Research in Hospitality Management

Job insecurity and employee commitment during CoVID-19: mediating the role of quitting intention in family-owned hotels

Esther Theresa Appaw-Agbola — 2023-11-29

Using the social exchange theory, this article explores how quitting intention mediates job insecurity and organisational commitment in family-owned hotels during the COVID-19 period in Ghana. A conceptual model was developed to give a clear perspective of the study. Literature was empirically reviewed on job insecurity, the link between job insecurity and employee commitment, and employee job insecurity vis-à-vis quitting intention. Questionnaires, were used to elicit employees’ views on the key variables of the study. The partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique using SmartPLS-3 for the analysis. The result shows that job insecurity significantly impacts the various dimensions of organisational commitment. Also, quitting intention mediates the relationship between job insecurity and commitment. The study sheds new light on the underlying mechanisms linking job insecurity to organisational commitment in family-owned hotels. The study will provide insights to practitioners in the hospitality and tourism industry in the formulation of policies which are merged with economic recovery strategies during crisis management.

Beyond gender bias: Factors affecting female employee retention and advancement in the Dutch hotel sector

Marrit Lijster — 2023-11-29

In The Netherlands, gender roles have evolved remarkably, marked by feminist activism and legislative strides. Nevertheless, persistent gender biases and disparities continue to impact many industries, including the Dutch hotel sector. This quantitative research explores the factors affecting female employee retention and career advancement in the Dutch hotel sector. The data was collected through 102 surveys from hotel employees in The Netherlands. Analysing the responses shows stereotypes, discrimination and bias-hindered career advancement. Work-life balance and supportive managers were critical factors for advancement. Recruitment experiences influenced career growth. Inclusive language and diversity representation are crucial for improving recruitment. Surprisingly, women had higher career advancement scores than men, and no significant gender correlation was found. However, men showed stronger retention intentions. These findings call for reevaluating gender-related career dynamics in the Dutch hotel industry. Industry-specific practical implications for promoting diversity and inclusion, addressing discrimination and bias, work-life balance, understanding the complexities of leadership stereotypes, recruitment and selection, and promotion and development are presented in detail, and recommendations for future research are given.

If COVID-19 doesn’t kill you, uber eats will: hospitality entrepreneurs’ views on online food aggregators

Andy Erickson — 2023-11-29

Even before COVID-19 changed the world, hospitality operators were struggling to understand how to cope with the short-term benefits but potentially long-term damage to their business model of collaborating with food aggregators. The ease of accessing a well-managed customer interface distribution network needed to be balanced with the overheads incurred in doing so, but also with the loss of direct contact with a customer base whose loyalty is increasingly with the food aggregators, not the hospitality operations providing the food. This qualitative case study consisted of in-depth interviews with senior management selected from an existing network of personal contacts, using purposive sampling to identify seven owners of restaurants in the Auckland region of New Zealand. Thematic analysis identified their reasons for considering food aggregators as a business partner, the benefits and costs of doing so, and the impact on COVID-19 on their businesses. The research found that their initial goals had been to fill spare capacity in the restaurant and build additional take-away trade. While there was an initial increase in business, the commission taken by the food aggregators and the shift of loyalty of the diners from the restaurant to the food aggregator had a major impact on the financial sustainability of the operations. It also caused a significant shift away from in-restaurant dining and towards take-away dining, thereby considerably lessening the opportunity for staff to build relationships, customer loyalty and upselling opportunities.

Hospitality in and outside of prisons: prison restaurants and cafés

Tracy Harkison — 2023-11-29

“Hospitality” is certainly not a word that comes to mind when one thinks of a prison, and neither does the phrase “award-winning restaurant”. But there are now several hospitality establishments that have opened inside and outside of prisons using offenders and ex- ffenders as their workforce. While working, they can complete hospitality education and training programmes, which can result in some positive outcomes. One is producing skilled labour and the other is reducing the recidivism rate of graduates from hospitality education and training programmes. All the information and data reviewed for this article are from a wider study and published sources. This article highlights different hospitality establishments inside and outside of prisons using hospitality education and training programmes. It focuses on the similarities in and differences between two of these hospitality establishments (The Clink and Street & Arrow) and discusses what future research would need to be conducted to determine what rehabilitative effects hospitality could have for offenders and ex-offenders.

