Moisés Simancas Cruz, Juan Israel García Cruz, Carlos Alberto Greifemberg and María Pilar Peñarrubia Zaragoza
The quality of tourist accommodation establishments is a recurring theme in public strategies for planning and managing tourist destinations. The applying standards as a way to…
Abstract
Purpose
The quality of tourist accommodation establishments is a recurring theme in public strategies for planning and managing tourist destinations. The applying standards as a way to achieve quality. This strategy consists of legally regulating a series of minimum physical standards by using measureable parameters, as well as the desired characteristics or levels of amenities, which vary according to the type of provision required. The purpose of this study is to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of applying strategies that regulate standards for accommodations in coastal tourism areas in the Canary Islands (Spain).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used an explanatory case study methodology. An “inter-case” comparison has been chosen, because the object of analysis (public policy applying tourism standards) has changed over time; furthermore, a content analysis approach was selected so that the subject of this research is the process of implementing this kind tourism policy. The result is a systematization of the process in stages.
Findings
Quantifiable criteria that exclusively consider the physical or operational parameters of a tourist establishment are no longer sufficient to provide quality service that meets the needs and expectations of customers. It is not enough to set standards for surface area parameters or essential amenities when organizing new tourist developments, but rather it is the qualitative aspect that must be addressed. At the same time, quality tourist accommodation establishment is not obtained merely by reducing density, which constitutes the significant standard.
Research limitations/implications
This paper evidence is presented that may influence the quality of accommodation perceived by the client, which increases their level of satisfaction and, in turn, the degree of trust and, therefore, fidelity, understood as the future decision to repeat or not the tourist experience. There are also issues related to the approach that the quality of accommodation establishments has a direct effect on the visitor’s perception of the destination, which cannot be merely physical, mensurable in square metres.
Practical implications
The relationship between urban standards and quality is no longer linear. This determines that the regulated tourist accommodations (defined by sectoral regulations) it is common to set a required plot size in m2 based on the number of bed places offered by the establishment is no longer valid. Today, tourists rate accommodation establishments by the prestige of their brand or the diversity of services and experiences (entertainment, sensations, emotions, etc.) they provide. These experiences play such an important role in producing customer satisfaction and loyalty to a hotel that guests are willing to pay more for their stay, with the understanding that they will be able to experience certain emotions. It has been evidenced that the main reason for setting physical quality parameters that can be measured by a rating system for accommodation establishments, to provide a basic reference for customers, is no longer necessary, given the amount of easily accessible real-time information freely available through multiple independent channels based on the 2.0 paradigm, information technologies and communication, as well as applications and virtual platforms.
Social implications
Applying this public strategy of classifying or rating tourist accommodations on a territorial scale has some strengths and weaknesses. However, it is not easy to find a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of such strategies because, among other issues, the public administration seems disinterested in measuring the consequences of their decisions, instead focussing on whether the formal legal requirements are being complied with. Moreover, whenever such assessments have been carried out, the discussion has been limited to the effectiveness of the implementation. This is why, beyond such purely mechanical responses, there are currently no studies or technical reports that specifically examine the positive or negative effects of such approaches. Evidently, these circumstances make any work analyzing this material relevant and timely. Likewise, the main reason for setting physical quality parameters that can be measured by a rating system for accommodation establishments, to provide a basic reference for customers, is no longer necessary, given the amount of easily accessible, real-time information freely available through multiple independent channels based on the 2.0 paradigm, information technologies and communication, as well as applications and virtual platforms.
Originality/value
The paper determines that the impact of the strategies of set a required plot size in square metres based on the number of bed places offered by the establishment is limited. Applying this public strategy of classifying or rating tourist accommodations on a territorial scale has some strengths and weaknesses. However, it is not easy to find a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of such strategies because, among other issues, the public administration seems disinterested in measuring the consequences of their decisions, instead focussing on whether the formal legal requirements are being complied with. Moreover, whenever such assessments have been carried out, the discussion has been limited to the effectiveness of the implementation. This is why, beyond such purely mechanical responses, there are currently no studies or technical reports that specifically examine the positive or negative effects of such approaches. Evidently, these circumstances make any work analyzing this material relevant and timely.
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Shaila Rao, Cristina M. Cardona and Esther Chiner
The focus of special education around the globe may be to provide specialized instruction to meet unique needs of children to help them achieve their full potential. However, each…
Abstract
The focus of special education around the globe may be to provide specialized instruction to meet unique needs of children to help them achieve their full potential. However, each country around the globe may also have its own unique issues, barriers, legal frames, policies, and practices, as well as a history of its origin and evolution of policies and practices that govern special education in that country. This chapter describes how special education in Spain originated and evolved to its current state. It includes the following chapter sections: origins of special education in Spain; legislative acts; prevalence and incidence of various recognized disability areas; an overview of Spain’s education system including special needs education; current assessment and intervention practices; teacher education practices; family involvement considerations; and future challenges to special education.
Driselda P. Sánchez-Aguirre and Ilia Alvarado-Sizzo
The purpose of this paper is to compare the imaginaries of Generation Z inhabitants of heritage cities in the Mexican Bajio regarding their city of residence and the institutional…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare the imaginaries of Generation Z inhabitants of heritage cities in the Mexican Bajio regarding their city of residence and the institutional imaginary of urban tourism.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 186 students from five Mexican heritage cities completed an online questionnaire and participated in focus groups. The authors used a mixed approach with qualitative analysis for open-ended responses and a Kruskal Wallis test to measure attitudes towards tourism and its relationship to place attachment and intangible cultural heritage identification.
