Examine China's impact on the world tourism market! Tourism in China is a comprehensive study of tourism and the travel industry in China--past, present, and future. Since joining many of its Asia-Pacific neighbors in identifying tourism as a vehicle for socioeconomic growth and poverty alleviation, China has become the leader in the Asian travel industry, surpassing all forecasts with high and constant growth in international and domestic tourism activity. In fact, the World Trade Organization predicts that by 2020, China will become the world's leading tourism destination, receiving 145 million visitors. This timely book examines the diverse opportunities and challenges the country's tourism industry faces in meeting those projections. A unique, interdisciplinary guide that appeals to practitioners and academics, Tourism in China has been called "probably the most in-depth analysis of China's tourism industry" by the World Trade Organization's Dr. Harsh Varma. The book presents a collection of articles--scholarly in nature, comprehensive in scope--that serves as a significant (and much-needed) reference on Chinese tourism, though not including minority or border tourism, or the Hong Kong or Taiwan markets. The industry's historical development, its impact on the Chinese economy and ecology, and its current and future markets are examined extensively. Tourism in China also examines: the impressions of Western travelers in China during the 19th century the tourism boom and its development since 1978 the development of ecotourism in China's nature reserves the effect of the tourism boom on the hotel industry the development of theme parks in China. With two-thirds of China's provincial governments committed to making tourism one of their pillar industries, it is essential that tourism professionals, academics, and students around the world have a thorough understanding of this leader in current and future world travel. Tourism in China provides a detailed look at how the country's tourism industry was built and how it will continue to expand. Helpful tables and figures, as well as a glossary of relevant terms, make the information easy to access and understand.

In order to respond to the dynamic changes taking place in the competitive world of tourism, marketing programs need to be constantly adjusted and updated to take account of new market research. Recent Advances in Tourism Marketing Research offers tourism marketers an excellent basis for developing and evaluating their marketing efforts. The book explores exciting new approaches to conducting tourism marketing research and presents applications which will help you develop and implement new tourism marketing strategies in your business.Chapters in Recent Advances in Tourism Marketing Research reflect the recent explosion of high quality tourism marketing research. Authors come from a number of disciplines and perspectives, ranging from more traditional programs such as hotel, restaurant, and tourism management and leisure studies to geography, urban and regional planning, and sociology. This fusion of diverse ideas gives you innovative insight into important tourism marketing issues including: market segmentation importance-performance analysis tourism demand forecasting destination choice modeling experience-based sampling methods qualitative methods in tourism researchRecent Advances in Tourism Marketing Research positions international tourism within the broader context of the worldwide services economy. It shows marketing and tourism professionals the significance of changing tourism issues and trends based on results of current research which will drive future marketing strategies, and it helps them see their own strategies in light of the future. This unique book helps tourism marketers shape the future of their marketing programs for a tourism product that challenges traditional ways of conducting tourism business. Destination promoters, decisionmakers, and planners in tourism and students and educators of tourism, hospitality, and leisure studies worldwide will find the diversity and originality of the research presented in Recent Advances in Tourism Marketing Research essential for developing successful marketing strategies now and in the future. Also, libraries of schools that have leisure and recreation, tourism, hospitality, marketing, and service programs will want to make this invaluable resource readily available to their patrons.

A one-of-a-kind analysis of ocean cruising! In Ocean Travel and Cruising: A Cultural Analysis, noted author Arthur Asa Berger turns his critical eye to the phenomenon of ocean cruising. This academically solid yet reader-friendly book brings a multidisciplinary cultural studies approach to the subject, examining ocean cruising from economic, semiotic, sociological, psychoanalytic, and marketing perspectives, and offering insights not provided by the more traditional sociological approaches to the subject. You'll explore cruise demographics, the relationship between cruising and gender, the sociology of dining on cruise ships, hedonism and pleasure seeking, the compulsion to cruise, consolidation in the industry, the exploitation of workers on cruise ships, and a great deal more. Here's a section-by-section rundown of what's in store for you and your students in this one-of-a-kind new text: The Economics of Cruising examines cruise categories, industry consolidation, worker exploitation, and ways that cruise lines make money aside from ticket sales. This section also compares the costs of cruises vs. land-based vacations and fills you in on the typical weekly food and beverage consumption of the Carnival line's complement of ships, which sheds light on how a cruise line can, for a mere $10, provide a food array that would cost a restaurant or hotel $33 to $40. Signs at SeaThe Semiotics of Cruising provides you with a quick primer on semiotics and then discusses the cruise ship as a sign system and then breaks the system down to its component parts, discussing dining rooms, cabins/staterooms, dress codes, spatiality, luxury signifiers, the perceived elitism of the cruise experience, the role of photography, and more. A Sociological Analysis of Cruising explores cruise demographics and their meaning, time budgeting on cruises, the sociology of dining, new trends in cruising, and the meaning of gender in relation to ocean cruising. A particularly intriguing chapter is A Psychoanalytic Interpretation of Cruising. Beginning with a look at the compulsion to cruise, this section explores cruising's relationship with the unconscious, the paradise myth, hedonism and pleasure seeking, the desire for unconditional love, psychological regression, and more. In Selling Smooth Sailing: Advertising and Marketing Cruises, you'll examine print advertisements from eight major cruise lines, look at what they have in common and what the differences are between the messages each cruise line hopes to convey via the style and content of their ads and brochures. Cruising (on) the Internet looks at the intersection of the information superhighway with the world of cruising. You'll learn about the cruise lines' own Web sites, travel agency sites, Internet sites designed to rate and review cruises and cruise ships, and more. Notes from a Cruise Journal shares the author's on-site reflections and impressions of a weeklong cruise from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and back. Written in accessible, jargon-free language that will appeal to students at all levels, Ocean Travel and Cruising: A Cultural Analysis is the most recent of a very small selection of scholarly studies of ocean cruising available in English. Make it a part of your cultural studies, leisure studies, sociology, travel/tourism/hospitality, popular culture, or American studies course this semester!

