Active ageing of elderly consumers: insights and opportunities for future business strategies

Recent studies have focused on the emerging scenario of ‘active ageing’ as a series of positive actions aimed at fostering elderly adaptability by supporting emotionally close relationships and removing age-related structural barriers. Active ageing may be stimulated not only by leveraging technological and scientific innovations, but also by implementing new business strategies that reflect a better comprehension of elderly new roles and behaviours. To aid in that effort, through a literature review of marketing and management contributions across a five-decade period (1970–2020), this paper investigates elderly consumers’ new roles and related implications for business strategies, from a consumer behaviour perspective. Results present a structured classification of the most prominent streams of research by highlighting five promising changes (5Cs): changes in elderly consumers’ roles in markets and societies; changes in self-care resulting in fashion purchases and cosmetic surgery; changes in elderly consumers’ expenditures on specifically designed products and services; changes in the perception of risks resulting in preferences for either extremely prudent or hazardous behaviours; and changes in general elderly characteristics due to the so-called ‘ageless society’. We highlight the heterogeneity of elderly consumers’ new values and lifestyles, and the importance of incorporating their needs into innovative business strategies, by describing for each section the main findings of extant research and practical implications

Environmental Sustainability and Hospitality. An Exploratory Research on Modalities, Motivations and Barriers

Purpose: The natural environment is a key factor of attractiveness for tourist destinations, and hospitality may be considered both a contributor and a victim of environmental impacts. There still exists a knowledge gap regarding modalities, motivations and barriers for sustainability in the hospitality industry; therefore, the aim of this research is to explore the validity in a real context of two theoretical frameworks, the first dealing with modalities and the second addressing motivations and barriers, for the implementation of sustainable behaviors in lodging facilities. Methodology: A qualitative research was conducted through interviews with 18 hospitality managers operating in the mature destination of Verona (Italy) and in the more emergent context of Huelva (Spain). Findings: Sustainable behaviors implemented in hospitality are related to five areas of action: waste management, water conservation, energy conservation, sustainable purchasing and people involvement. The possibility to reduce operational costs and to meet the expectations of more sensitive customers are among the main motivations of sustainability, while upfront investments and lack of support from public administrations are mentioned as main barriers. Limitations: Only managerial perceptions about sustainability are investigated in this work. Further research should address the perceptions of other relevant stakeholders, such as tourists, environmental associations or the public administration. Implications: The research adds to previous literature exploring the validity in real context of two theoretical frameworks. Findings also provide relevant managerial implications about the advantages and disadvantages connected to environmental sustainability in hospitality. Value: The value of the research consists in shedding light on motivations and barriers to sustainability in a real context and from the perspective of who is in charge of decision-making

Older tourists' travel motivations and overall satisfaction at the destination: The case of Sirmione

Purpose: As the number of older tourists is progressively growing due to population ageing, tourism destinations are increasingly striving to attract them. For this purpose, destination marketers need to gain deep knowledge about the relationships between older tourists\u2019 travel motivations and satisfaction at the destination. This paper aims to provide an in-depth examination of such relationships in a specific destination, highlighting the effects of four travel motivations (culture; pleasure-seeking; relaxation; physical). Methodology: A cross-section design was adopted based on a survey among a sample of older tourists visiting Sirmione, a mature destination located on Lake Garda, Italy. Data were analyzed through multiple techniques, including analyses of variance and linear regression. Findings: The results reveal that relaxation was the most important motivation making older tourists decide to visit Sirmione. Moreover, relaxation was the only motivation showing a statistically significant relationship with satisfaction at the destination. Practical implications: The results of this study provide destination managers with valuable inputs to reposition their destination to effectively attract older tourists. Originality/value: This paper contributes to enhance available knowledge \u2013 which is quite scarce \u2013 about the effects of travel motivations on satisfaction at the destination among older tourists