Findings
The results showed a strong relationship between place attachment and perception of tourism, but attitudes towards tourism varied among the cities, and San Juan del Río was an outlier. Among the categories of intangible cultural heritage, oral traditions showed the least agreement between youth and institutional imaginaries.
Originality/value
Few studies have considered Mexican youth and their imagery of the small/medium-sized city in which they live when it is promoted as an urban tourist destination.
Propósito
Comparar los imaginarios de los habitantes de la Generación Z de las Ciudades Patrimonio del Bajío mexicano respecto a su ciudad de residencia y el imaginario institucional del turismo urbano.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Aplicamos un cuestionario a 186 estudiantes de cinco ciudades patrimonio mexicanas quienes además, participaron en grupos focales. Se utilizó un enfoque mixto con análisis cualitativo para las respuestas abiertas y una prueba de Kruskal Wallis para medir las actitudes hacia el turismo y su relación con el apego al lugar y la identificación del Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial.
Resultados
Los resultados mostraron una fuerte relación entre el apego al lugar y la percepción del turismo, pero las actitudes hacia el turismo variaron entre las ciudades siendo San Juan del Río un caso atípico. Entre las categorías del Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial, las tradiciones orales mostraron la menor concordancia entre los jóvenes y los imaginarios turísticos institucionales.
Originalidad
Pocos estudios han considerado el imaginario de jóvenes mexicanos con respecto a ciudades pequeñas-medianas en las que viven, cuando éstas se promueven como destinos turísticos urbanos
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Gregorio Sánchez-Marín, Gabriel Lozano-Reina, Juan David Peláez-León and Miguel Angel Sastre Castillo
The purpose of this literature review is, first, to understand how employees with disabilities in the context of COVID-19 have been studied under the talent management (TM…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this literature review is, first, to understand how employees with disabilities in the context of COVID-19 have been studied under the talent management (TM) approach; second, to explore what we know about the predictors and outcomes that have been linked to TM practices in that area; and third, to identify gaps in our understanding and provide insights for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) based on 38 academic sources published in high-impact indexes from 2020 to 2023.
Findings
The existing research shows COVID-19 as a crucial context that led organizations to more precarious and segmented TM practices, which had negative consequences for employees with disabilities, both at the individual level (reduced satisfaction and income, and increased health issues) and the organizational level (increased unemployment, turnover and discrimination as well as declining performance and productivity).
Originality/value
This paper provides essential contributions to the field of TM in the relatively unexplored context of employees with disabilities since the emergence of COVID-19. Our literature review suggests there is significant room for developing and implementing adjusted TM strategies and practices to foster effective inclusiveness, accommodations and supportive work environments for employees with disabilities. From this evidence, a number of key avenues for future research and key implications for academics and practitioners are provided.
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Anamari Irizarry Quintero, Javier Rodríguez Ramírez and Camille Villafañe-Rodríguez
Written communication differences across cultures can set the tone for effective or disastrous business relationships. Although English has been the go-to language in business…
Abstract
Purpose
Written communication differences across cultures can set the tone for effective or disastrous business relationships. Although English has been the go-to language in business, managers from different countries can significantly differ in how they convey the firms' information. This study explored these differences by examining the documentation presented by foreign corporations as part of their initial public offering (IPO) in the USA, particularly Chinese firms.
Design/methodology/approach
This work examined cultural-related differences in written communications by looking at foreign corporations' descriptions of their strengths, strategies and challenges included in F-1 documents submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the IPO process. The sample consisted of 97 American depositary receipts (ADRs) identified in the Bank of New York Mellon's ADR directory from 2003 to 2015.
Findings
This study found that Chinese firms significantly differ from other countries' firms in depicting their strengths, strategies and challenges.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations have to do with the sample size. Future research may address this by considering other depositary markets, not just the USA.
Originality/value
The results will be significant for potential ADRs investors; they must be conscious of these differences in the written documentation submitted by Chinese firms compared to other foreign firms. The market should also be aware of these differences, as the Chinese seem less open to sharing information about the under spinning of their operations and financial prospects.
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Jose Andres Areiza-Padilla and Amparo Cervera-Taulet
This research aims to contribute to the existing literature on the image of global and foreign brands, but analyzing the impact on these brands, both ethnocentrism (CE) and…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to contribute to the existing literature on the image of global and foreign brands, but analyzing the impact on these brands, both ethnocentrism (CE) and xenocentrism (XEN) in the consumer. It also analyses the effects of XEN, dogmatism and national identity in the CE.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-cultural and quantitative study was carried out, through a total sample of 778 valid questionnaires collected online of which 451 questionnaires were from a developing country (Colombia) and 327 questionnaires were from a developed country (Spain). The data were processed through PLS-SEM software 3.2.7, which is usually used in this type of predictive studies, also containing variables of formative and reflective type.
Findings
Results show that XEN has a positive impact on the image of global and foreign brands, whereas CE does not always have a negative effect on the image of global and foreign brands, as was believed. Both effects are moderated by the national culture and the perceived brand globalness. XEN also has a negative impact on CE while national identity and dogmatism influence positively CE.
Originality/value
This research performs the analysis of the effects of XEN together with CE on the perceptions of a service global brand, considering the moderating effects of the national culture and perceived brand globalness were taken into account, between a developed country and a developing country.