A Message from Dean Youcheng Wang

It has been a challenging year for us all, especially for those of us immersed in hospitality, travel and tourism. Despite the challenges, and there are many, we are continuing to move forward and persevere

Spatial Dimensions of the Orlando Destination Region

This article aims to empirically examine the concept of a destination region using a case study approach. Two conflicting hypotheses are considered for the spatial structure of tourism in Orlando\u27s destination region: the bubble pattern vis-à-vis a dispersed pattern. Locational concentration and the industrial mix of Orlando\u27s tourist-related firms are examined by analyzing data revealing their location and business specialization. Findings reveal the concentration of the accommodation and dining firms near the theme parks area in a bubble-like pattern. Conversely, smaller scale attractions, convention services, and visitor and professional services tend to locate in high proportions outside of the core area. Implications are discussed from both theoretical and practical perspectives

Examining the RV Travelers\u27 Camping Experience: A Social Media Approach

The aim of this study was to analyze RV travelers\u27 experience posted on campground online review websites. The study contributes to the relevant literature by understanding what influences the campground experience. Findings were categorized by six themes: campground attributes, campsite attributes, outdoor activities, surrounding area, campground policies, and staff. Findings also depicted major topic areas revealed in the reviewed postings. Implications were outlined for the campground owner/operator and future RV traveler as a result of this study

Surveillance in contemporary livestock production systems

The objectives of this research were to explore the use of swine oral fluids, a type of aggregate sample, in infectious disease surveillance. In Chapter 2, the uses and surveillance applications of aggregate samples are reviewed. As reported in the refereed literature, bulk tank milk samples from ovine, bovine, and caprine herds have been tested to determine disease status and herd immunity. Likewise, swine producers and veterinarians have used oral fluid testing for disease detection and the evaluation of herd immunity. In Chapter 3, sampling guidelines for oral fluid surveillance in commercial swine herds are presented. These guidelines are the result of field-based research in which oral fluids were collected weekly from 3 barns on one wean-to-finish farm for 9 weeks and tested for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) RNA. Results were modeled using a piecewise exponential survival model to provide estimates of the probability of detection by disease prevalence, sample size, and diagnostic assay performance. Notably, this study showed that fixed spatial sampling was as good, if not better, than simple random sampling and that probability of detection on a swine farm improved significantly when multiple barns on the farm were sampled. In Chapter 4, a combined IgM-IgA PRRSV oral fluid ELISA was evaluated for its ability to detect pig-derived antibody produced in response to infection in the presence of maternal antibody. Two studies were performed. In Study 1 (experimental conditions), oral fluid samples were collected daily from 12 PRRSV-negative pigs from days post vaccination (DPV) -7 to DPV 42. Pigs were vaccinated using a modified-live PRRS vaccine on DPV 0. In Study 2 (field conditions), oral fluids were collected weekly from 3 wean-to-finish sites, each with 3 barns, for a total of 9 samplings. Testing of oral fluids from both studies by IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgM-IgA ELISAs showed that the IgM-IgA ELISA was able to detect pig-derived IgM and IgA in the face of circulating maternal antibody and that the combined IgM-IgA assay provided better performance than detection of either IgM or IgA alone

An Integrated Behavioral Model for International Medical Tourism

From dental procedures to cardiac surgery, an international market is developing for medical tourism, thanks not least to globalisation and the high standard of medical treatment now available around the world. But what drives individuals to travel abroad for healthcare? In an important new study, Rosen College Assistant Professor Suja Chaulagain, Founding Dean Abraham Pizam, and Dean Youcheng Wang take a social psychological perspective of health-related behavior and the concepts that influence it

Examining the Determinants of Hotel Chain Expansion through International Franchising

This study proposes and tests an agency-based organizational model of internationalization through franchising in the hotel sector. Using data obtained from a Franchisor Questionnaire 2001-2008, we analyzed a panel of 117 observations of 17 U.S.-based hotels. Our analysis reveals that a hotel franchisor’s decision to internationalize through franchising is positively related to the percentage of franchises, the ratio of franchised units to the total number of units. The article contributes to the literature by empirically modeling international franchising of hotels, which present unique characteristics among franchising companies, with a high investment capital requirement, maturity in the product life cycle, and a high level of standardization and globalization of operations. The unique characteristics of individual chains and their segment in the industry are particularly important, as revealed by both data analysis and expert opinion

Providing a Clear Foundation for Smart Destinations

Smart destinations are a nascent and growing category in destination marketing but suffer from a lack of clarity. What is a \u27smart destination\u27? UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management\u27s Dr. Youcheng Wang and Dr. Alan Fyall led an international team of hospitality management specialists tasked with providing a clear foundation for smart destination researchers and practitioners. Their study, published in the Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, provides significant insight and stokes the fire beneath destination marketing organizations