Randall S. Upchurch

Corporate social responsibility: what are top hotel companies reporting?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the level of socially responsible behavior of the top ten hotel companies.Design/methodology/approach – This study used content analysis method to identify and describe social responsibility (SR) patterns in web sites, annual reports and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports for the top ten hotel companies as listed in Hotels magazine.Findings – The findings reveal that 80 percent of the hotel companies analyzed reported socially responsible activities relating to some form of charitable donations. A diversity policy was reported by 60 percent of the hotel companies, while 40 percent provided some mention of SR in their vision or mission statements. Some companies were highly focused on providing a balanced approach to SR while other hotel companies were less focused in their efforts. The areas of SR that seemed to be lacking with regards to reporting were environmental, and vision and values.Research limitations/implications – Future studies sho...

Resident perceptions of tourism development in Riga, Latvia

Abstract The thrust of this study was to (a) determine the stage of development of tourism in Latvia and (b) to evaluate the positive and negative impacts of tourism development in Riga, Latvia. In terms of Butlers tourist life cycle theory, residents indicated that tourist development is in the early stages of development. This is reflected in their bifurcate, and somewhat ambivalent, responses regarding positive and negative impacts associated with the influx of tourists in their community.

Revenue management underpinnings: an exploratory review

Abstract This article compares usage and competency factors of yield management principles as reported by those in charge of revenue enhancement within mid-sized, upper market lodging operations located in the United States. The results indicate that 11 immediate revenue management factors, five intermediate demand indicators, four benchmarking activities, two long term demand forecasting factors, and two supply and demand maximization factors comprise the yield management process. Overall, this profile indicates that (a) the practice of yield management does have conceptual and practical links, and (b) there is a perceived difference between ones usage and comfort in applying various principles.

The organizational bases of ethical work climates in lodging operations as perceived by general managers

The focus of this research concentrated on ascertaining the presence of ethical climate types and the level of analysis from which ethical decisions were based as perceived by lodging managers. In agreement with Victor and Cullen (1987, 1988), ethical work climates are multidimensional and multi-determined. The results of this study indicated that: (a) benevolence is the predominate dimension of ethical climate present in the lodging organization as perceived by lodging managers, and (b) the local level of analysis (e.g. immediate workplace norms and values) is the predominate determinant of ethical decisions in the organization.The implication of this study is that the knowledge gained from understanding that ethical decision making in an organization is multidimensional and multi-determined will foster understanding of ethical decision formation in the organizational context.

The evolution of a sleeping giant: resort timesharing.

Abstract The timeshare industry has been in existence in the United States for a little of 30 years during which the industry as a whole has experienced considerable trials and tribulations. This manuscript highlights the evolution of the timeshare industry, its rapid gain in consumer acceptance, and the need for empirical research in this field.

A Conceptual Foundation for Ethical Decision Making: A Stakeholder Perspective in the Lodging Industry (U.S.A.)

The purpose of this study was to build upon previous ethical research; thereby, advancing the hospitality industrys understanding of ethical decision making in lodging operations. In particular, this study reviewed: (a) the primary normative ethical precepts (i.e., egoism, benevolence, and principle) used as a criterion in ethical decision making, and (b) the predominant locus of analysis (e.g., individual, local, or cosmopolitan referent sources) used in applying ethical precepts to ethical decisions.The sample consisted of 500 lodging operations as randomly abstracted from the 1994 Hotel Travel Index produced by Reed Travel. The researcher selected full service, limited service, or as rooms-only lodging operations throughout the United States. A full service property offered guest rooms, meeting rooms, and food and beverage services. A limited service property offered a continental breakfast, small meeting facilities, and guest sleeping rooms. A rooms-only property only offered guest rooms. This purposive sampling process resulted in 198 usable surveys.The responding general managers indicated that: (a) benevolence was the primary ethical precept impacting ethical decision making in the lodging organization, (b) the predominant locus of analysis emanated from a cosmopolitan perspective, which was external to the organization, and, (c) an individuals educational level of attainment and length of experience in the industry interacted with the ethical precept used.

Ethics in the hospitality industry: an applied model

Aims to profile the ethical decision‐making foundations and referents which influence ethical decision making for small hotel operations in the USA. Reviews the precepts of egoism, benevolence and principle used as criteria in decision making and the main referent sources of individual, local and cosmopolitan used when applying these precepts. Research consisted of 1,500 operators in nine different regions and a response rate of 40 percent. The questionnaire consisted of the Ethical Climate Questionnaire plus demographic variables such as: gender, experience, education level, property type and position classification. Findings included: managers/owners mostly operate from an egoism perspective and an individual referent. Develops a model to explain these ethical precepts and referents.

Employee Motivation and Organizational Commitment: A Comparison of Tipped and Nontipped Restaurant Employees

This study explores motivational and organizational commitment factors of tipped and nontipped restaurant employees when differentiated by gender. The data collected from employees of a nationally-known, branded restaurant chain was analyzed using the ANOVA procedure in an effort to determine if significant differences existed between the tipped and nontipped employees relative to their level of motivation and organizational commitment. The results show that limited differences do exist for certain motivational factors and organizational commitment factors when employees were differentiated by tipped versus nontipped employee status and by gender. The study concludes by offering management implications and suggestions for future research relative to implementing operational systems, policies, and procedures that attend to restaurant employee classification difference as well as gender preference.

Meeting Planners' Perceptions of Site Selection Characteristics

Abstract This study aims to examine meeting planner assessments of convention site selection characteristics for international meetings/conventions and to appraise the strengths and weaknesses of six selected major convention hotels in Seoul, Korea. The principle components procedure indicated that four factors accounted for 78 percent of the cumulative variance of the eleven site selection variables listed in the study.

An Analysis of Ethical Work Climate and Leadership Relationship in Lodging Operations

The focus of this research was on measuring the interrelationship of types of ethical decision making (i.e., Egoism, Benevolence, and Principle) and the leadership style of general managers in the lodging industry. In addition, the level of analysis on which ethical decisions are based were reported by lodging managers. In agreement with Victor and Cullen (1987, 1988), ethical work climates are multidimensional and multidetermined. The results of this study indicated that (1) Benevolence is the primary dimension of ethical climate present in the lodging organization as perceived by lodging managers, (2) the local level of analysis (e.g., immediate workplace norms and values) is the primary determinant of ethical decisions in the organization, and (3) the primary leadership style is the high-task and high-relationship orientation.