destination attributes and the performance of those attributes - the result of which could be a misalignment between tourists’ needs and destination offerings.