Hotel and Restaurant Administration
A Comparison Study of Female and Male Business Travelers' Preferences of Lodging Accommodations
This research project will examine the preferences of male and female business travelers in the selection of lodging accommodations and determine if there are significant differences between genders. Previous research of business travelers found that differences existed between female and male business travelers when rating business services and facilities. This study will administer the survey to a large sample of female and male business travelers. A goal of this study is to confirm the factors involved in the selection of lodging accommodations and to determine what differences exist between male and female business travelers. The researcher is seeking to conduct a nationwide survey of at least 1,000 business travelers. Questionnaires will be mailed to a selected sample of business travelers that belong to national business associations.
Sponsor: State of Oklahoma
PI: Gail Sammons
Hotel and Restaurant Administration Program
For the third year, a group of students from Otemae Business College spent 10 weeks on the OSU campus studying Hotel and Restaurant Management and English. This year, 22 Japanese students participated. Hotel and Restaurant Administration faculty had their first extended interaction with the students on a field trip to view foodservice at Remington Park and to visit historic Guthrie. A typical day found the students in the lab in Taylor's Dining Room learning service and in the classroom trying to master menu production. Students also enjoyed touring the Doubletree Hotel in Tulsa. The culmination of the experience for the students was preparing and serving a traditional Japanese meal to 55 guests in Taylor's Dining Room. While many students doubted their ability to "pull off" this function, the meal went well, and all the guests had a pleasant experience. The three years with the students of Otemae Business College have been a positive cultural experience for our faculty and the students.
Sponsor: Otemae College of Business
PIs: Ray Kavanaugh, Jim Anderson, Baker Bokorney, Sylvia Gaiko, and Jim Groves
Native American Community Based Employability Skills Demonstration Program
During the past year, the focus of the Employability Skills Program has been outreach and implementation. Delivery of seven training programs has been successfully completed as follows: Pawnee Summer Youth 1994--24 participants with 22 graduates, Tonkawa Summer Youth 1994--22 participants with 19 graduates, Pawnee Tribe Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) 1995--10 participants with nine graduates, Ponca Tribe JTPA 1995--14 participants with six graduates, Kaw Nation Education 1995--11 participants with 10 graduates, Otoe-Missouria Tribe Education 1995--12 participants and graduates, and Seminole Nation Summer Youth 1995--31 participants and graduates. All graduates of these programs are actively seeking work or have gone on to other educational avenues either in school or in the military service. The coalition is currently finishing the Pawnee and Ponca Summer Youth sessions and is working toward a full session at the Tonkawa Tribe.
In addition to implementation of the Employability Skills Program to our target population, the coalition is searching for other areas in which the program could be useful. One example is the Pawnee Tribe's use of the materials in a self improvement class specifically for women. Working with individuals outside the grant's target gender and age groups is allowing us to identify areas within the curriculum that require expansion or editing. We are currently working to update the curriculum and present it to the coalition in its final form during the final grant meeting. Although the grant period will expire September 30, 1995, the coalition is making plans to apply for non-profit status and continue working toward improving the quality of life for Oklahoma's Native American population through education and awareness.
Sponsor: Department of Health and Human Services
PIs: Ray Kavanaugh and Sylvia Gaiko
The Implementation of Quality Programs in Small and Medium Size Hotel Companies
The purpose of this research is to develop and implement a quality program for smaller hotel companies. A needs assessment was administered to determine program content. Results of the survey suggested training, both inter and intradepartment, should be the immediate focus of the program. A training program for both managers and employees was developed and is currently being implemented in individual properties. Future research will focus on employee selection, employee evaluation, and benchmarking activities.
Sponsor: State of Oklahoma
PIs: James L. Groves and Ray Kavanaugh
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