Cornell Hospitality Quarterly current issue

A Different Kind of Election

2008-10-28

The Importance of Research in Challenging Times

2008-10-28

In Brief: Executive summaries of this issue's feature articles

2008-10-28

Lodging Tries to Pick Up the Pieces as Link to GDP Shatters

Smith, R. A. — 2008-10-28

Full Cycle: U.S. Lodging Approaches the Next Trough

Woodworth, R. M. — 2008-10-28

The Relationship of Sales and Marketing Expenses to Hotel Performance in the United States

O'Neill, J. W., Hanson, B., Mattila, A. S. — 2008-10-28

While hotel organizations are investing considerable sums of money for marketing at the unit level, research investigating the relative benefits of the different areas where those funds can be invested is lacking. This exploratory study endeavors to fill that void. Since different types of hotels have differing operating characteristics, this study examines marketing expenditures for various hotel tiers, using the Smith Travel Research chain scale categorizations. The study finds that marketing expenditures have differential effects according to the type of hotel and the particular type of marketing expenditure. These analyses explore implications of various types of marketing expenses on both hotel unit revenue and profitability.

Success and Failure in Northern California: Critical Success Factors for Independent Restaurants

Camillo, A. A., Connolly, D. J., Woo Gon Kim, — 2008-10-28

This study examines the success factors for independent restaurant operators in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through interviews and questionnaires, the cases of nine successful restaurants and nine failed restaurants were studied from 2003 to 2007. The findings reinforce past studies by emphasizing the internal factors, such as overconfidence and emotional unfitness, that led to failure. Augmenting an earlier model, this study seeks to help future entrepreneurs and those who invest in restaurants.

Analysis of Environmental Statements Issued by EMAS-Certified Spanish Hotels

Bonilla Priego, M. J., Aviles Palacios, C. — 2008-10-28

In June 2005, Spain became the country with the second greatest number of sites and companies certified by the Ecomanagement and Audit Scheme (EMAS). Indeed, the Spanish hospitality industry led the way in certifications under this standard. An analysis of 115 environmental statements issued by EMAS-certified Spanish hotels finds that the data in the statements are difficult to compare. This study found that the current nature of the studies makes it unfeasible to rank hotels under this standard. The study found little difference in the release of environmental information according to certain specific hotel characteristics, including size, ownership, and location.

Work-Family Conflict and Facilitation in the Hotel Industry: A Study in Nigeria

Karatepe, O. M., Magaji, A. B. — 2008-10-28

This study develops and tests a research model that investigates the impact of negative affectivity on the conflicting interactions of work and family, as well as facilitation between work and family roles. The study then examines the connection of these conflict and facilitation dimensions with affective commitment to the organization and turnover intentions. The study takes place in a formerly unexamined location, Abuja, Nigeria, where data were obtained from a sample of 102 frontline employees in two luxury hotels and one upscale property. The study found, in keeping with other studies, that negative affectivity intensifies work-family conflict and family-work conflict. As hypothesized, conflict between family and work roles reduces affective commitment to the organization, and work-family conflict exacerbates turnover intentions. The results further demonstrate that facilitation between work and family roles enhances affective commitment. Again in keeping with other studies, employees high in negative affectivity display higher turnover intentions, while those with less affective commitment tend to leave the organization.

Human Resource Systems in Kenya: A Case Study of Hotel Human Resources Performance

Onyango, F. E., Okech, R. N. — 2008-10-28

A study of 160 managers and employees in four hotels in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya, found that functionally flexible human resource systems in conjunction with differentiation strategies are associated with high organizational performance, whereas numerically flexible human resource systems and cost-reduction strategies are linked with low organizational performance. Functionally flexible human resources systems emphasize mutual obligations between management and workers. By contrast, numerically flexible human resources systems are based on a straight work-for-hire relationship, in which employment is subject to unilateral termination at any time by employee or employer. The research also found that the independent hotels pursued numerically flexible human resource systems in conjunction with cost-reduction strategies, whereas the chain hotels applied functionally flexible human resource systems and differentiation—focus strategies.

Accounting for Human Resource Flexibility: Commentary on "Human Resource Systems in Kenya"

Tracey, J. B. — 2008-10-28

The accompanying article argues strongly for the proposition that a hotel's business strategy is related to its human resources policies. However, the conceptual framework in the article does not go into sufficient depth; nor does it seem to reflect existing research on HR system flexibility, that is, the extent to which employees can be directed to address a wide range of business activities.

The Challenge of Causality: A Commentary on "Human Resource Systems in Kenya"

Heisler, W. J. — 2008-10-28

The relationship between human resource systems and organizational performance is a timely topic. Because the authors use a framework of their own devising, comparison of this study with others is challenging. Also needed is a way of establishing causality between an HR system and a hotel's performance.

The Development of Franchise Operations in Emerging Markets: The Case of a Poland-Based Restaurant Operator

Klonowski, D., Power, J. L., Linton, D. — 2008-10-28

For entrepreneurs in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe, franchising presents an opportunity to develop a start-up business with the assistance of an international firm. However, emerging markets are demanding environments for establishing and operating a business. These environments challenge the ability of franchisors to transfer their franchise concept from their home market to the emerging market. This case focuses on the evolution of "American Restaurant Format" (ARF), one of the few franchise restaurant operators in Central and Eastern Europe. Notwithstanding the challenges of the Polish market, the case shows that most of ARF's problems were self-inflicted, the result of poor judgment and an inflexible franchise organization.

Using Cases to Discover Theory: The Case of the Poland-Based Restaurant Operator

Combs, J. — 2008-10-28

Theory is fundamental to how we understand the empirical world, and cases present a wonderful opportunity to both learn from and challenge current theory. The author juxtaposes the specifics of the case of the Polish-based restaurant operator with current franchising theory to offer two propositions. The first, grounded in the dominant agency theory, suggests that franchising allows a company to expand without the expense of the personnel necessary to operate international units. The other, based on an emerging symbiosis perspective, proposes that franchisor and franchisee need each other to adapt an already successful operating system for the new home market. One possible reason that the Polish franchise failed may be based on inadequate autonomy allowed the Polish franchisee.

Issues for International Franchising: Lessons from the Case of a Poland-Based Restaurant Operator

Lee, K. — 2008-10-28

The accompanying case study highlights some of the debatable issues surrounding international restaurant franchise development. Some of these issues, such as customization versus standardization and the relationship between a franchisor and an international franchisee, are critical in the development of international restaurant franchises.

Using a Modular System Approach to International Franchising: Analyzing the Case Study of a Poland-Based Restaurant Operator

Miller, B. — 2008-10-28

International expansion faces numerous constraints, notably, those stemming from language and culture. A modular approach to international franchising suggests a mechanism that might have made for a more successful outcome for the Polish operator in the accompanying case. By dividing the elements that constitute a restaurant concept into core items and peripheral items, the modular approach allows for both necessary consistency and necessary alterations. These core and peripheral elements fall into three general categories: operations, branding, and marketing.

Index to Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly Volume 49

2008-10-28