Anna Shnyrkova and Marina Predvoditeleva
The purpose of this study is to identify Halal hotel attributes demanded by the Russian Muslim travelers. Following this, the study aims to investigate whether gender and types of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify Halal hotel attributes demanded by the Russian Muslim travelers. Following this, the study aims to investigate whether gender and types of travelers influence the demand for Halal hotel attributes.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted to localize the list of Halal hotel attributes for the Russian business context. A self-administrated online questionnaire was designed, distributed and collected from 191 Russian Muslim customers, who have stayed at Halal hotels in the past 12 months. Data analysis includes a t-test and analysis of variance.
Findings
The study revealed a list of Halal attributes demanded by Russian Muslim customers. Also, the findings indicate that the list of the attributes demonstrated the differences in the requested attributes between gender and types of travelers.
Research limitations/implications
The study came across three main limitations. The first was that the respondents surveyed were leisure tourists. Second, the majority of the respondents have university degrees. Third, the research sample is limited to approximately 200 respondents. This research primarily contributes to tourism and hospitality management, and consumer behavior literature, as this is the first study yielding insights on a new demographic: Russian Muslim tourists.
Practical implications
The study provides a clear understanding of the Halal hotel attributes demanded by Russian Muslims that can help hotel managers to accommodate the needs of this group while, at the same time, meeting the requirements of guests of different religions.
Social implications
The study contributes to improving social relationships within the Russian Federation as it improves society’s understanding of the life principles of Muslims.
Originality/value
This is the first study investigating the demand for Halal attributes by Russian Muslim tourists. By partly covering the empty research field on this topic, the study provides meaningful direction to future research of the Russian hotels’ Halal services from both supply and demand perspectives.
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Marcello Mariani and Marina Predvoditeleva
The purpose of this study is to examine the role and influence of online reviewers’ cultural traits and perceived experience on online review ratings of Russian hotels by taking a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the role and influence of online reviewers’ cultural traits and perceived experience on online review ratings of Russian hotels by taking a direct measurement approach.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors adopt an explanatory sequential research design consisting of two stages. In the first stage, based on a sample of almost 75,000 Booking.com online reviews covering hotels located in Moscow (Russia), this study examines quantitatively to what extent the cultural traits of online reviewers and hotel guests’ perceived experience in online reviewing affect online ratings also using censored regressions. In the second stage, it interprets the results in light of semi-structured interviews conducted with a convenience sample of managers.
Findings
Each of the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions (namely, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance and power distance) exerts a significantly negative influence on the hotel online ratings. More specifically, the higher the levels of individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance and power distance, the lower the hotel’s online ratings. Reviewers’ perceived experience in online reviewing is negatively related to online ratings.
Research limitations/implications
The study’s findings bear relevant practical implications for hotel managers and online platform managers in countries that are not typically covered by online consumer behavior studies in hospitality such as Russia. From a theoretical viewpoint, this study contributes to cultural studies in hospitality management and marketing with a further development of the nascent research stream taking a direct measurement approach to the study of cultural influences on consumers’ behaviors. Furthermore, this study offers a better and in-depth understanding of the role of cultural traits on electronic word of mouth, as well as international market segmentation theory in online settings.
Originality/value
The conjoint exploration of the effects of cultural differences and perceived experience in online reviewing adds to the nascent research stream taking a direct measurement approach to the study of the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions on online consumers’ behaviors. The authors make multiple theoretical and methodological contributions, highlighting that online hospitality customers cannot be considered as one homogeneous mass. Instead, the application of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions allows identifying distinctively different online behaviors across international online customers: different online customer groups can be clustered into segments, as they display different online behaviors and give different online evaluations.
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Marina Y. Sheresheva, Matvey S. Oborin and Elena E. Polyanskaya
This study aims to investigate the recent changes in the strategies of international hotel chains in the Russian market, as well as their role in the sustainable development of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the recent changes in the strategies of international hotel chains in the Russian market, as well as their role in the sustainable development of small and medium towns as prospective local tourism destinations.
Design/methodology/approach
General observation of the local environment, statistical analysis and a qualitative approach were used to reveal current developments in international hotel chains’ strategy in Russia, and new opportunities for a number of small towns to be embedded in the development of the Russian tourism market. The current scenarios were examined using the available secondary data, including federal statistics and relevant empirical studies, as well as case studies and personal interviews with industry experts that allowed access to respondents’ opinions and market knowledge.
Findings
In recent years, investment in the Russian regions has become more attractive for international hotel chains. Findings of the study add to the literature on emerging markets by presenting an overview of the main challenges facing international hotel chains in the Russian market and by stressing the facilitating effect of foreign hotel chains’ upon tourism infrastructure development in small and medium towns in Russian regions. The statistics presented, as well as key opinions of hoteliers and local authorities, contribute to an understanding of the strategies used by international hotel operators in emerging economies with reference to new evidence from Russia.
