Hotel and Lodging Research
Insider – New York City is enforcing a ‘de facto ban’ on Airbnb. Will travelers be better off without it?
Airbnb isn't fun anymore and new rules only make it worse... New York City's new requirement that a host is on-site will likely deter potential Airbnb customers, according to Makarand Mody, BU SHA associate professor of hospitality marketing. "Nobody wants a host in there," professor Mody told Insider. "I think over... More
USA Today – Some Hilton hotels to bring back daily housekeeping. See how other hotel policies compare
Hotels have been adjusting their housekeeping policies post-COVID-19 lockdowns, with various brands shifting toward an opt-in model that provides daily housekeeping only to guests who request it. At least one operator is reversing course. Hilton will begin offering automatic daily housekeeping at its luxury, full-service, lifestyle brands as well as its Embassy Suites hotels... More
BU Today – The Pandemic Changed How We Eat, Travel, Tip. Now Things Are Changing Again
It wasn’t all COVID’s fault, but the pandemic profoundly changed how we eat, travel, and even tip—it upended the entire hospitality business. When the pandemic started in March 2020, hospitality, like a lot of other industries, all but stopped. People stayed home, didn’t travel for business or pleasure, and didn’t eat... More
[The Points Guy] Professor Leora Lanz on Why Luxury Trains are the Next Stop for some Luxury Hotel Brands
You have more than Agatha Christie to thank if you immediately think “Orient Express” when someone brings up the notion of luxury train travel (preferably sans murder). The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express still runs today thanks to travel company Belmond (formerly known as Orient Express Hotels). The luxury train operates between a variety... More
![[Elsevier] Dr. Makarand Mody, Ph.D., Publishes an Article Exploring Effects of Airbnb on Non-hosting Residents](/hospitality/files/2021/07/Website-Images-2-1200-x-700-px.png)
[Elsevier] Dr. Makarand Mody, Ph.D., Publishes an Article Exploring Effects of Airbnb on Non-hosting Residents
Dr. Makarand Mody, Ph.D., recently published an article in the Tourism Management Perspectives journal exploring the effects of Airbnb on non-hosting residents. The article, "Does Airbnb impact non-hosting Residents' quality of life? Comparing media discourse with empirical evidence," shows that despite the media's portrayal of Airbnb disrupting residents' quality of... More
A Segmented Machine Learning Modeling Approach of Social Media for Predicting Occupancy Demand. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
By: APOSTOLOS AMPOUNTOLAS, Ph.D. Abstract Purpose This study aims to predict hotel demand through text analysis by investigating keyword series to increase demand predictions’ precision. To do so, this paper presents a framework for modeling hotel demand that incorporates machine learning techniques. Design/methodology/approach The empirical forecasting is conducted by introducing a segmented machine learning approach... More
Conveying Hotel Cleanliness During COVID-19 Crisis
By Suzanne Bagnera Abstract For hotel housekeeping, COVID-19 has become a showstopper, and not the good kind! Traditional guestroom cleaning programs fall shy of the hygiene standards required amidst COVID-19. The inflow of guests from around the world elevates the risk of contamination in hotels. Exacerbating that risk is that fact that... More
Postcrisis REIT performance using financial ratios: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach Tourism Economics
By: APOSTOLOS AMPOUNTOLAS, Ph.D. Abstract This study examines the performance of public lodging real estate investment trusts (REITs) following the financial crisis period from 2013 to 2017. We employed data envelopment analysis, a nonparametric technique based on linear programming, to measure performance. Determinants of efficiency were assessed by a set of financial... More
Active Learning to Improve Self-Confidence and Decision-Making Skills Through the Use of Hotel Simulation
By: APOSTOLOS AMPOUNTOLAS, Ph.D. ABSTRACT This study evaluated the use of hotel simulation learning and how it promotes users’ confidence as a decision-making tool. Given the challenges of preparing students for the service industry, it enables them to make hypothetical decisions based on real-life scenarios. The perceived learning experience can enhance students’... More
The Airbnb paradox: Positive employment effects in the hospitality industry
By Makarand Mody Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which Airbnb supply affects employment in the hospitality, tourism, and leisure industries. Accordingly, we analyzed the effects of Airbnb supply on various sectors in the hospitality, tourism, and leisure industries in 12 major metropolitan statistical areas in... More