Search Results (33)

Aim: This study extends existing research by focusing specifically on the perceptions of hotel employees, a crucial yet often overlooked group of stakeholders in the adoption of new technologies within the hotel sector. The objective of this research is to investigate the perceptions of hotel employees in Hong Kong regarding the implementation of Metaverse hotels. This study emphasizes their evaluations of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with these establishments through a SWOT analysis. Ultimately, the study aims to provide recommendations for addressing technological challenges, supporting employees during the transition, and facilitating adaptation across the industry. Design/Methodology/Approach: A convenience and purposive sampling method is employed to investigate 20 participants, comprising hotel staff from various departments in the Metaverse hotel in Hong Kong. This study adopts a qualitative research design, utilizing semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth insights into the perceptions of the Metaverse hotel among these employees. Purposive sampling ensures that participants have relevant experience and familiarity with VR/AR technologies. Interviews, each lasting 45–60 min, were conducted in person, with informed consent obtained beforehand. Findings: The exploration of hotel employees’ perceptions of Metaverse hotels in Hong Kong underscores the innovative potential of these establishments to enhance operational efficiency and guest engagement, while also offering new training opportunities and streamlining daily tasks. However, employees express concerns about the potential erosion of personal interactions, which are crucial to the hospitality experience, and foresee significant technical and integration challenges. Despite these drawbacks, Metaverse hotels present distinctive opportunities for market differentiation, appealing to tech-savvy guests and generating new revenue streams that contribute to industry growth. Nonetheless, potential threats such as guest skepticism and challenges in industry adaptation highlight the necessity for cautious implementation and robust privacy measures. Balancing these aspects—strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats—will be pivotal for the successful integration of Metaverse technologies into the hotel industry. Theoretical/Practical Implications: Participants recognized that the Metaverse hotel could offer various potential benefits for both employees and businesses, such as enhanced operational efficiencies and new opportunities for guest engagement. Understanding the perceptions of hotel staff towards the Metaverse carries significant real-world implications for shaping policies, practices, and technologies that facilitate its operational success and market acceptance. Leveraging these insights enables the optimization of Metaverse’s advantages while mitigating associated risks and drawbacks. This study advances existing research by focusing specifically on the perceptions of hotel employees, a crucial yet often neglected group of stakeholders in the adoption of new technologies within the hospitality sector. By understanding the perspectives of hotel employees, this research provides valuable insights into the practical challenges and benefits of implementing Metaverse technologies in the hotel industry. Originality/Value: The Metaverse hotel is still relatively new and evolving, making it crucial to conduct research to understand how hotel staff perceive it. However, there is limited research specifically focusing on the perceptions of hotel employees regarding Metaverse hotels. This gap highlights the need for a comprehensive investigation into how employees perceive the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of implementing the Metaverse in hotels. Full article

This study examines how Chinese tourists perceive the value of sustainable practices implemented in five-star hotels in Phuket, Thailand, through the lens of the perceived value theory and the service experience framework. While luxury hotels increasingly adopt green initiatives, research exploring how tourists evaluate these efforts across the full guest journey is limited. Addressing this gap, this study aimed to examine how attitudinally distinct tourist segments perceive sustainable practices across three service stages: pre-consumption, consumption, and post-consumption. A cross-sectional survey of 400 Chinese tourists was conducted, applying k-means clustering to segment respondents by sustainability attitudes, followed by multi-group structural equation modeling. Two segments emerged: environmentally engaged travelers and conventional comfort travelers. The results indicate that the emotional value dominates during the stay, the functional value drives pre-stay decisions, and the ethical/social value shapes post-stay reflections. Environmentally engaged tourists were more responsive to ethical and social cues. The findings highlight sustainability as a multidimensional, stage-specific construct moderated by guest attitudes. Theoretically, this research extends perceived value frameworks by mapping sustainability perceptions across the guest journey. Practically, it offers actionable insights for hotel managers seeking to design value-aligned green strategies and segmented communication. Tailoring sustainability initiatives to tourist profiles can enhance satisfaction, loyalty, and advocacy in the luxury hospitality sector. Full article

