Emerald | Tourism Review

Board composition and CVB effectiveness: engaging stakeholders that can matter

Robert C. Ford, Amy R. Gresock, William C. Peeper — 2011-11-22 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – Identifying, attracting, and maintaining the engagement of the right composition of people for a non-profit Board is a major challenge. Executives should ensure that their Boards accurately represent the stakeholders that matter, both from industry and the community. The purpose of this paper is to describe ways and offer propositions for effective non-profit executives to identify, recruit, and motivate the continuing engagement of the members needed on their Boards in order to acquire resources critical to their sustained success. Design/methodology/approach – The Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) are used as an example, since at least 93 percent of CVBs have a governance structure that includes a Board of Directors. Successfully attracting the right mix of stakeholders is a result of an extensive recruitment effort by the CVB executive. Prior research reports that successful executives take great care in making selection decisions that reflect the interests of the community in the Board's composition. Based on the literature on Boards and governance, the authors develop propositions regarding the composition of CVB Boards. Findings – While the research is exploratory, it is found that CVBs with more diverse Boards are more successful than those with less diverse Boards. It is argued that effective CVBs use a thoughtful process for heterogeneous Board selection. It is also suggested that Board performance should be evaluated on an annual basis to recognize the need for active involvement in the Board selection process. Originality/value – The successful selection of Board members is important because of the implications for Board effectiveness. While there is a large body of literature offering advice on Board selection, there is little on recruitment. Moreover, there is little discussion of Board composition strategy based on balancing access to critical resources of stakeholders.

Price determinants of individual hotels: evidence from Milan

Ruggero Sainaghi — 2011-11-22 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – This article aims to identify average room rate (ARR) determinants of individual firms located in a destination. Design/methodology/approach – The sample is composed of 72 individual firms, operating in the 3-5 star category; data were collected using financial statements and questionnaires. Independent variables are searched along “what” (product) and “where” (location) dimensions. Findings – The empirical findings identify four main significant and relevant determinants related to the “what” positioning – number of rooms, number of employees, number of employees per room, years since the last refurbishment – and confirm the relevance of location, and especially the centrality inside the destination. Practical implications – Empirical findings show the relevance of strong advantage (disadvantage) of location (where) that might compensate disadvantage (advantage) in the strategic positioning (what). Inside the determinants, the results suggest the importance of a broad commercial policy, able to differentiate the served targets, in order to optimise occupancy and, if possible, prices. Originality/value – The paper suggests the usefulness of taking into greater account the link between destination and local firms as an important determinant of performance and explores what are key success factors for individual (not affiliated) firms.

Towards a comprehensive human resources module for tourism satellite accounts in Egypt

Mohammed I. Eraqi, Ayman M. Kasem, Suzan B. Hassan, Ahmad M. Ragab — 2011-11-22 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – This research paper aims to develop a comprehensive tourism satellite account-human resource module (TSA-HRM) which can complement and enhance the analytical capacity provided by the TSA, allowing for a broader insight into tourism's role in the economy, especially that of Egypt. Design/methodology/approach – The objectives have been achieved through reviewing the literature in the fields of tourism satellite account (TSA) and its handling of tourism employment. To answer the research questions, one strategy and one method associated with the qualitative approach are used. The strategy refers to the case study, while the method refers to participant observation. An in-depth analysis of the TSA project in Egypt was performed using the Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF) introduced by the International Monetary Fund. Findings – The results indicate that statistics on tourism-related employment in Egypt are usually fragmented, difficult to compare and often lack quality, credibility and reliability. Thus Egypt is in need of a way to improve tourism labor market statistics. However, the process of assessment of the TSA project in Egypt shows that Egypt has good experience in implementing the TSA system. The application of the TSA in Egypt at this high level will create a new horizon for improving the quality of tourism employment statistics. Research limitations/implications – At the time of the research Egypt was in the process of constructing its first TSA, and this of course is considered one of the limitations. Since the introduction of TSA to the Egyptian tourism industry in 2009, the statistical system of tourism has made a considerable contribution to improve the quality of data, based on evaluating some of the DQAF criteria, but there are no results so far. The present situation caused the study to fall within the theoretical framework, without producing any statistics on tourism employment in Egypt according to the proposed TSA-HRM. Practical implications – The model proposed will provide detailed data about employment, labor or human resource issues related to tourism in the Egyptian economy, which provides a useful resource for planning policy and decision making. Originality/value – Considering the research findings, the study developed a comprehensive quantitative (monetary and non-monetary) and qualitative tourism human resources module of tourism satellite account to extend the analytical capacity of the TSA as well as trace most issues relevant to the tourism labor market in Egypt.

