Performance measurement in small motels in Australia

This research explores the measurement of performance in small motels. There are many challenges facing business performance management in small firms. Most of these challenges are due to resource shortages, lack of functional expertise and environmental instability. Of major importance to firm survival is the small enterprise owner-manager’s ability to monitor the operations performance. Key components of the monitoring process include the ability to identify key performance indicators to track results as well as an understanding of the most suitable measures to use. Specifically, the study focuses on identifying the key constructs of performance for small firms which include the key components of drivers and results. The specific monitoring and measurement activities of small motel owner-operators were identified using a case research approach. The findings of the study indicate that those owner-managers who operate successful motels employ a balanced approach to performance measurement by utilising a small number of key measures to monitor results and to review management activities

The Influence of Employer Branding in Talent Management in the Hotel Industry

This paper aims to explore the influence of employer branding in attracting and retaining talented employees, with a particular focus on millennial staff. The paper reviews literature in the area of talent management, employer branding and the millennial generation in the hotel industry and draws on the results of interviews with hotel General Managers. At a time when there is a shortage of talent to fill available positions in the hotel industry, this paper seeks to give hoteliers an improved understanding of the concepts of talent management and employer branding and their usage in the attraction and retention of staff, at a time when staff are in short supply and the traits and aspirations of the millennial generation are a concern for the sector

Yield Measures for Special-Interest Australian Inbound Tourism Markets

Different tourism stakeholders mean different things by ‘yield’ and this presents a barrier to communication and policy discussion. Primarily, this paper provides an overview of different concepts of yield. It also operationalizes several of these measures using inbound tourism expenditure data for Australia so that the origin markets and market segments identified as generating high yields under the various measures can be compared. The paper further identifies the manner in which the concept of yield can be broadened to embrace sustainable yield by incorporating measures of environmental and social impact. It concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the study

Collaborative innovation: Catalyst for a destination’s event success

Purpose: This paper aims to contribute to theory concerning collaborative innovation through stakeholder engagement with reference to Glasgow City Marketing Bureau’s (GCMB’s) management strategies, which represent UK best practice in events procurement, leveraging and destination branding. Design/methodology/approach: The research adopts a case study design to facilitate an in-depth evaluation of the destination marketing organisation’s (DMO’s) critical success factors. Multiple perspectives on GCMB’s collaborative innovation are achieved through semi-structured interviews with senior managers from the bureau, key stakeholders and other DMOs. Findings: GCMB’s success results from long-term, extensive, collaborative engagement, a unique institutional structure and sustained political and financial support through to transformational leadership, strategic event selection and targeted marketing through “earned” distribution channels. Research limitations/implications: The study takes a single case study approach and focusses on GCMB’s event-led branding strategy. Given the importance but relative neglect of long-term inter-personal relationships in collaborative innovation, future research should focus on the development of social capital and adopt a longitudinal perspective. Practical implications: The paper provides insights into the collaborative innovation process with a range of stakeholders, which underpins GCMB’s events strategy and its leveraging of the city brand. In particular, the study highlights the need for entrepreneurial leadership and the development of long-term relationships for effective engagement with stakeholders. Originality/value: Previous research has focussed on outcomes and neglected pre-requisites and the process of collaborative innovation between destination stakeholders. This study examines this issue from the perspective of a successful DMO and presents a conceptual framework and new engagement dimensions that address this gap in knowledg

Improving the assessment and management of obesity in UK children and adolescents: the PROMISE research programme including a RCT