In the digital era, social networks play a crucial role in promoting university cultural events and enhancing accessibility, interaction, and student engagement. This study examines the impact of the communication strategies employed by the West University of Timisoara (UVT) to promote the initiative “At UVT, Culture is Capital” within the framework of Timisoara 2023—European Capital of Culture. This research employs a mixed methodology, combining a quantitative analysis of the performance of Facebook and Instagram posts with a qualitative examination of communication strategies. The results reveal that, despite Generation Z’s preference for visual platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Facebook continues to be an effective channel for promoting university cultural events. This effectiveness stems from trust in the information shared and the strengthened community surrounding the university. Key factors contributing to the campaign’s success included the prominence of guest speakers, high-quality visual and textual content, and the organization of interactive giveaway campaigns. There was also a notable increase in student participation in events and an enhanced sense of belonging to the university community. The findings suggest incorporating more dynamic media formats, such as reels and stories, to boost engagement and explore emerging platforms favored by younger audiences. This research contributes to understanding how universities can effectively leverage social media to promote cultural events and foster a more engaged academic community. Full article

This paper explores the energy-saving behavior of hotel guests in the Vietnamese context. We adapted the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the norm activation model (NAM) to develop a research model with six determinants of energy-saving intention and behavior. A self-administered online survey was implemented to collect data from hotel guests in Hanoi and Quang Ninh provinces. After 4 months, we received 253 valid responses for further analysis. SmartPLS 4.0 software was employed for structured equation model testing. Our findings showed that TPB variables and NAM variables jointly explain the energy-saving intention and energy-saving behavior of Vietnamese hotel guests. Among the three factors of TPB, subjective norms have the most substantial impact on energy-saving intention and a significant direct effect on energy-saving behavior. Meanwhile, awareness of consequences does not significantly affect personal norms, and in turn, personal norms do not directly affect energy-saving behavior. Thus, we proposed several solutions to hotel managers to promote energy-saving initiatives and attract the engagement of their guests in these initiatives. Full article

Inclusive tourism is designed to ensure accessibility for all travelers, including individuals with disabilities, and the concept has been garnering increasing attention recently. Previous scholars have explored the experiences of disabled tourists, but this study shifts the focus to hospitality providers by examining their role in delivering inclusive services. Significant implementation gaps persist despite the existence of policies promoting inclusivity, and the situation shows the need to understand how the hospitality sector perceives and addresses accessibility challenges. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate accessibility within the Indonesian hospitality sector by analyzing key challenges related to infrastructure, service quality, and industry commitment. The service quality model developed by Parasuraman et al. was applied to assess gaps in tangibility, responsiveness, and empathy through qualitative methods, including stakeholder interviews and observational analyses. Moreover, a specialized framework developed by Stonesifer and Kim was incorporated to enhance hotel experiences for guests with disabilities. The results showed that accessibility remained a secondary concern, often overshadowed by cost considerations, infrastructure limitations, and the weak enforcement of relevant standards. Several hospitality providers prioritize minimal legal compliance over proactive accessibility improvements. It was also observed that limited awareness, inadequate staff training, and financial constraints further widened the gap between policy and practice. Furthermore, weak enforcement mechanisms hindered the establishment of consistent accessibility standards. This study contributes to the discourse on inclusive tourism by identifying critical gaps and emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration, policy reinforcement, and industry engagement. Addressing these challenges can foster a more inclusive hospitality sector that benefits all tourists. The identification of areas for improvement also provides valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders aiming to enhance accessibility standards in the Indonesian tourism sector. Full article

