Assignment
You will also want to review the following articles:
1. Hotel industry targets Priceline and Expedia's 'duopoly' by Natalia Wojcik.
2. How Economic Impact of Theme Parks Creates Revenue-Generating Thrill Ride for US by Robert Caston.
Discussion Question 1- Online Travel Sites
The popularity of online travel sites like Expedia have grown tremendously over the years. What are your thoughts on those sites after reading the text and articles this week? Are they good for the consumer? How is the industry reacting to those sites (e.g. hotels, airlines, etc.)? Do you see the services and tactics being used by hotel companies like Hyatt and Hilton being successful in wining direct business back vs. relying on online sites like Expedia? Why or why not?
Discussion Question 2- Importance of Gaming
Is gambling or gaming really important to tourism? Best examples? What are the social and economic conditions in the U.S. which have brought about the rapid growth of gambling? Evaluate the relationship of Native Americans to the gambling industry. What other types of entertainment are usually found in gaming resorts?
Discussion Question 3- Travel Attractions
How important are attractions to the travel industry? List some of the major categories of attractions. Are there other attractions than those listed in the introduction? Is a great city an attraction in itself? Examples? Where would one look for the oldest human-built attractions?
Discussion Question 4- Wholesaler Tours
Explain the operational patterns of tour wholesalers. How do they market their tours? Does a wholesaler always operate the tours they sell through retailers? Can retailers operate tours? What impact do wholesaler tours have on tourism in the area they operate? Would you ever be interested in being a wholesaler of tours? If yes, where and why?
Discussion Question 5- French Style in the US
Early New York City hotels offered French service. Explain this type of service. What is table d' hotel service? What is common in the U.S. today? What about other countries? Are there other influences in the U.S. today from other countries? If yes, which and why do you think they are successful?
Discussion Question 6- New Construction
What are the prospects for new hotel construction in the countries of Eastern Europe and states of the former Soviet Union? For construction in China and India? How does this differ from prospects in the United States or France? If you were selecting a country to develop a new hotel resort, which would you select and why?
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.