A one-of-a-kind analysis of ocean cruising! In Ocean Travel and Cruising: A Cultural Analysis, noted author Arthur Asa Berger turns his critical eye to the phenomenon of ocean cruising. This academically solid yet reader-friendly book brings a multidisciplinary cultural studies approach to the subject, examining ocean cruising from economic, semiotic, sociological, psychoanalytic, and marketing perspectives, and offering insights not provided by the more traditional sociological approaches to the subject. You'll explore cruise demographics, the relationship between cruising and gender, the sociology of dining on cruise ships, hedonism and pleasure seeking, the compulsion to cruise, consolidation in the industry, the exploitation of workers on cruise ships, and a great deal more. Here's a section-by-section rundown of what's in store for you and your students in this one-of-a-kind new text: The Economics of Cruising examines cruise categories, industry consolidation, worker exploitation, and ways that cruise lines make money aside from ticket sales. This section also compares the costs of cruises vs. land-based vacations and fills you in on the typical weekly food and beverage consumption of the Carnival line's complement of ships, which sheds light on how a cruise line can, for a mere $10, provide a food array that would cost a restaurant or hotel $33 to $40. Signs at SeaThe Semiotics of Cruising provides you with a quick primer on semiotics and then discusses the cruise ship as a sign system and then breaks the system down to its component parts, discussing dining rooms, cabins/staterooms, dress codes, spatiality, luxury signifiers, the perceived elitism of the cruise experience, the role of photography, and more. A Sociological Analysis of Cruising explores cruise demographics and their meaning, time budgeting on cruises, the sociology of dining, new trends in cruising, and the meaning of gender in relation to ocean cruising. A particularly intriguing chapter is A Psychoanalytic Interpretation of Cruising. Beginning with a look at the compulsion to cruise, this section explores cruising's relationship with the unconscious, the paradise myth, hedonism and pleasure seeking, the desire for unconditional love, psychological regression, and more. In Selling Smooth Sailing: Advertising and Marketing Cruises, you'll examine print advertisements from eight major cruise lines, look at what they have in common and what the differences are between the messages each cruise line hopes to convey via the style and content of their ads and brochures. Cruising (on) the Internet looks at the intersection of the information superhighway with the world of cruising. You'll learn about the cruise lines' own Web sites, travel agency sites, Internet sites designed to rate and review cruises and cruise ships, and more. Notes from a Cruise Journal shares the author's on-site reflections and impressions of a weeklong cruise from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and back. Written in accessible, jargon-free language that will appeal to students at all levels, Ocean Travel and Cruising: A Cultural Analysis is the most recent of a very small selection of scholarly studies of ocean cruising available in English. Make it a part of your cultural studies, leisure studies, sociology, travel/tourism/hospitality, popular culture, or American studies course this semester!

Find out how the ways we live and work are changing the ways in which we play! As populations grow and urbanization increases, social class, income, and ethnicity are influencing where and when people travel. The Tourism and Leisure Industry: Shaping the Future gives you the knowledge and skills you need to keep your business on top of this competitive field. An essential read for all leisure and tourism experts, this book analyzes and explains demographics, global supply and demand, globalization, intercultural behavior, and mobility to help you forecast future consumer needs. This insightful book also predicts new markets and products to help you tailor your business to the tourism and leisure trends of the next generation. The Tourism and Leisure Industry: Shaping the Future evaluates traditional leisure time activities, such as theme parks and sporting events as well as the fastest growing activities, such as leisure-based wellness resorts. Find out what the populations of different countries are expecting from their free time in terms of temporal aspects, benefits, and location. Get up-to-date advice on information technology and see how it will be changing the way you do business. The Tourism and Leisure Industry: Shaping the Future focuses on a variety of factors impacting tourism today, including: changes in social values intercultural technology races changed economic market conditions changing lifestyle trends population growth networked economies the growing market for senior travelers The Tourism and Leisure Industry: Shaping the Future is your contemporary guide to the next steps in the evolution of tourism and leisure. Filled with tables and figures to help you organize and understand the information it presents, this book is easy to read yet suitable for any expert in the leisure field. With case studies, research reports, and extensive bibliographies, it is a vital resource for destination managers, consultants, and teachers alike.