The influence of cross-cultural adjustment on job performance

Irena Mihaela Stan — 2023-11-29

Given the international nature of teams and guests in the hospitality industry, cross-cultural adjustment and awareness are crucial at both personal and organisational levels. The purpose of this study is to understand the factors underlying cross-cultural adjustment and how it influences job performance. Qualitative research was conducted, focusing on the characteristics of the different cultures, as well as the perception of job performance, satisfaction and overall working atmosphere. Ten participants were interviewed to assess the differences between high-context and low-context cultural norms and identify their influence on different dimensions. The transcribed data were analysed thematically, patterns were identified and the most relevant relationships discussed. Findings concluded that poor cross-cultural adjustment is influenced by a lack of inclusiveness and cultural balance in the teams, leading to communication challenges and a difficult working atmosphere which can interfere with the employees’ job performance and engagements. Recommendations included an additional focus on improving the current recruitment strategies to create more culturally balanced teams, as well as assessing time-management skills in the team, an aspect that makes it difficult for the team members to engage in cross-cultural activities.

The use of dolphins at Melka excelsior Dolphin and Wildlife resort in lovina, bali, Indonesia: a study of visitor experiences and ethical implications through netnographic research

Rodney Westerlaken — 2023-11-29

The closure of Melka Excelsior Dolphin and Wildlife Resort in Lovina, Bali, in Indonesia was prompted by the confiscation of its dolphins and mounting pressure from animal welfare advocates, marking a pivotal moment in the discourse surrounding the use of dolphins in Indonesia’s hospitality and tourism industry. To gain insights into visitor experiences and perceptions during the resort’s operation, this netnographic study analyses 28 guest reviews from TripAdvisor. The findings underscore the significance of considering animal welfare and aligning with environmental, social and overnance (ESG) principles. In the context of responsible wildlife tourism, the study emphasises the urgent need for an ethical approach to animal treatment in the tourism and hospitality sector. The analysis reveals varying guest experiences, with some expressing satisfaction and delight with the dolphin encounters, while others voice genuine concern and reservations about the animals’ well-being, highlighting diverse perspectives on the use of dolphins. The study recommends prioritising animal welfare, raising awareness through education, supporting research and conservation initiatives, fostering stakeholder collaboration, and monitoring the impacts of tourism activities. By implementing these recommendations, the hospitality and tourism industry can cultivate a sustainable and responsible approach to dolphin-related tourism that prioritises the well-being of dolphins and advances conservation efforts, steering away from practices involving captivity.

C’ing is believing: What types of characteristics are found on bottles of wine? Do more characteristics mean more online presence?

Gregory Charles Zetzsche — 2023-11-29

Wine bottles feature various textual and visual elements. Aside from necessary legal information, wine-branding decision-makers choose what goes on the bottle. They may also choose a bottle shape that is out of the ordinary to draw more attention. Rather than a cork, they may opt for a screwcap so that the opening of the bottle requires no corkscrew. The bottle’s base may be flat, or it may be concave. In sum, decisions are made either to blend in with the other wines on the shelf or to stand out. This research set out to tackle two subjects. Firstly, what are these characteristics and how can they be called? Secondly, are wines with more characteristics also more present online? This article proposes a framework, “The C Matrix”, codifying these characteristics so that they all begin with the letter “C”. Still, white, rosé and red wines sold by three different mass retailers in Los Angeles (LA) County in California in the USA priced between US$5 and US$15 were studied. LA is an important market in terms of volume consumed. Furthermore, the presence of both domestic and foreign wines makes it an interesting place for a wine-packaging study. The US is the largest country importer of wine in volume and in value. The goal is to better understand what types of characteristics are featured on a mid-range bottle of wine in this lucrative yet competitive market. Calculations reveal a slightly positive coefficient correlation, namely wines with more bottle characteristics are also more prevalent online. This may mean that, in LA, it is beneficial to provide more information and to stand out from crowd.

Editorial

Erwin Losekoot — 2023-11-29

No abstract