A sustainable tourism mobility passage

D.H.P. Verbeek, A. Bargeman, J.T. Mommaas — 2011-11-22 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – The European Alpine region is an important tourism destination that at the same time faces environmental challenges. In aiming for a sustainable development of Alpine tourism, tourism boards and municipalities of 22 villages cooperate in the Alpine Pearls (AP) association. The main goal of the AP association is to develop an integrated, continuous passage for sustainable tourism mobility, which improves the possibilities for environmentally friendly travel to, between, and in the Alpine Pearls villages. This paper aims to focus on whether and how this “passage” enables tourists to travel smoothly, problem-free and environmentally friendly to and in the Alpine region. Design/methodology/approach – To analyse the Alpine Pearls holiday, the authors use a theoretical framework based on the social practices approach (SPA), which offers a contextual approach to consumption behaviour. The dynamics between travellers and providers of sustainable tourism and travel services along the passage of the Alpine Pearls holiday are the main interest. Data have been gathered through participant observation and interviews with informants. Findings – The research points, among other things, to the fact that the creation of a passage for environmental-friendly Alpine holidays is complicated by the nationally organised railway infrastructures and the sectorially organised tourism industry. Originality/value – Evaluating sustainable tourism mobility passages on the level of holiday practices is a new contextual approach that can be of value to both tourism scholars and the tourism industry.

Enhancing tourism destinations through promoting the variety and uniqueness of attractions offered by minority populations: an exploratory study towards a new research field

Harald Pechlaner, Sandra Lange, Frieda Raich — 2011-11-22 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – Minority areas, with their cultural distinctiveness and a strong tendency to cultivate and preserve cultural identities, can offer guests special added value as tourist destinations. This study seeks to address whether and to what extent locals and guests of tourist areas populated by minority populations perceive and are aware of the uniqueness, variety and potential of the minority in a region. Design/methodology/approach – Research has already been developed that analyses the inter-relations between the local population and tourism, but is scarce regarding national minorities and tourism. This paper pursues a new research field focusing on the potential of tourist destinations that offer specialised characteristics due to their cultural, ethnic or minority populations. The authors carried out an empirical study using quantitative, standardised questionnaires in 2008 in two minority areas: South Tyrol, Italy (which has a Ladin minority population) as well as Transylvania, Romania (which has a German and Hungarian minority population). The South Tyrol situation is doubly unusual, because the Ladin minority population is a minority within the German minority region in Italy. Findings – The study shows that ethnic minority populations can definitely offer added value for holidaymakers in tourist destinations. The special interest and attraction of these types of holiday stay for guests is explained, above all, by the varied cuisine and the locals' proficiency in languages (South Tyrol) as well as the specific architecture and the more extensive cultural offerings (Transylvania). In Transylvania no significant differences and in South Tyrol significant differences in the perception of the special cultural situation by locals and guests have been observed. Research limitations/implications – This study was confined to 250 interviewees per group and study region, due to budget restrictions. Compared to the volume of research on native population and tourism, research on minorities and tourist activities is quite new. Therefore this research paper provides only an exploratory study and could be developed further. Originality/value – The paper shows that ethnic minorities, with their customs and traditions, languages and architectural styles, can definitely offer added value for holidaymakers.

Editorial

2011-11-22 00:00:00.0