Explore the complex relationship between tourism and intimacy in this new book with a worldwide perspective!
With a unique combination of academic and personal accounts, Sex and Tourism: Journeys of Romance, Love, and Lust takes you behind the scenes with motel owners, adventure travel guides, backpackers, and others working on all sides of the international tourism industry. The editors have created a model that views the situation from three different perspectives: tourist, tourism provider, and nature of the encounter. Unlike other related volumes, this book is not just about the sex trade, but also about the role of tourism in love, marriage, and relationships.
The global focus of Sex and Tourism will introduce you to: off-season romance on the island of Crete sex tourism in Cambodia a South Korean museum dedicated to women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military the sexual aspects of adventure travel in Canada cross-cultural marriage in Thailand gentleman's clubs in New Orleans Australian river guides and their potential liaisons with clients People who travel to escape their day-to-day lives often become involved in situations they would never find themselves in at home. Good or bad, many of these situations are examined in Sex and Tourism. You'll learn about the illegal trafficking of girls in Nepal, worldwide programs for combating child sex rings, and the lethal combination of AIDS and tourism, but you'll also find accounts of love and romance far from home. You will see how the tourism industry can act as a facilitator of human intimacy and what happens when different cultural realities collide.
Anyone involved in recreation, leisure, anthropology, social science, or tourism will be interested in this book. Sex and Tourism is an enlightening guide to the complex world found at the crossroads of sightseeing and sex.

Make the most of the potential for tourism and hospitality in Southeast Asia Tourism is known as the world's fastest growing industry, but until now there has been precious little published on the industry as it relates to Southeast Asia and Indo-China. Tourism in Southeast Asia: A New Direction focuses on the remarkable growth in international tourism seen in that region in recent years. Some of the topics explored in Tourism in Southeast Asia: A New Direction are: cross-border cooperation ecotourism opportunities for local communities existing tourism organizations the vulnerability of current tourism policies and suggestions for change the impacts of tourism on local communities the flow of tourism between Australia and Southeast Asia collaborative tourism marketing the growth and development of the cruise line industry in Southeast AsiaWhile the state of the industry's growth and development varies greatly from one country in the region to another, all face the challenge of fostering financially and environmentally sustainable tourism. This volume sheds light on the confusing issues of tourism development, marketing, and management in Southeast Asia and Indo-China.Here is the essential guide to the exploding tourism and hospitality industries in Southeast Asia and Indo-China. You will discover unique cultural aspects of various countries in the region and the impact they can have on tourism and hospitality, as well as industry overviews and current and anticipated trends.

Make the most of the potential for tourism and hospitality in Southeast Asia Tourism is known as the world's fastest growing industry, but until now there has been precious little published on the industry as it relates to Southeast Asia and Indo-China. Tourism in Southeast Asia: A New Direction focuses on the remarkable growth in international tourism seen in that region in recent years. Some of the topics explored in Tourism in Southeast Asia: A New Direction are: cross-border cooperation ecotourism opportunities for local communities existing tourism organizations the vulnerability of current tourism policies and suggestions for change the impacts of tourism on local communities the flow of tourism between Australia and Southeast Asia collaborative tourism marketing the growth and development of the cruise line industry in Southeast AsiaWhile the state of the industry's growth and development varies greatly from one country in the region to another, all face the challenge of fostering financially and environmentally sustainable tourism. This volume sheds light on the confusing issues of tourism development, marketing, and management in Southeast Asia and Indo-China.Here is the essential guide to the exploding tourism and hospitality industries in Southeast Asia and Indo-China. You will discover unique cultural aspects of various countries in the region and the impact they can have on tourism and hospitality, as well as industry overviews and current and anticipated trends.

Containing original and previously unpublished theoretical and empirical studies, Consumer Behavior in Travel and Tourism will give professionals, professors, and researchers in the field up-to-date insight and information on trends, happenings, and findings in the international hospitality business arena. A great resource for educators, this book is complete with learning objectives, concept definitions, and even review questions at the end of each chapter. From this book, readers will understand and learn the needs and preferences of tourists and how to investigate the process of destination and product selection to help provide customers with products and services that will best meet their needs.In today's highly competitive business environment, understanding travel behavior is imperative to success. Consumer Behavior in Travel and Tourism brings together several studies in one volume, representing the first attempt to explore, define, analyze, and evaluate the consumption of tourist and travel products. This guide offers essential research strategies and methods that enables readers to determine the wants and needs of tourists, including: discussing and evaluating the main factors that affect consumer behavior in travel and tourism, such as travel motivation, destination choice, and the consequent travel behavior exploring the various decision-making processes of consumers that leads to consequent destination choices through case study analysis and marketing suggestions determining customer expectations of products through a variety of research techniques in order to find ways of improving satisfaction examining selected research tools, such as product positioning and repositioning and using perceptual maps, to evaluate the market implications of using qualitative and/or quantitative research techniques detecting and analyzing the relative roles individual, environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic factors play in choosing travel destinationsFull of detailed charts and graphs, Consumer Behavior in Travel and Tourism illustrates key points to give you a better understanding of important facts and findings in the field.

