RESEARCH INTO CATERING ENTERPRISE SERVICE AND ITS QUALITY ANALYSIS IN REZEKNE

A major feature of improved quality of the European hospitality is to satisfy customer needs, increase competition in the hospitality industry and ensure sustainable development of the industry. Quality exists only to the extent that a product or service meets customer needs and expectations. According to the individual elements that make up quality, standards-based strategy must be based on a complete understanding of a customer. Customer satisfaction gained from the stopover destination is not only dependent on the specific service of hospitality experience, but also from other, more general factors, such as hospitality and security, hygienic conditions, healthy climate, customer management. A great number of different stuff in the hotel and catering businesses affect the way customers perceive their destination. They affect his/her satisfaction and customer willingness to repeatedly go back or recommend this place to other potential guests. Destination success in the meaning of client satisfaction is an action that consists of many interconnected components. They reveal the need for strategic and integrated planning of customers’ aim together with the use of different methods to promote integrated quality management (including quality control)

DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES OF HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY SPECIALISTS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ACQUISITION OF EDUCATIONAL MODULE “ORGANIZATION OF HOSPITALITY SERVICES”

According to the SWOT analysis on the Latvian Tourism Marketing Strategy 2010-2015 carried out by the Tourism Development Agency in 2010, the lack of skilled labour force in tourism and hospitality industry, as well as the low level of professional qualifications are mentioned as one of the potential threats. The aim of the research is to examine and analyse the development of professional competencies of hospitality industry specialists within the framework of completion of the interactive educational module “Organization of Hospitality Services”. The tasks of the research are: to examine the theoretical aspects of formation, application and significance of interactive educational modules; to determine requirements, aim, structure and position of the interactive educational module in the education process. In the paper, the theoretical aspects of formation of interactive educational modules are examined; the content of the interactive educational module “Organization of Hospitality Services”, which is implemented within the framework of the study programme “Hospitality Management”, is offered; requirements, aim, structure and position of interactive educational module in the education process are determined. The opportunities of application of the interactive educational module “Organization of Hospitality Services” are wide enough: it may be applied not only in the training process of hospitality industry specialists, but also in order to raise the qualification level of managers at the intermediate level. A pilot research study concluded that completion of theoretical studies is not sufficient enough in order to acquire professional competencies at the highest level. The authors of the paper suggest acquiring practical skills, which is extremely important. The research methods: the logical and constructive methods, the scientific induction method, synthesis, document analysis, the monographic method, the graphic method

CLUSTER APPROACH IN THE TOURISM BUSINESS

One of the approaches to development of the tourism industry at the regional level, based of market rules and principles are creation and development of tourism clusters. Clusters span numerous different companies, contribute to more efficient solution of socio–economic problems in the country as a whole, and in certain regions. Clusters centre around different companies, which have not cooperated in the past, to encourage their development. The cluster approach should make radical changes to content of the tourism development policy; it means that there is a need to promote and develop the system of relationships between economic operators and the national authorities rather to support individual companies or industries. Practically it enables creation and implementation of large trans–sectoral and interregional investment and innovation projects

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF GASTRONOMIC TOURISM IN LATGALE REGION

The importance of gastronomic tourism in today’s society and the necessity of its development in regions is determined by the market conditions and principles. Developing the gastronomic tourism in the regions of Latvia (especially in Latgale) will introduce competitive products in the border area of Latvia and will decrease the effect of being a remote part of the country, additionally the infrastructure will be improved in the districts that contribute to the development of the region in the future. Including the feeling of delight when enjoying specialties from Latgale, the tourism offer can also contribute greatly to the diversification, originality of tourism offers, thus increasing competitiveness of the elaborated tourism offer

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM IN LATGALE

The article discusses theoretical aspects of rural tourism and its sustainable development, as well as focuses on rural tourism development issues and the socio-economic situation. The present article critically reviews the development of rural tourism in Europe, the meaning of various national eco-labels in the development of rural tourism, and the tools of sustainable development of Latvia, their nature and the role in the development of .rural tourism. The authors have also explored the range of “environmentally friendly” rural tourism offers in Latgale region and developed a new offer

