Search results

This paper examines empirically the dynamic relationship between spot and futures prices in stock index futures market using data for the KOSPI200 during 1996 to 2001, and employing nonlinear-equilibrium-correction approach that essentially is based on the extension of Markovian regime shifts to nonstationary framework. A linear-VECM was rejected strongly when tested against a Markov-switching (MS) VECM that allowed for two regimes in the mean of equilibrium correction model, as well as in the variance-covariance matrix. The empirical model ultimately proposed therefore, is consistent with the spirit of Cost of Carry model, as well as with the increasingly growing empirical literature stressing the existence of important nonlinearities in both spot and futures prices movements.

This paper aims to understand the effect of food and beverage (F&B) services on the operating performance of luxury hotels and to identify the heterogeneous effects of the luxury hotels’ F&B operation on the business performance between Asia and the USA.

Operating performance of luxury hotels in Asia (37 hotels), including Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong and in the USA (72 hotels), including New York, California, Florida, Illinois and Texas was collected from STR reports. This study applied generalized estimating equations models to reach the conclusions.

The emphasis on F&B services exhibits a significant positive effect on the operating performance of luxury hotels in Asia. The occupancy rate and gross operating profit per available room of luxury hotels in Asia have improved with the investment in F&B offerings. Therefore, a distinctive F&B offering should be considered as one of the main products and services rather than a supplementary service in Asia. While devotion to F&B services lacks a significant positive effect on luxury hotels in the USA.

This study is the first effort to identify the importance of luxury hotels’ F&B operation for the overall hotel performance in Asia and the USA by focusing on the entire industry’s operating information.