With Marketing Your City, U.S.A.: A Guide to Developing a Strategic Marketing Plan, you ll discover how easy it is to market your hometown to potential tourists. You ll find a simple, sure-fire strategy proven to bring out the charm and beauty of any town, anywhere. You ll learn ways to improve the "packaging" of your community, while at the same time improving its visible appeal to tourists. Marketing Your City, U.S.A. gives you the guidelines for developing and selecting objectives, key strategies, and tactics that will help you produce or increase revenue through increased tourism. In Marketing Your City, U.S.A., you ll find the marketing process broken down into easy steps that are outlined and completely explained for a theoretical destination: "Your City, U.S.A." You will learn how to arrange a sample "calendar of events," how to effectively plan a yearly series of promotions, and how to formulate a proposed budget for advertising, promotions, and public relations. Marketing Your City, U.S.A. is written in such a way that you can either implement all the strategic marketing steps or just the ones that particularly pertain to your hometown. The five easily applied marketing objectives you ll find outlined in the book include: how to enhance your city 's overall environment how to broaden your city 's economic base while providing for new revenues how to develop your city 's infrastructure to be visitor-friendly and to increase the length of visitors'stays how to effectively market your city 's resources for tourism how to communicate with both audiences--the public and local residents After reading Marketing Your City, U.S.A., you ll find tourism a win-win situation: the more you attract tourists the more outside revenue you ll gain. You ll approach tourism with a confident strategy that guarantees your hometown 's success. Tourism can be difficult and overwhelming, so let Marketing Your City, U.S.A. guide you every step of the way.

Tourism is an extremely challenging business. Some strategies work phenomenally well sometimes and?fail at others. You may be aware of the increased fragmentation of the consumer market and of the important role geography plays in tourist response but have difficulty finding a pattern to this without doing a lot of research. Geography and Tourism Marketing will provide you with diverse studies through which you will gain a better understanding of what excites and entices all types of consumers along with new strategies in your field to keep you up-to-date in the unpredictable business of tourism.Geography and Tourism Marketing is a compilation of greatly varied and valuable case studies and articles. In it you?ll explore thought-provoking topics such as these: the World Wide Web as one of the most significant technological developments in travel and tourism marketing the advantages of understanding the impact that a tourist's country of origin has on small island destinations pinpointing problems in a specific business venture so you can avoid similar mistakes providing interactive maps to potential consumers through Geographic Information Systems determining the effectiveness of brochures reformulating and promoting a consistent image of a destination in order to better serve consumers the fast-growing market of nature travelers and how they can be targeted more effectivelyIn this book, you will get current information on the link between geography and tourism marketing, which is an important aspect in conquering market segmentation and improving tourism marketing approaches. You will see the necessity of acknowledging this connection and be prepared to respond to it when you read Geography and Tourism Marketing.

International Hospitality Business: Management and Operations will introduce hospitality managers to the most up-to-date developments in hospitality to prepare you for the rapidly changing world of international hospitality. This book is a compilation of the most current research in global operations. It examines new developments, new management concepts, and new corporate mergers. International Hospitality Business analyzes and discusses the complexity of the political, economic, financial, commercial, and cultural environment within which international business takes place to help you become a productive global manager. Through International Hospitality Business, you will learn how an effective global hospitality manager must have a broad trans-disciplinary perspective that includes studies in politics, culture, and geography to better prepare for the complexity of international operations. Expand your knowledge of how to deal with the issues that confront hospitality firms and managers in international development and operations by: understanding the great demand for competent managers to oversee operations in foreign countries because of the explosive growth of the international hospitality industry exploring the complex issues faced by hospitality managers when they are assigned to work overseas gaining insight into international hospitality firms'policies regarding developmental strategy, organizational structure, marketing, finance, accounting, and human resource management recognizing the international hospitality industry as an integral part of the service import and export business to help students gain a better understanding of managerial rolesWith The International Hospitality Business, you will examine world travel patterns, major hotel chains, and foodservice companies in different regions of the world to expand your knowledge and help you face the dynamic changing world of international hospitality. While this volume provides you with important, comprehensive knowledge that will help you manage the your overseas hospitality operations in a way that keeps the most important person in any business--the customer--contented.