Originality/value
The main output of this study is that it yields a better understanding of the strategic movement of international hotel chains into the Russian regions and new opportunities to develop tourism infrastructure in small and medium cities situated in Russian regions as prospective tourism destinations.
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This paper aims to review recent developments in the Russian tourism and hospitality market and to underline Russia’s strong tourism prospects – despite the challenges it has to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review recent developments in the Russian tourism and hospitality market and to underline Russia’s strong tourism prospects – despite the challenges it has to face.
Design/methodology/approach
The study sets the scene for the theme issue (that draws from both academia and industry) by discussing the challenges facing the contemporary Russian tourism and hospitality market. It also profiles the efforts of the Russian Government to boost tourism development in different Russian regions that are potentially attractive tourist destinations due to their natural resources and cultural heritage.
Findings
The paper sheds light on the major shift to domestic tourism that is partly due to the turbulent economic environment that is forcing Russia to search for internal sources of development. At the same time, the decision to rely on diversity of opportunities and sustainable regional tourism makes it possible to have a broad variety of tourist value propositions in almost all parts of Russia. This also makes Russia more attractive to foreign tourists. Still, to make Russia a popular destination internationally, improvement in almost all elements of the Russian tourist product is needed.
Originality/value
This theme issue provides an analysis and evaluation of tourism development in Russia in the current decade and, in so doing, contributes to knowledge of the fast developing Russian tourism and hospitality market by unveiling a number of new tourist products and destinations in different Russian regions.
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Marina Sheresheva and John Kopiski
This paper aims to discuss the main trends, opportunities, challenges and success factors in the Russian hospitality and tourism market.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the main trends, opportunities, challenges and success factors in the Russian hospitality and tourism market.
Design/methodology/approach
The study sets the tone for the theme by evaluating the overall economic situation in Russia and the prospects of the tourism and hospitality market by taking into account the existing institutional environment, as well as the natural resources and cultural heritage of Russia. The articles in this theme issue are drawn both from academia and industry.
Findings
This paper sheds light on the key trends and challenges with respect to leveraging the cultural and economic potential of the Russian hospitality and tourism market. The opportunities for Russia’s hospitality and tourism market are reviewed, and the success factors relating to the Russian hospitality and tourism market are explained.
Practical implications
This study identifies a number of implications for practitioners and policymakers that will allow Russia to leverage its huge but greatly under-rated and untapped potential as an attractive tourist destination. This requires a clear understanding that networking is crucial in the experience economy era to ensure that the aspirations and concerns of all key stakeholders are taken into account given that a lot of different resources and competencies are needed to provide tourists with a combination of experiences, and thus to make a destination attractive for target audiences. It will help Russian practitioners to understand better which factors are crucial for gaining competitiveness in the experience economy era and to find new ways of business improvement. It will also assist practitioners from other countries to understand local environment and find new perspectives of doing business in Russia. Whilst not all key stakeholder voices are represented in this theme issue, the discussions and implications that are drawn out are of importance to all stakeholder groups.
Originality/value
This is the first time a journal issue has focused on the challenges and prospects of the Russian tourism and hospitality market. The research through this theme issue contributes to the literature on BRICS markets by highlighting the specifics of the Russian market. It also provides an understanding of the ways in which Russian cultural heritage and natural resources can be deployed effectively for a positive impact on inbound and domestic tourism and hospitality and on the prosperity of Russian regions and local communities.
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Marina Sheresheva, Elena Polyanskaya and Nikita Matveev
This paper aims to analyze developments in the Russian hospitality sector and present the results of qualitative research conducted at the Faculty of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze developments in the Russian hospitality sector and present the results of qualitative research conducted at the Faculty of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, in 2014-2015.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper offers a general observation of the local environment and comparative analysis, and statistical analysis and content analysis are used to shed light on current developments in the Russian hospitality market. The issues are examined using the available secondary data, including relevant empirical studies and feedback from hoteliers and hotel guests. A case study method is applied to reveal the challenges facing hotel chains in Russia and to propose the most effective directions for hotels to provide services that meet world standards and customer expectations.
Findings
In recent years, there has been a major growth in the hospitality sector in Russia. This paper confirms and explains the long-term attractiveness of the Russian market. Hotel chain development is one of the most promising directions for both international and Russian hotel brands. The growing role of the internet as a distribution channel is underlined, as well as long-term relationships, positive experience and positive emotions, as a way to gain loyal clients.
Originality/value
The current study adds to the literature on emerging markets by presenting an overview of the main trends, challenges and factors for success in the Russian hospitality market.