Research & News from Hong Kong Polytechnic University

SHTM Joins Hands with China Outbound Tourism Research Institute to Offer New Online Training Programme for the Chinese Outbound Tourism Market

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI) are joining hands to offer a new online training programme – the China Tourism Training (CTT). Aiming to become the Global Standard training in Chinese outbound tourism market, the CTT will offer five different tracks for tourism service providers. To read the full article go to: https://bit.ly/2VzSPUR

PolyU Study Finds The State Isn’t That Great

Types of ownership can be crucial determining factors in hotel firm performance. Indeed, domestic and international institutional shareholders have different effects on the performance of hotel firms in China, according to Dr Henry Tsai of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and his co-researchers. In a recent study, the researchers found that firms with high levels of state ownership performed poorly in terms of future growth potential, but the effects of domestic and international shareholders were rather more complex. To read the full article go to: https://bit.ly/30S8Zbb

What Price Loyalty?

Loyalty programmes have long been a feature of the hotel sector, but little evidence has traditionally supported whether they represent an operationally and financially beneficial form of investment. Yet a recent study by Dr Dan Wang of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and her co-researchers provides strong evidence that hotels are justified in making such investments and provides suggestions for how hotels can further capitalise on the benefits. To read the full article go to: http://bit.ly/2Luv6PT

When Beauty Signifies Quality

When making hotel bookings online, potential guests’ expectations of service quality are influenced by the aesthetics of the hotel’s website, according to Dr Ksenia Kirillova and Ms Janelle Chan of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In a recent experimental study the researchers manipulated the level of attractiveness portrayed by a hotel website’s photos to examine how aesthetics influenced perceptions of quality and intention to book. Their results provide important insights into how hotel managers can use visually attractive images to stimulate positive perceptions of quality and thus increase bookings. To read the full article go to: https://bit.ly/2GBa9PS

Surviving the Air Travel Stress Test

Differences in airline passengers’ profiles account for some of the differences in their levels of tolerance toward other passengers’ unruly behaviour, according to a recent study. Mr Steven Tsang, Dr Lorenzo Masiero and Dr Markus Schuckert of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University asked travellers to assess how acceptable they considered different types of anti-social behaviour, and then investigated whether the level of acceptability differed among travellers of different types and cultural background. The findings provide helpful information that airlines can use to minimise the effects of unruly behaviour on other passengers. To read the full article go to: https://bit.ly/2L8w6aj

PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management celebrates its splendid 40 years

Legendary hotelier P. R. S. Oberoi honoured with SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) celebrated its “Splendid 40 Years” by hosting a gala dinner at Hotel ICON, the SHTM’s world-class teaching and research hotel, on 20 September 2019. Close to 400 guests from around the world attended the occasion in celebration of the School’s 40th anniversary. To read the full article go to: https://bit.ly/2kvNRaj

Why Seek the Good Things in Life?

The motivations of Chinese luxury travellers are not very well understood, and little studied, but with persistence they can be determined. Having reviewed the literature on the topic in a recently published study, Ph.D. student Elaine Yulan Zhang and Dr Tony Tse of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University argue that “a subset of relatively wealthy Chinese luxury travellers” are driven by the desire for “status, interpersonal relationships, relaxation and hedonism, self-improvement and perfection”. These may seem incompatible with traditional Chinese Confucian values, but by examining the motivations behind the desire for luxury the researchers explain how such values shape the differences between Chinese and other luxury travellers. With such information in hand, tourism practitioners will be much better able to understand this under-researched market segment. To read the full article go to: https://bit.ly/2mBYpoW

Restaurateurs Insights Await!

Restaurateurs will finally have the opportunity to gain comprehensive insights into tourists’ dining preferences and behaviour through analysis of online reviews thanks to a ground-breaking study by Professor Rob Law of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and his co-researchers. Having developed a data-mining framework to analyse more than 40,000 reviews of restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, the researchers reveal a range of tourist preferences and suggest that their method could be extended to other areas of tourism. To read the full article go to: https://bit.ly/34a4hGE

PolyU and University of Surrey Sign an Agreement on Joint PhD Programme Framework

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the University of Surrey (Surrey) have forged a partnership to offer Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes that will allow doctoral students from various disciplines to attain a dual PhD from both institutions. The first programme will be launched in the research fields of hospitality and tourism, with further programmes to follow in other disciplines. To read the full article go to: https://bit.ly/2C8Gb33

Let Tourists Hanker for the Good Old Days

Film-lovers’ nostalgia can very effectively maintain the profile of destinations that have served as film locations, according to Professor Sam Kim and Professor Brian King of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In a recently published study focusing on Taiwanese fans of Hong Kong films, the researchers highlight that there is increasing eagerness to step into the shoes of favourite film stars and visit places they have only witnessed on screen. However, film tourism of this kind brings both challenges and opportunities: with new blockbusters released every day, memories of older films can quickly fade. The researchers suggest that understanding just what drives nostalgia-based film tourism will help destinations overcome potential obstacles to this growing market segment. To read the full article go to: https://bit.ly/2KS1874

For any questions contact

Kelly Wang
kelly.wang@polyu.edu.hk

School of Hotel and Tourism Management
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University