This single volume gives you comprehensive information on Asia-Pacific gaming! Casino Industry in Asia Pacific: Development, Operation, and Impact is a one-of-a-kind comprehensive review of the gaming industry in various countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This valuable resource thoroughly details the history, the operational issues, and the impact of casino gaming in Australia, Korea, Macao, and Southeast Asiaand the Pachinko phenomenon in Japan. International authorities discuss crucial issues that involve policy makers and casino developers, allowing industry players a global perspective as they consider various important viewpoints in their long-range planning. Casino Industry in Asia Pacific is organized into three sections: Development, Operation, and Impact. Chapters in the Development section provide a thorough history of gaming for Australia, Japan, Korea, Macao, and Southeast Asia. Laws and regulations are also reviewed for each location. In the Operation section, each chapter analyzes an important casino operational issue, including regulations, licensing and due diligence, internal control and auditing, and rolling commissions. The last section reviews the economic and social impacts for various regions. Chinese culture and gaming are also examined in detail to illustrate the intertwined relationship between gaming and people's daily life. Extensive bibliographies, helpful tables, and fascinating photographs are also included. Casino Industry in Asia Pacific discusses: casino history and gaming legislation in Australia, Korea, and Macao Japan's form of gamblingPachinko gaming in Southeast Asia suggestions for Asian gaming jurisdictions casino licensing investigations accounting, internal controls, and casino auditing the use of non-negotiable chips the societal and economic impacts of gaming in Australia the impacts of casinos in Korea gaming and Chinese culture Casino Industry in Asia Pacific: Development, Operation, and Impact is an essential resource for graduate students, advanced undergraduate students, educators, researchers, gaming policymakers and lobbyists, concerned civic organization leaders and members, casino developers and executives, hotel professionals, travel and tourism professionals, and anyone interested in the gaming industry.

This single volume gives you comprehensive information on Asia-Pacific gaming! Casino Industry in Asia Pacific: Development, Operation, and Impact is a one-of-a-kind comprehensive review of the gaming industry in various countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This valuable resource thoroughly details the history, the operational issues, and the impact of casino gaming in Australia, Korea, Macao, and Southeast Asiaand the Pachinko phenomenon in Japan. International authorities discuss crucial issues that involve policy makers and casino developers, allowing industry players a global perspective as they consider various important viewpoints in their long-range planning. Casino Industry in Asia Pacific is organized into three sections: Development, Operation, and Impact. Chapters in the Development section provide a thorough history of gaming for Australia, Japan, Korea, Macao, and Southeast Asia. Laws and regulations are also reviewed for each location. In the Operation section, each chapter analyzes an important casino operational issue, including regulations, licensing and due diligence, internal control and auditing, and rolling commissions. The last section reviews the economic and social impacts for various regions. Chinese culture and gaming are also examined in detail to illustrate the intertwined relationship between gaming and people's daily life. Extensive bibliographies, helpful tables, and fascinating photographs are also included. Casino Industry in Asia Pacific discusses: casino history and gaming legislation in Australia, Korea, and Macao Japan's form of gamblingPachinko gaming in Southeast Asia suggestions for Asian gaming jurisdictions casino licensing investigations accounting, internal controls, and casino auditing the use of non-negotiable chips the societal and economic impacts of gaming in Australia the impacts of casinos in Korea gaming and Chinese culture Casino Industry in Asia Pacific: Development, Operation, and Impact is an essential resource for graduate students, advanced undergraduate students, educators, researchers, gaming policymakers and lobbyists, concerned civic organization leaders and members, casino developers and executives, hotel professionals, travel and tourism professionals, and anyone interested in the gaming industry.

How did Accor, Cendant, Choice Hotels International, Marriott, and Hilton become the largest hotel chains in the worldand what strategies will they use to continue their growth? This first-of-its-kind textbook presents a balanced overview of the theory and practice of hotel chains' growth strategies. It explains in-depth how and why the largest worldwide hotel chains achieved dominant international status and shows how to forecast future developments. Authentic international examples in every chapter bring theoretical concepts into sharp focus. The Growth Strategies of Hotel Chains: Best Practices by Leading Companies is comprised of thirteen chapters, each divided into two parts. The first part sets forth the theory behind an important aspect of growth strategy. The second part of each chapter brings these theoretical arguments to life with specific case examples. For example, in the chapter on franchising, the ten largest hotel franchise businesses in the world are discussed in detailincluding their actual fees and how they function, with helpful commentary on each. This format, designed with educators' needs in mind, is consistent throughout the text. Charts, tables, and figures make complex information easy to access and understand. The Growth Strategies of Hotel Chains: Best Practices by Leading Companies examines: the question of diversification vs. specialization vertical, horizontal, and diagonal integration acquisitions, mergers, and strategic alliances franchise contracts, management contracts, leaseholds, and ownership branding and globalization why European chains usually expand via property acquisitions and rentals while most American chains prefer management contracts and franchising Packed with information yet written in language that students and hospitality executives can understand, this unique, comprehensive textbook deserves a place in every teaching/training/professional library.

