Swathi Ravichandran

Organizational Citizenship Behavior Research in Hospitality: Current Status and Future Research Directions

ABSTRACT Organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) are discretionary workplace behaviors not recognized directly by a formal reward system; yet they promote effective functioning in the organization. Exhibition of OCBs has been linked to improved organizational performance and employee performance evaluation scores. Although approximately 200 articles have been published since the term OCB was first coined in 1983, fewer than a dozen articles have appeared in the area of hospitality. This article discusses various theories underlying OCB research, summarizes OCB research in hospitality, and suggests future research directions for OCB research in the hospitality industry.

How to Increase Response Rates When Surveying Hospitality Managers for Curriculum-Related Research: Lessons from Past Studies and Interviews with Lodging Professionals

ABSTRACT Continuous industry input is needed to keep hospitality management curricula current, relevant, and applicable. However, barriers including low response rates are reported when surveying hospitality professionals about competencies and skills essential for success. In response, this study sought to identify successful strategies used by researchers when surveying hospitality managers through mail surveys. Interviews conducted with lodging managers indicated potential strategies for increasing response rates when using online surveys. These strategies are currently absent in the literature. Interview results are presented.

Spatial analysis of small hotel activity in Tanzania

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether there were significant differences in the factors affecting economic contribution and performance of small hotel clusters in the three regions of Arusha, Dar es Salaam, and Mwanza in Tanzania. This paper also assesses whether there were significant differences in developmental policies, and industry and competitive environments of small hotel activity in these three regions.Design/methodology/approach – In the paper data were collected using a novel method of educational workshops held in the three regions. Three short questionnaires were used in the paper to gather data on demographic information of participants and businesses, business environment, and economic transactions of these businesses.Findings – The paper finds that statistical analyses indicate that factors including development policies, competitive and business environment are significantly different among the three regions.Research limitations/implications – This paper presented a f...

Using Wellness Services to Position and Promote Brand India

As travelers seek different experiences from different destinations, it is essential for destinations to create unique travel experiences on an emotional, physical, intellectual, and even spiritual level. The purpose of this article is to present a rationale for promoting brand India as a provider of wellness services. The article also discusses international literature on destination branding and wellness tourism. The success and shortcomings of Indias current tourism campaign, and opportunities and challenges that come with branding India as a wellness destination are presented.

Using Lifestyle Analysis to Develop Wellness Marketing Strategies for IT Professionals in India

Revenues for the information technology (IT) industry have grown 10 times over the past decade in India. Although this growth has resulted in increased job opportunities, heavy workloads, unhealthy eating habits, and reduced family time are significant downfalls. To understand lifestyle choices of IT professionals, this study segmented and profiled wellness clients based on lifestyle. Data were collected from clients of five wellness centers. Cluster and discriminant analyses revealed four wellness consumer segments based on lifestyle. Results indicated a need for varying positioning approaches, segmentation, and marketing strategies suited for identified segments. To assist managers of wellness centers, four distinct packages were created that can be marketed to clients in the four segments.

Investigating Information Adoption Tendencies Based on Restaurants’ User-Generated Content Utilizing a Modified Information Adoption Model

Social media has boosted information sharing and user-generated content. Consequently, many restaurant goers rely on online reviews for dining recommendations. This study adds to the sparse literature on the influence of review extremeness, source credibility, website quality, and information usefulness on information adoption. Most notably, a modified information adoption model with the addition of website quality was tested in the context of restaurant review websites. Respondents answered survey questions based on what they saw in a simulated restaurant review website, which depicted one of eight scenarios. Results showed that the more negative a review, the more useful it is perceived to be. Perceived source credibility of the review writer was positively related to the perceived information usefulness. The only component of website quality that played a significant role in determining information adoption tendency of the review readers was the quality of the information disseminated in the website. Lastly, information usefulness also was positively related to information adoption.

Hospitality managers' importance perceptions of human resource practices related to employment of foreign workers in the United States

ABSTRACT Cross-border labor mobility of hospitality employees has resulted in an increase in illegal immigrants in the workforce. The purpose of this study was to generate a list of top legal issues associated with the employment of foreign workers in the U.S. hospitality industry and to identify factors defined by the importance ratings of these issues. Snowball sampling was used to collect data from hospitality managers. Findings reveal that respondents perceive document verification to be important but may not perceive knowledge of various visa types and employment termination reporting procedures associated with employing foreign workers to be important. Managerial implications are discussed.

Deals inside: examining restaurant operators’ motives when choosing whether to offer a flash-sale

ABSTRACT As restaurants are the primary hospitality business represented on flash-sale sites, this study examined motivations of restaurant managers when choosing whether to utilize the promotional mediums of flash-sales. Interviews were administered as a measurement instrument. Results demonstrated restaurants which have employed flash-sales are weary of the likelihood of success and believe the flash-sales brought in established customers. Non-users indicated hesitation towards adoption of flash-sales related to low profit margins per item in their operation and the percentage split of the sale price between the firm and flash-sale provider. Findings provide keen foundational insight into the flashsale phenomenon.

Using Lifestyle Analysis to Develop Lodging Packages for Staycation Travelers: An Exploratory Study

ABSTRACT When the U.S. economy experienced a downturn in 2008, an alternative to travel known as a “staycation” became popular. This study investigated the lifestyle profiles of staycation travelers by using Activities, Interests, and Opinions statements to segment staycation travelers. Because the largest percentage of staycations is taken by the Millennial generation, students at a university in northeastern Ohio were surveyed. An exploratory factor analysis revealed six factors followed by a cluster analysis, which revealed four clusters. Travel packages that hotels could create to market to members of the four clusters were created. Limitations and future research are discussed.

Utilization of Database Marketing in the Private Club Industry

ABSTRACT The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of database marketing in private clubs. Additionally, it aimed to develop a list of preferences that would be beneficial to track and determine how satisfaction levels with the remembrance of preferences impacted overall satisfaction at home and reciprocal clubs. A mixed method approach involving a focus group of private club managers and a mail survey of members at three private clubs was used to achieve research objectives. Results indicated that database marketing is only starting to become prevalent in private clubs. Also, member satisfaction with remembrance of preferences did affect their overall satisfaction with the club. A list of member preferences that would be beneficial to track is presented.