Rural tourism is closely linked to a local’s tradition, identity, and cultural heritage. When staying in a specific tourist destination, a modern tourist expects a complete experience of the destination. Experience is necessary in rural tourist accommodation where guests can feel the local culture, nature, gastronomy, environment, and heritage. However, what about the interior design of the accommodation facility and the furniture design that will provide a rural and at the same time modern atmosphere? The paper aims to explore the traditional heritage, culture, indigenous elements, and ornamentation of rural artifacts of Istria, a region in Croatia, to propose a conceptual design of functional contemporary furniture for furnishing the living room in tourist accommodation. The furniture collection, with visual and artistic elements, surface treatment, construction, and selected sustainable materials and ornamentation, aims to brand the indigenous rural Istrian heritage, while at the same time combines an innovative contemporary expression. The research is divided into two stages: the first stage was conducted during field research using photography, observation, and interview methods, and the collected data from this stage served as inspiration for designing a furniture collection in the second stage. The second stage uses the cyclical method of the creative process to design new sustainable furniture concept, consisting of a table, stool, chest of drawers, and coffee table, which form a collection in the tourist interior environment. This furniture design model that uses original heritage to brand the rural environment and increase the attractiveness of accommodation in rural areas could be applied to other locations so tourists can fully experience the rural area they visit and achieve experiential, relaxed holidays and amenities, thus supporting the sustainable development of rural tourist destinations. The practical implications of this research have yet to be confirmed. It is desirable to investigate the impact and satisfaction of users in such designed interiors and confirm such a concept. This will require the engagement of architects and designers and hotel accommodation owners, as well as and the support of economic entities, local authorities, and the government, who need to systematically change the ways of branding rural values to achieve a holistic approach to the tourism offer. Full article

Recent legislation in Texas changes the legal civic engagement landscape. With Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs now prohibited on public university campuses, advocates of affirmative steps to reach historically underserved groups may face unexpected obstacles. And recent Supreme Court decisions, on the use of race as a factor in college admissions, further increase the challenges. Due to these shifts in the goals public universities can legally pursue, what are the most appropriate civic engagement policy steps to eliminate barriers to success and realize a diverse student body? Building on the Town Hall program at Tarleton State University, and the specific ways in which it leverages trust, we make three recommendations: (1) Institutions should maintain an openness to outreach, through the leadership of student groups and invited guest speakers and other initiatives, to those on campus who struggle with the burden of invisibility; (2) Town Hall and related civic engagement programs should fine-tune the selection of advanced peer leaders, making it easier for them to pursue expertise in the classroom, in turn facilitating their ability to attract speakers as recommended in (1); and (3) institutions should ensure an opening for representatives to travel to underserved parts of the state, with the effect if not University-wide intention of increasing inclusion. Building on the research of Eric Morrow, Boleslaw Z. Kabala, and Christine Hartness in 2023, we seek to leverage trust for the sake of a genuinely inclusive environment, consistent with current legal limitations on civic engagement in Texas. Full article

Preaching in a multicultural context calls for hospitality to ensure that diverse cultures and experiences are acknowledged and valued. Embodying hospitality in preaching means that participants engage as co-hosts and co-guests, contributing to a shared vision of hospitality within the community. This opposes the asymmetrical, one-directional power dynamics that perpetuate the host–guest dichotomy in the gospel. This research argues that when Christian preaching in a multicultural context pursues “power-with” rather than “power-over” to address the power imbalances inherent in singular understandings and experiences, it can reframe preaching as an act of mutual hospitality rather than a unilateral act of defining or instructing the gospel. To pursue this, this study conceptualizes preaching as an ongoing act of hospitality among preaching participants, examines the possibility of preaching agency for co-preachers through the case of Korean Bible Women, and explores effective ways to practice preaching agency. Full article