How did Accor, Cendant, Choice Hotels International, Marriott, and Hilton become the largest hotel chains in the worldand what strategies will they use to continue their growth? This first-of-its-kind textbook presents a balanced overview of the theory and practice of hotel chains' growth strategies. It explains in-depth how and why the largest worldwide hotel chains achieved dominant international status and shows how to forecast future developments. Authentic international examples in every chapter bring theoretical concepts into sharp focus. The Growth Strategies of Hotel Chains: Best Practices by Leading Companies is comprised of thirteen chapters, each divided into two parts. The first part sets forth the theory behind an important aspect of growth strategy. The second part of each chapter brings these theoretical arguments to life with specific case examples. For example, in the chapter on franchising, the ten largest hotel franchise businesses in the world are discussed in detailincluding their actual fees and how they function, with helpful commentary on each. This format, designed with educators' needs in mind, is consistent throughout the text. Charts, tables, and figures make complex information easy to access and understand. The Growth Strategies of Hotel Chains: Best Practices by Leading Companies examines: the question of diversification vs. specialization vertical, horizontal, and diagonal integration acquisitions, mergers, and strategic alliances franchise contracts, management contracts, leaseholds, and ownership branding and globalization why European chains usually expand via property acquisitions and rentals while most American chains prefer management contracts and franchising Packed with information yet written in language that students and hospitality executives can understand, this unique, comprehensive textbook deserves a place in every teaching/training/professional library.

Deliver quality instruction to your studentson-campus or off The Handbook for Distance Learning in Tourism is a practical, down-to-earth guide to developing and using print-based and Internet-based flexible learning resources for courses where students rarely, if ever, attend on-campus classes. Whether you're a teacher who needs to develop course notes into a flexible learning package, a Web site, or both, or you just want information about how to teach in a flexible environment, the book will provide the help you need-in language you can understand. Designed to guide you through the completion of a projector a semesterthis hands-on book offers strategies, suggestions, hints, and examples, and includes a hotel and tourism case study that illustrates effective concepts and strategies. Written by Gary Williams, co-editor of The Internet and Travel and Tourism Education (Haworth), this unique book will help you develop print-based and Internet-based learning resources instead of focusing only on one or the other, breaking down the barriers placed between learning environments. The strategies presented are timeless, with no comparisons of specific commercial or noncommercial products to become outdated and no Web site addresses to become useless. The book makes extensive use of tables, graphics, and illustrations and has its own Web site that's regularly updated, listing online resources arranged on a chapter-by-chapter basis. The Handbook for Distance Learning in Tourism examines: the roles and characteristics of a project manager developing and buying resources considerations before committing to a project maximizing project ownership ensuring quality content educational design guidelines media foundations production, design, and maintenance of print resources developing and using Web sites computer-mediated contact course management systems (CMS) and much more! The Handbook for Distance Learning in Tourism is an invaluable guidebook for educators working in the field of hotel and tourism management as well as academics, project managers, and educational designers who are interested in flexible learning developments.

Explore the travel/tourism possibilities of this exotic yet tourist-friendly country Vietnam Tourism presents a unique ethnographic-semiotic analysis of some of the most important touristic icons in Vietnamese culture. In addition, it offers a firsthand analysis of many aspects of daily life in Vietnam and a semiotic analysis of Vietnam's dominant cultural symbols. A twelve-page photo section brings vibrant images of this unique country to life. Vietnam Tourism also presents an essential overview of what Vietnam has to offer tourists, looking at the exciting possibilitiesand the potential pitfallsof visiting this extraordinary country. Although Vietnam is a Third World country, it has excellent tourism companies and many wonderful sitesfrom Halong Bay and Hue to extraordinary temples and beautiful beaches. The book paints a vivid portrait of this country's hidden gems and popular tourist destinations, exploring the problems and possibilities Vietnam faces in developing its tourism industry. In Vietnam Tourism, you'll find information that is essential for anyone who needs to be in the know about this increasingly popular tourist destination. This reader-friendly book will leave you better informed about: the rapid construction of hotels in important tourist sites: there are now hotels of all kindsfrom super luxurious ones to middle-range, three-star hotels, down to very primitive hotelsin most of the country's important tourist venues daily life in Vietnam's teeming cities, in its religious enclaves, and in its unique rural areas the meaning and relevance (semiotics) of commonplace objects in Vietnam, including Pho (a traditional soup that is often eaten for breakfast and is found everywhere in the country), conical straw hats, spring rolls, pith helmets, dong (Vietnamese currency), water puppetry, etc. important sites that tourists often visit, including the Ho Chi Minh museum, Ha Noi, the Cu Chi Tunnels, the unforgettable Cao Dai Cathedral at Tay Ninh, the Mekong Delta, and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) images of Vietnam created by travel writerswhat the tourist guidebooks have to say, and how they relate to the reality of the author's personal experience in Vietnam After reading Vietnam Tourism, you (and your students) will have a wealth of knowledge to draw upon. This is an ideal book to read before visiting Vietnam yourselfor recommending/planning a trip for others. The fresh insights it presents will help make any trip to the region more rewarding for the traveler.