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN REZEKNE

The tourism industry was one of the fastest growing industries in Latvia until the pandemic was declared in 2020, which brought the entire industry to a halt. Before the pandemic, travel trends were already moving towards the type of experience offered by hostels, and consumer demand had grown in the past years. Moreover, the industry data show that the number of travellers who use hostels is growing. There are several lodging opportunities in Rezekne, but there is no economical option, which would be a hostel. The research aim is to study the theoretical aspects of a new product and analyse the opportunities for the creation of a hostel – a new tourism product in Rezekne. The methods used in the research are monographic, synthesis, statistical analysis methods, and a survey. The research allowed making recommendations for the creation of a new tourism product – a hostel – in Rezekne. The results of the research and survey showed that hostel-level accommodation is needed in Rezekne

CRITERIA AFFECTING CUSTOMERS' CHOICE: THE CASE OF REZEKNE CITY CATERING COMPANIES

Increase of the number of catering businesses is driven by the growing demand, since more and more people choose eating outside. This is encouraged both by the rising welfare level and by a shift of the paradigm manifesting the diner as a place to socialize. However, from the perspective of the company, it is important to identify the main reasons why customers choose a particular eating-place. The aim of the paper is to explore the criteria influencing customers' choice and to test these criteria applying them to Rezekne city catering companies. As a result, it has been concluded that there are many criteria reviewed in the theoretical literature that could help a company to determine the criteria influencing the customers' choice. The paper is written within the framework of the RTA scientific grant "Quality Assessment of Rezekne City Catering Companies". Within the grant project, an expert questionnaire had been developed to carry out a quality assessment of Rezekne city catering enterprises. Consequently, the authors had an interest to explore the reasons motivating customers to choose a particular Rezekne city catering company according five criteria: location, offer, quality of food and drinks, company's image, and staff. As a result, the authors conclude that the most important criteria among the respondents was the quality of food and drink, as well as the offer, though, the evaluation varies depending on the particular company's specifics. The main research methods are monography, logically constructive, graphic, sociological

PROMOTION OF COMPANY SERVICES IN THE INTERNET ENVIRONMENT (EXAMPLE OF CONFERMO SOLUTIONS LTD)

Nowadays it is possible for entrepreneurs to use the Internet and IT in order to conduct marketing research, promote and advertise their products, assess the effectiveness of marketing activities etc. All this could be done at much lower costs and less time. Therefore, it is important to create a model for promoting competitive advantages that takes into account modern trends, and, based on this model, provide an appropriate set of marketing tools in the Internet environment. The aim of the research is to analyse the promotion of a company's services on the Internet based on the example of Confermo Solutions Ltd. Methods used in the research - monographic and a sociological research method – surveying. The research developed proposals for the promotion of a company’s services in the Internet environment, the implementation of which could significantly increase the company’s competitiveness in the market

Tendencies in food industry development

СЕКЦИЯ 3. ДРАЙВЕРЫ ИНКЛЮЗИВНОГО ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО РОСТА: ПРАКТИЧЕСКИЙ ОПЫТ РЕСПУБЛИКИ БЕЛАРУСЬ И МИРОВОЙ ОПЫ

PERCEIVED QUALITY OF RURAL TOURISM ACCOMMODATION SERVICES BY PROSPECTIVE CUSTOMERS

Rural tourism and corresponding activities generate new jobs, providing employment for people in rural areas, create a cooperation mechanism between different rural entrepreneurs, attract tourists, and thus contribute to both well-being of local population and the regional development in general. Rural tourism is attractive from an economic perspective, as it provides the opportunity to boost and diversify rural economies in remote areas. The paper is a part of the RTA scientific grant "Tourism Products Evaluation of the Rezekne Municipality (Quality Audit)". The aim of the research is to study rural tourism accommodation services in Rezekne municipality and to carry out their evaluation based on experts’ (potential customers’) perception of quality. The methods applied in the research: logical and constructive, synthesis and analysis, an empirical survey. However, the rural tourism accommodation establishments in Rezekne municipality in general are characterized by the keywords "responsiveness" and "hospitality" as well as by the well-ordered environment around the houses. The rural housings have to evaluate the current and future demand and precisely define the potential market segments to create an offer in accordance with it.