This study examines how digital marketing characteristics—namely interactivity, ubiquity, and credibility—affect green consumer brand engagement and loyalty in Nigeria’s five-star hotel industry. This study advances relationship marketing and social exchange theory by demonstrating how interactivity, ubiquity, and credibility in digital marketing foster green consumer brand engagement, ultimately boosting brand loyalty. The analysis, based on responses from 304 hotel guests, reveals a strong positive relationship between each digital marketing element and green consumer brand engagement, which subsequently enhances brand loyalty. Our findings demonstrate that green consumer brand engagement serves as a mediator between digital marketing characteristics and brand loyalty, emphasizing that engagement with environmental values plays a crucial role in fostering loyalty in the luxury hotel sector. These insights inform digital marketing strategies aimed at maximizing sustainable consumer engagement, providing a foundation for loyalty-driven practices within hospitality. Full article

Amperometric electrochemical sensing schemes, which are easily fabricated and can directly relate measured current with analyte concentrations, remain a promising strategy for the development of the portable, in situ detection of commonly employed adulterants. Xylazine (XYL) is a non-narcotic compound designed for veterinary use as a sedative known as Rompun^®. XYL is increasingly being abused as a recreational drug, as an opioid adulterant and, because of its chemical properties, has found unfortunate prominence as a date rape drug spiked into beverages. In this study, a systematic exploration and development of fouling-resistant, amperometric XYL sensors is presented. The sensing strategy features layer-by-layer (LBL) modification of glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for sensitivity and the engagement of cyclodextrin host–guest chemistry in conjunction with polyurethane (PU) semi-permeable membranes for selectivity. The optimization of different materials and parameters during development created a greater fundamental understanding of the interfacial electrochemistry, allowing for a more informed subsequent design of effective sensors exhibiting XYL selectivity, effective sensitivity, rapid response times (<20 s), and low estimated limits of detection (~1 ppm). Most importantly, the demonstrated XYL sensors are versatile and robust, easily fabricated from common materials, and can effectively detect XYL at <10 ppm in both common alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, requiring only minimal volume (20 µL) of the spiked beverage for a standard addition analysis. Full article

Researchers have emphasized how the high school STEM-themed career academy model benefits ethnically and racially diverse learners by promoting positive STEM identities and raising the interest of students to pursue STEM college and career pathways. The purpose of this study was to examine the reasons why Black boys participated in a high school academy of engineering. We were also interested in identifying academy features that helped promote (or inhibit) positive STEM identities among Black male students. In this qualitative study, we used data from 17 Black male high school academy of engineering students. We analyzed the interview transcripts using a constant comparative method. Using an embedded case study approach, we compared our findings to the community cultural wealth (CCW) factors and the factors that researchers have found to influence students’ STEM identities. We found that the participants brought six forms of capital with them that served as sources of motivation to participate in the program. The forms of capital that were related to the CCW framework included aspirational, familial, navigational, resistance, and social. While we did not uncover linguistic capital in our data analysis, we did find an additional source of capital that was not reflected in the CCW framework. We found that the Black boys had natural STEM talent based on the formation of STEM identities. The students had high aptitudes in STEM-related subjects, and they were engaged by participating in hands-on activities. We recommend that schools integrate STEM curricula for Black boys and provide Black men to serve as STEM role models through guest speaking opportunities, job shadowing, mentoring, internships, and other work-based learning experiences. Full article

Social commerce plays a significant role in various aspects of the hotel industry. By using social commerce platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and hotel booking websites, hotels can enhance their brand visibility, engage more effectively with guests, and stimulate hotel bookings. Nonetheless, prior research reported a lack of studies in this area, namely social commerce in the context of domestic tourism. Drawing on Stimuli–Organism–Response (SOR) theory as being a well-established framework in social commerce research, this study seeks to examine the impact of social commerce on hotel booking intentions, both directly and indirectly, by considering the mediating effects of both brand image and customer engagement. This research used an online survey questionnaire as a tool for collecting primary data from domestic tourists in Egypt during the period from January to April 2024. The study sample encompassed 315 participants who were recruited using the convenience sampling technique. Using Smart PLS 4.0 software, Structural Equation Modeling was performed to examine the proposed model and hypotheses. The results highlighted the significant impact of social commerce on both hotel brand image and customer engagement, which in turn encouraged booking intentions among potential domestic guests. The results also supported the significant mediating effect of hotel brand image and customer engagement in the relationship between social commerce and hotel booking intentions. This study provides some theoretical contributions to the literature of hospitality management by addressing notable gaps in knowledge. This study also suggests some practical implications for industry executives that support their social commerce techniques and boost booking intentions and behavior among domestic tourists such as creating visually attractive content, sponsoring virtual mega events, actively interacting with social media followers, and incorporating booking functionalities in social media platforms. In so doing, hotels can boost their sustainable marketing practices to target a promising market segment by exploiting Web 2.0 capabilities. Full article