Find out how the ways we live and work are changing the ways in which we play! As populations grow and urbanization increases, social class, income, and ethnicity are influencing where and when people travel. The Tourism and Leisure Industry: Shaping the Future gives you the knowledge and skills you need to keep your business on top of this competitive field. An essential read for all leisure and tourism experts, this book analyzes and explains demographics, global supply and demand, globalization, intercultural behavior, and mobility to help you forecast future consumer needs. This insightful book also predicts new markets and products to help you tailor your business to the tourism and leisure trends of the next generation. The Tourism and Leisure Industry: Shaping the Future evaluates traditional leisure time activities, such as theme parks and sporting events as well as the fastest growing activities, such as leisure-based wellness resorts. Find out what the populations of different countries are expecting from their free time in terms of temporal aspects, benefits, and location. Get up-to-date advice on information technology and see how it will be changing the way you do business. The Tourism and Leisure Industry: Shaping the Future focuses on a variety of factors impacting tourism today, including: changes in social values intercultural technology races changed economic market conditions changing lifestyle trends population growth networked economies the growing market for senior travelers The Tourism and Leisure Industry: Shaping the Future is your contemporary guide to the next steps in the evolution of tourism and leisure. Filled with tables and figures to help you organize and understand the information it presents, this book is easy to read yet suitable for any expert in the leisure field. With case studies, research reports, and extensive bibliographies, it is a vital resource for destination managers, consultants, and teachers alike.

Stay up to date on international trends in convention tourism! Convention Tourism: International Research and Industry Perspectives is a thorough analysis of the industry's key markets, combining insightful articles with detailed case studies. Equally valuable as a professional handbook, research reference guide, and textbook, this comprehensive book includes an account of the history of convention tourism and its economic contributions, marketing and human resources analyses, global and regional developments, and research issues and challenges. Convention Tourism addresses issues critical to the three key regions of the convention and meeting industry--North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The book features a wide range of material from the top educators around the world, reflecting an international perspective befitting the industry's growing trend toward globalization. Convention Tourism also presents in-depth studies that focus on the United States, the Mediterranean, Australia, and Korea, and takes a look ahead at likely business, technological, and social trends that are likely to affect the convention industry in the coming years. Convention Tourism also examines: proposed economic impact assessment framework regional planning and development initiatives education and training programs from industry associations and universities research resources international meeting managementAs more and more international sites compete with traditional markets for lucrative convention contracts, it is crucial that professionals, researchers, and academics have a global understanding of the industry's past, present, and future. Convention Tourism is an essential overview of the mostimportant element of the business tourism industry.

Examine China's impact on the world tourism market! Tourism in China is a comprehensive study of tourism and the travel industry in China--past, present, and future. Since joining many of its Asia-Pacific neighbors in identifying tourism as a vehicle for socioeconomic growth and poverty alleviation, China has become the leader in the Asian travel industry, surpassing all forecasts with high and constant growth in international and domestic tourism activity. In fact, the World Trade Organization predicts that by 2020, China will become the world's leading tourism destination, receiving 145 million visitors. This timely book examines the diverse opportunities and challenges the country's tourism industry faces in meeting those projections. A unique, interdisciplinary guide that appeals to practitioners and academics, Tourism in China has been called "probably the most in-depth analysis of China's tourism industry" by the World Trade Organization's Dr. Harsh Varma. The book presents a collection of articles--scholarly in nature, comprehensive in scope--that serves as a significant (and much-needed) reference on Chinese tourism, though not including minority or border tourism, or the Hong Kong or Taiwan markets. The industry's historical development, its impact on the Chinese economy and ecology, and its current and future markets are examined extensively. Tourism in China also examines: the impressions of Western travelers in China during the 19th century the tourism boom and its development since 1978 the development of ecotourism in China's nature reserves the effect of the tourism boom on the hotel industry the development of theme parks in China. With two-thirds of China's provincial governments committed to making tourism one of their pillar industries, it is essential that tourism professionals, academics, and students around the world have a thorough understanding of this leader in current and future world travel. Tourism in China provides a detailed look at how the country's tourism industry was built and how it will continue to expand. Helpful tables and figures, as well as a glossary of relevant terms, make the information easy to access and understand.

Containing original and previously unpublished theoretical and empirical studies, Consumer Behavior in Travel and Tourism will give professionals, professors, and researchers in the field up-to-date insight and information on trends, happenings, and findings in the international hospitality business arena. A great resource for educators, this book is complete with learning objectives, concept definitions, and even review questions at the end of each chapter. From this book, readers will understand and learn the needs and preferences of tourists and how to investigate the process of destination and product selection to help provide customers with products and services that will best meet their needs.In today's highly competitive business environment, understanding travel behavior is imperative to success. Consumer Behavior in Travel and Tourism brings together several studies in one volume, representing the first attempt to explore, define, analyze, and evaluate the consumption of tourist and travel products. This guide offers essential research strategies and methods that enables readers to determine the wants and needs of tourists, including: discussing and evaluating the main factors that affect consumer behavior in travel and tourism, such as travel motivation, destination choice, and the consequent travel behavior exploring the various decision-making processes of consumers that leads to consequent destination choices through case study analysis and marketing suggestions determining customer expectations of products through a variety of research techniques in order to find ways of improving satisfaction examining selected research tools, such as product positioning and repositioning and using perceptual maps, to evaluate the market implications of using qualitative and/or quantitative research techniques detecting and analyzing the relative roles individual, environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic factors play in choosing travel destinations Full of detailed charts and graphs, Consumer Behavior in Travel and Tourism illustrates key points to give you a better understanding of important facts and findings in the field.