BackgroundFive linked studies were undertaken to inform identified evidence gaps in the childhood obesity pathway.Objectives(1) To scope the impact of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) (study A). (2) To develop a brief evidence-based electronic assessment and management tool (study B). (3) To develop evidence-based algorithms for identifying the risk of obesity comorbidities (study B). (4) To conduct an efficacy trial of the Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Programme (HELP) (study C). (5) To improve the prescribing of anti-obesity drugs in UK adolescents (study D). (6) To investigate the safety, outcomes and predictors of outcome of adolescent bariatric surgery in the UK (study E).MethodsFive substudies – (1) a parental survey before and after feedback from the National Childhood Measurement Programme, (2) risk algorithm development and piloting of a new primary care management tool, (3) a randomised controlled trial of the Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Programme, (4) quantitative and qualitative studies of anti-obesity drug treatment in adolescents and (5) a prospective clinical audit and cost-effectiveness evaluation of adolescent bariatric surgery in one centre.ResultsStudy A – before the National Childhood Measurement Programme feedback, three-quarters of parents of overweight and obese children did not recognise their child to be overweight. Eighty-seven per cent of parents found the National Childhood Measurement Programme feedback to be helpful. Feedback had positive effects on parental knowledge, perceptions and intentions. Study B – risk estimation models for cardiovascular and psychosocial comorbidities of obesity require further development. An online consultation tool for primary care practitioners is acceptable and feasible. Study C – the Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Programme, when delivered in the community by graduate mental health workers, showed no significant effect on body mass index at 6 months (primary outcome) when compared with enhanced usual care. Study D – anti-obesity drugs appear efficacious in meta-analysis, and their use has expanded rapidly in the last decade. However, the majority of prescriptions are rapidly discontinued after 1–3 months of treatment. Few young people described positive experiences of anti-obesity drugs. Prescribing was rarely compliant with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. Study E – bariatric surgery appears safe, effective and highly cost-effective in adolescents in the NHS.Future work and limitationsWork is needed to evaluate behaviour and body mass index change in the National Childhood Measurement Programme more accurately and improve primary care professionals’ understanding of the National Childhood Measurement Programme feedback, update and further evaluate the Computer-Assisted Treatment of CHildren (CATCH) tool, investigate delivery of weight management interventions to young people from deprived backgrounds and those with significant psychological distress and obtain longer-term data on anti-obesity drug use and bariatric surgery outcomes in adolescence.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN99840111.FundingThis project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full inProgramme Grants for Applied Research; Vol. 8, No. 3. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.</jats:sec

Sport Tourism in Australia

Although Australia does not have a published Sport Tourism strategy, sport tourism in Australia is flourishing. Sport plays a vitally important role in Australian culture, which helps explain the high per capital investment that is put into sporting facilities and sport training in Australia. Now that the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games are but a memory, it will be interesting to observe whether government expenditure on sport training remains at the same level. In relation to tourism, there is now a widespread recognition amongst Australians of its importance for the nation’s economy. The connection between sport and tourism has been highlighted by the prominence given to special events, many of which relate to sporting activities

The performance of accommodation cooperatives in Australia

The aim of this study was to determine whether the Australian accommodation cooperatives have been successful in meeting the objectives of their constituent members. A questionnaire was sent out to a sample of accommodation cooperative members, and the results obtained were supplemented by information received via interviews with a number of experienced individuals closely associated with the accommodation industry. The results of the study indicated that the Australian accommodation cooperatives had not been highly successful in meeting the objectives of their members. The study also showed wide support for accommodation cooperatives in principle, but substantial disenchantment with the manner in which most of the groups had performed in practice

Evaluating economic impacts of major sports events: a meta analysis of the key trends

For many years there has been wide recognition of the economic impact that major sports events can generate in attracting visitors and event-related construction investment. This article seeks to provide a brief overview of the key approaches that have been used to assess the economic impact of major events over the past two decades including multiplier analysis, input-output modelling, and computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelling. The article also discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches. In order to provide a platform for future research that draws upon existing research, the article then presents the findings of a meta analysis undertaken to examine the key patterns in economic assessments of major events based on previous studies reported in the literature. These reviews have been classified into three stages that are ordered chronologically and it can be seen that the range of issues covered, the depth of analysis, and the comprehensiveness of the evaluations increased across these three stages. This article finally summarises the key advances in approach that were made across these stages and proposes a future research agenda