Kristin Malek

Effects of self-congruity and destination image on destination loyalty: the role of cultural differences

Abstract Destination branding is a key factor in the creation of a differentiated identity to increase a tourist’s interest in travelling to a specific area. This study investigated the effects of self-congruity and destination image on destination loyalty. The sample comprised of both Western and Asian destination tourists to South Korea. To analyse the data, descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling (SEM) methods were utilized. The findings confirmed the influential role of self-congruity and destination image on destination loyalty in both samples. A multi-group SEM analysis revealed the differential effect of self-congruity and destination image on destination loyalty, which was dependent on the tourists’ countries of origin.

Gambling motivations and superstitious beliefs: a cross-cultural study with casino customers

Abstract The expansion of legalized commercial gaming in Macau has motivated stakeholders to explore opportunities in other Asian countries. However, there is a lack of research focusing on casino customers in these markets. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore gambling superstitious beliefs and motivations of those visiting a casino in South Korea, and how these factors are different across four ethnic groups. The researchers surveyed 323 casino customers in the lounge area on the casino floor, including Americans, Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans living abroad. This study found American gamblers could be characterized as more superstitious than Japanese gamblers, while the Chinese and American gamblers exhibited many similarities regarding the pattern of superstitious beliefs that they were most likely to endorse. The findings also suggest the culture and the area around the casino might be more important to Chinese, while novelty to Japanese and winning money to Korean gamblers are seen as most important. This study contributes to gambling literature by examining gamblers’ beliefs and motives in a different setting with more diverse populations than those in previous studies. The findings of this study will help casino operators properly develop and adjust strategies to thrive in the Asian marketplace.

Convention attendance and gaming volume in South Korean casinos

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance a theoretical model by estimating the effects of convention attendance on gaming volume (both monthly coin-in and table game drop). Design/methodology/approach – Performance monthly data from two casinos in South Korea are used to test the research model. Specifically, time series regression modeling was performed on the data with the dependent variables including coin-in and table drop and the independent variables including convention attendance and hotel occupancy. Findings – The hotel occupancy variable was found to significantly increase slot coin-in at a rate of 113,603,912 KRW (approximately US

Engaging attendees in environmental sustainability at trade shows: attendees’ perceptions and willingness to participate

93,500) per month at Casino A. Interestingly, this variable had a significant negative relationship with coin-in per month at Casino B. Meanwhile, the hotel occupancy variable failed to produce any significant effect in the table drop model at both casinos. The convention attendance variable also had no significant effect on both coin-in and table drop at bot...

The Differences Between ACF Professional Chefs and Chef Educators: Concern for Task Versus Concern for People

The meetings, incentives, conventions, and events (MICE) industry has rapidly grown over the past few decades. One of the most important current pressing issues is environmental sustainable practices (Lee, Barber, & Tyrrell, 2013; Weber & Ladkin, 2003). The Green Venue Report (Simons & Unterkofler, 2015) stated that venues that are incorporating sustainable business practices are experiencing increased efficiencies, more engaged staff, more satisfied customers, and competitive distinction within the industry. With substantial attention on the significance of sustainability practices in the MICE industry, understanding attendees’ perceptions on environmental issues will enable the industry to properly design and implement sustainability programmes while encouraging attendees’ active participation (Diamantopoulos, Schlegelmilch, Sinkovics, & Bohlen, 2003; Graci & Dodds, 2008). This will result in a fully integrated sustainability programme. Previous research conducted on sustainability in the MICE industry has focused less attention to the attendee’s viewpoint (Rittichainuwat & Mair, 2012). Thus, the purpose of this research is to investigate attendees’ perceptions and willingness to participate in sustainable practices in the MICE industry.

The impact of manager training on employee turnover intentions

ABSTRACT This research deepens theoretical and practical understanding of certified chefs by comparing chef professionals to chef educators. Using Blake and Mouton’s managerial grid, we determined the extent to which categories of chefs value people compared to task. Data were collected from chef professionals and educators across the United States. Those who held certification in both areas simultaneously were also examined. The findings were that chef professionals and educators were focused more on concern for task than concern for people, whereas the opposite was true for chefs with both certifications. There was no statistically significant differences between individual groups. One interesting finding is that chefs have achieved a higher level of education compared to chefs a few decades ago. In-depth discussion, implications, and suggestions for future research are provided.

Understanding the relationship among motivation to attend, satisfaction, and loyalty of medical convention attendees

There are decades of research analyzing turnover in the hospitality industry and yet it remains nearly double other industries. Whereas previous studies have analyzed training and its impact on turnover, the purpose of this paper is to look at the direct relationship between training at the management level and how this impacts their direct employees’ turnover intentions.,This study utilized annual evaluation data from two luxury resorts in the southeast USA. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted which resulted in four factors: management style, manager/employee relations, manager training and employee turnover intentions. Multiple regression was utilized to assess these relationships between factors.,The analyses show that an employee’s perception of his or her manager was inversely related to turnover intentions. Additionally, it was found that management training and management style had a significant inverse relationship with employee turnover intentions. Finally, this study found that as manager training increases, employee turnover intentions decrease. This research indicates that if hotels invest in management training then there will be a reduction in employee turnover intention.,The sample consisted of only two luxury full service hotels in the southeastern USA. Both luxury hotels recruited a significant amount of employees from local universities; therefore, the workforce was more educated than other hotels. This study should be replicated across hotel types and throughout various locations.,This research has relevant implications for practitioners. General managers should analyze their training requirements and fiscal appropriations. This research finds that if hotels invest in management training then there will be a reduction in employee turnover. If managers had more training, this study indicates that employees would view their managers more favorably, feel closer to their managers and have less of a desire to leave the organization.,Extant research has shown that employee training programs impact employee turnover and that manager training programs impact manager turnover. This study extends that research by showing that these segments are not autonomous; manager training has a significant direct effect on employee turnover intention. This has not been studied in turnover intention literature suggests that this could be the missing variable in the body of turnover research.

Forecasting casino revenue by incorporating Google trends

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship among convention attendance, satisfaction, and loyalty of medical convention attendees. The data were compiled after a major medical conference held in Las Vegas in 2015. A total of 1,091 completed surveys were evaluated using structural analysis. The study indicated that attendees motivation for attendance was significantly different than other studies that utilized different target markets. It was found that motivation impacted satisfaction which in turn influenced desire to attend future conventions. This study also provides discussions and implications for convention research and industry practices.