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease

Grecs et indigènes de la Catalogne à la mer Noire

Le programme de travail qui aboutit à ce livre s’inscrit dans le cadre du réseau d’excellence européen Ramses2, initié par la Maison méditerranéenne des sciences de l’homme. Une demi-douzaine de tables rondes ont réuni entre 2006 et 2008, d’un bout à l’autre de la Méditerranée (à Empúries, Aix-en-Provence, Palerme, Naples, Athènes), quelque soixante-dix chercheurs essentiellement français, italiens et espagnols, mais aussi anglais, grecs, bulgares, roumains, canadiens et russes. Il s’agissait d’étudier les rapports d’acculturation entre colons grecs et populations indigènes, en tenant compte des différences géographiques et chronologiques mais aussi de l’historiographie et des habitudes de recherche des diverses institutions. Les nombreuses communications qui ont jalonné les six tables rondes sont ici la plupart du temps précédées de textes introductifs. Une première partie, consacrée aux approches régionales, permet d’illustrer l’état de la recherche dans quelques régions choisies (autour d’Empuries, d’Himère, de Marseille, de Vélia, en Thrace et en mer Noire). La seconde partie, thématique, aborde un certain nombre de thèmes de recherche dans les régions précédentes, mais aussi dans d’autres régions du monde de la colonisation grecque. Le point de vue adopté dans ce livre est d’abord celui de la culture matérielle ; l’approche en est essentiellement archéologique. On se demandera par exemple quels sont les indices archéologiques qui permettent de dire si un site est habité par des Grecs, par des indigènes ou par une population “mixte”, et comment ces indices ont été appréciés selon les périodes et selon les régions. Beaucoup de communications présentent des synthèses régionales ou thématiques, mais une large place est faite également à des sites inédits, pour lesquels on n’a pas hésité à livrer une abondante documentation (plans, matériel de fouille). C’est en effet par le renouvellement de la documentation archéologique que nous pouvons espérer avancer dans la compréhension des rapports d’acculturation entre les colons grecs et les populations locales

Contacts et acculturations en Méditerranée occidentale

La question des contacts entre les différents peuples qui bordent les rives de la Méditerranée nord occidentale est l’un des sujets phares de la recherche archéologique de ces trente dernières années. Que l’on parle d’époque archaïque et classique ou de Protohistoire et d’âge du Fer, les échanges et les processus d’acculturation de ces peuples qui entrèrent alors en contact les uns avec les autres : Grecs, Celtes, Phéniciens, Ibères, Ligures, Étrusques, ont retenu l’attention des chercheurs travaillant sur l’expansion grecque dans ces régions, sur les trafics commerciaux, sur les échanges culturels. L’œuvre de Michel Bats (Directeur de recherche honoraire du CNRS) traverse toutes ces thématiques : la présence des Phocéens et des Étrusques dans le bassin occidental de la Méditerranée, l’acculturation et les identités ethno-culturelles, les recherches sur la céramique et ses usages dans une perspective anthropologique, l’appropriation de l’écriture par les sociétés protohistoriques. Ses collègues et amis, en organisant ce colloque et en participant à ces actes, entendent lui témoigner leur amitié et leur dette intellectuelle. Ce volume réunit des articles des meilleurs spécialistes, actuels de la question - des chercheurs de toute la Méditerranée - autour des quatre grands thèmes que nous venons d’évoquer afin tout à la fois de dresser un bilan et de définir de nouvelles perspectives. Cet ouvrage présente donc aussi bien des synthèses - sur la présence grecque en Espagne, sur l’origine de l’écriture, sur les pratiques funéraires, sur les identités culturelles et ethniques - que des découvertes récentes concernant la thématique des contacts et de l’acculturation en Méditerranée nord occidentale : l’agglomération du Premier âge du Fer de La Cougourlude (Lattes, Hérault) fouillée durant l’été 2010 ; le sanctuaire hellénistique de Cumes et les fouilles récentes de Fratte en Italie ; les ateliers de potiers de Rosas en Espagne ; les dernières découvertes d’Olbia de Provence