Macrocycles composed of diverse aromatic or nonaromatic structures, such as cyclodextrins (CDs), calixarenes (CAs), cucurbiturils (CBs), and pillararenes (PAs), have garnered significant attention due to their inherent advantages of possessing cavity structures, unique functional groups, and facile modification. Due to these distinctive features enabling them to facilitate ion insertion and extraction, form crosslinked porous structures, offer multiple redox-active sites, and engage in host–guest interactions, macrocycles have made huge contributions to electrochemical energy storage and conversion (EES/EEC). Here, we have summarized the recent advancements and challenges in the utilization of CDs, CAs, CBs, and PAs as well as other novel macrocycles applied in EES/EEC devices. The molecular structure, properties, and modification strategies are discussed along with the corresponding energy density, specific capacity, and cycling life properties in detail. Finally, crucial limitations and future research directions pertaining to these macrocycles in electrochemical energy storage and conversion are addressed. It is hoped that this review is able to inspire interest and enthusiasm in researchers to investigate macrocycles and promote their applications in EES/EEC. Full article

The purpose of this paper is to raise important issues in engineering education in the face of contemporary challenges and demands through the voices of different stakeholders in engineering curricula and in the practice of professional engineering. Several challenges and future perspectives are based on important skills, like soft skills, which are required by employers and include communication, decision-making, problem-solving, leadership and emotional intelligence, as well as the ability to work with people of different backgrounds and apply technical knowledge. A qualitative data analysis of interviews with students, alumni, teachers and employers revealed the demand for more balanced qualified curricula for higher education institutions in the field of engineering. This includes the promotion of collaborative learning spaces, authentic learning experiences based on engaging students in real situations, project-based learning, industrial visits, guest lectures and problem-solving methodologies that are perceived by these stakeholders as essential in the construction of a curriculum, in line with the specific technical competences of each area. Full article

Globalisation, commercialisation, commodification, and mass communication have led to a loss of uniqueness and a cultural uniformity in places, known as “placelessness”. This study proposes a novel business concept called “placeful business” that addresses this issue. A placeful business incorporates local heritage, showcases unique architecture and aesthetics, engages with the community, and promotes place sustainability and identity. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 stakeholders, and a salience-valence analysis was performed on 874 online reviews from Google Maps, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Agoda, and Hostelworld. This analysis aimed to reveal the key factors contributing to positive experiences and gain insights into the representation and manifestation of placeful characteristics. Through a mixed-method case study of Once Again Hostel in Bangkok, this research identified several salient attributes of the hostel that reinforce the characteristics of a placeful business and have a positive impact on the community. The authors also observed the interconnected and mutually reinforcing nature of placeful and successful factors. However, it was noted that guests’ perception and understanding of placeful characteristics remained limited. While the placeful business model has not yet gained widespread recognition in the business and academic domains, it offers practical implications for small businesses seeking to differentiate themselves in the global market by infusing their operations with a distinct sense of place. Furthermore, place managers can play a crucial role in promoting and fostering placeful business practices as a means to counteract the growing homogenization of places. The adoption of the placeful business model enables the continuous reinforcement of place identity, which, in turn, contributes to the long-term enhancement of place sustainability. Full article