Improve your hospitality and tourism research abilities with this impressive collection of research methods The Practice of Graduate Research in Hospitality and Tourism assists you in gaining insight into different facets of research design, conceptual development, research methods, and conclusions drawn from research in hospitality and tourism. As a professional, researcher, or graduate student in the hospitality and tourism field, you will benefit from this collection of chapters that represent examples of research trials conducted by graduate students in hospitality and tourism and are selected on the basis of the originality of the students'concepts, research methods, and interest of the work to graduate students. This informative volume will provide you and your students with up-to-date and effective ideas for researching topics within the field of hospitality. The Practice of Graduate Research in Hospitality and Tourism is an excellent supplemental textbook for research methods classes in graduate hospitality and tourism programs. The wide variety of chapters will stimulate discussions on research in hospitality and tourism from conceptual, secondary data, and primary data approaches. Some of the research articles you will explore in The Practice of Graduate Research in Hospitality and Tourism are based on different statistical techniques, research designs, and trends of subjects. Topics include: selecting service-oriented employees based on person-organization fit measuring the effectiveness of advertising on the Internet examining factors that affect food expenditures of U.S. tourists when they are away from home explaining the competitive structure of Japanese travelers'overseas destination plans determining the motivational needs of managers in the on-site foodservice segment providing adequate education on HIV and AIDS in the workplace for hospitality managers identifying influential variables of employee turnover in the food and beverage industryThe Practice of Graduate Research in Hospitality and Tourism serves as an important forum for initiating research and new ideas internationally. The carefully selected chapters of this essential text will provide you and your students with suggestions that will improve research competency as well as hospitality services to patrons.

International Hospitality Business: Management and Operations will introduce hospitality managers to the most up-to-date developments in hospitality to prepare you for the rapidly changing world of international hospitality. This book is a compilation of the most current research in global operations. It examines new developments, new management concepts, and new corporate mergers. International Hospitality Business analyzes and discusses the complexity of the political, economic, financial, commercial, and cultural environment within which international business takes place to help you become a productive global manager. Through International Hospitality Business, you will learn how an effective global hospitality manager must have a broad trans-disciplinary perspective that includes studies in politics, culture, and geography to better prepare for the complexity of international operations. Expand your knowledge of how to deal with the issues that confront hospitality firms and managers in international development and operations by: understanding the great demand for competent managers to oversee operations in foreign countries because of the explosive growth of the international hospitality industry exploring the complex issues faced by hospitality managers when they are assigned to work overseas gaining insight into international hospitality firms'policies regarding developmental strategy, organizational structure, marketing, finance, accounting, and human resource management recognizing the international hospitality industry as an integral part of the service import and export business to help students gain a better understanding of managerial rolesWith The International Hospitality Business, you will examine world travel patterns, major hotel chains, and foodservice companies in different regions of the world to expand your knowledge and help you face the dynamic changing world of international hospitality. While this volume provides you with important, comprehensive knowledge that will help you manage the your overseas hospitality operations in a way that keeps the most important person in any business--the customer--contented.

Tourism is an extremely challenging business. Some strategies work phenomenally well sometimes and fail at others. You may be aware of the increased fragmentation of the consumer market and of the important role geography plays in tourist response but have difficulty finding a pattern to this without doing a lot of research. Geography and Tourism Marketing will provide you with diverse studies through which you will gain a better understanding of what excites and entices all types of consumers along with new strategies in your field to keep you up-to-date in the unpredictable business of tourism.Geography and Tourism Marketing is a compilation of greatly varied and valuable case studies and articles. In it you'll explore thought-provoking topics such as these: the World Wide Web as one of the most significant technological developments in travel and tourism marketing the advantages of understanding the impact that a tourist's country of origin has on small island destinations pinpointing problems in a specific business venture so you can avoid similar mistakes providing interactive maps to potential consumers through Geographic Information Systems determining the effectiveness of brochures reformulating and promoting a consistent image of a destination in order to better serve consumers the fast-growing market of nature travelers and how they can be targeted more effectivelyIn this book, you will get current information on the link between geography and tourism marketing, which is an important aspect in conquering market segmentation and improving tourism marketing approaches. You will see the necessity of acknowledging this connection and be prepared to respond to it when you read Geography and Tourism Marketing.