Browsing by Person "Hay, Brian"

Now showing 1 - 17 of 17

A review of the constraints,limitations and success of Homecoming Scotland 2009
(UIniversity of Strathclyde Business School, 2010-06) Morrison, A.; Hay, Brian
The aim of this review is to provide insight and analysis of a government tourism initiative within the geographic context of Scotland. It highlights the centrality of public-private partnership and the catalytic role of key government agencies in channelling investment, energies, events and marketing effort for a nationally focused tourism theme of Homecoming Scotland 2009 (HS09). The review also delves below the public relations veneer of many such activities to uncover the political debates and controversies, and the wider issues that may have detracted from the degree of success achieved by the initiative. Given that, the initiative was concluded only within the last few months and has still to be fully evaluated; it is only possible to draw tentative conclusions on the projects outcomes for tourism destination marketing and management in general. The longer-term impacts of HS09 such as repeat visitation and changes in the perception of Scotland will take a number of years to monitor, and only then will we be able to assess the legacy benefits of HS09.
An Exploratory Study Engaging Ethnic Diaspora Populations Through Homecoming Events to Motivate Tourist Arrivals
(2012) Goldblatt, Joe J.; Hay, Brian; Riddle, P.
Behind the Curtain: Guest Suicides in Hotels and Tourist Attractions
(2011-02-08) Hay, Brian
There is an unwillingness by managers and owners in the tourism industry to acknowledge that suicides take place on their premises, and this along with the industry's reluctance to recognise that their guests' emotional baggage is not discarded at the entrance to tourism premises, has limited the exploration of suicides in hotels and attractions as a research topic. The aim of this paper is to investigate suicides by tourists at hotels and tourist attractions, with the objectives of: (1) exploring the impact of suicides on housekeeping staff, (2) discussing the management's responses to suicides, and (3) investigating whether design changes to the physical and service environment could prevent suicides. Following a literature review of suicides in both hotels and tourism attractions, a postal survey of housekeeping staff, along with in-depth interviews with their managers in two capital cities was undertaken. The paper concludes that, while some changes could be incorporated in the design of facilities, from a human resources perspective there is a clear need to better understand the impact of suicides on staff both directly and indirectly involved, and that more pre and post suicide staff training and support could be provided. However, because of the anonymity provided by tourism facilities they will always be attractive to those who are intent on committing suicide. The paper concludes by outlining some areas for possible further research, particularly in order to gain a better understanding of the motivation for such acts on tourism premises, and their psychological impact on staff.
Breaking Up is Hard to Do! The Future of Tourism in Scotland Under Different Possible Political Options
(European Tourism Futures Institute, 2013-12) Hay, Brian; European Regional Development Fund, Northern Netherlands Provinces Union,
No matter how the people of Scotland vote in the independence referendum, the management of tourism in Scotland will change and the implications of this vote will be felt throughout Europe. As the demand for devolved political powers grow, there is likely to be a concurrent move to devolve the management and marketing of tourism from national tourism organisations, to more regional based tourism organisations. The emergence of such regional based tourism organisations is likely to result in them forming more powerful political groupings to lobby against European Union wide rules that may restrict them from developing stronger regional products. The free movement of people and goods within the Europe Union may become more difficult, as more regional policies are developed. The future of two key European policies, the Euro and a passport free common travel area, may also be questioned. The private sector may welcome the development of more regional tourism organisations, as they may be more responsive to their priorities.
Checking Out: Hotels as Places for the End of Life
(2014-02-10) Hay, Brian
This paper explores through an indirect approach why some people chose to die in a hotel rather than at home, in a hospice or a hospital. Through in-depth interviews with hotel managers and junior staff at four luxury city hotels, this issue was explored from the perspective of ordinary people, all of whom had some kind of long-term relationship with the hotel where they died. The hotel staff suggested that the reasons why some people choose to die in a hotel include loneliness, fear and to minimise emotional distress for their friends and relatives. The impact of managing such guests is investigated and shows that, although managers do care about the impact on the reputation of the hotel, they, along with their staff, are very much affected emotionally by these types of deaths. The suggestion emerged from the interviews that, with an ageing population, perhaps in the not-too-distant future the 'hospice hotel' could re-emerge as a tourism product.
From a medical tourism hospital to a National Health Service hospital in eight easy years! A case study of the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland
(Queen Margaret University, 2010) Hay, Brian
The aim of this paper is to outline how and why a private-sector, purpose-built hospital designed to attract overseas medical tourists to Glasgow in the early 1990s, did develop into a centre of medical excellence - but one wholly owned and managed by the National Health Service Scotland (NHS Scotland), as a Special Health Board Hospital and not as a centre for medical tourism.
From A Medical Tourism Hospitality to a UK Public National Health Service Hospital in Eight Easy Years
(IMTJ, 2011-07) Hay, Brian; Boterill, David
Considering investing in a medical tourism venture? Planning the next healthcare city? Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. This is a story of a medical tourism 'white elephant' that became an NHS hospital.In the early 1990s, a private-sector, purpose-built hospital designed to attract international medical tourists to Scotland did develope into a centre of medical excellence - but one wholly owned and managed by the National Health Service in Scotland (NHS), and not as originally intended as an international centre for medical tourism.
From Leisure to Pleasure: Societal Trends and Their Impact on Possible Future Scenarios for UK Rural Tourism in 2050
(2013-01-23) Hay, Brian
With the relative recent growth of rural tourism, there is a need to understand better both the long-term societal changes along with possible future advances in technology, to ensure that rural destinations are more aware of their consumer's future tourism expectations. Existing future rural tourism studies tend to focus on the relatively short-term (in terms of future studies timescales) and often assume that the future will be a reflection/extension of today, and lack any understanding of how possible future scenarios options may influence the future development of rural tourism. The objectives of this study are 1: To explore the major social trends that are likely to influence the future of rural tourism in the UK by 2050, and 2: To examine two possible rural development scenarios resulting from such trends. Through an exploration of both futures and tourism futures literature, a number of issues will be developed over two periods: the near and to some extent the known future scenario (next 10-20 years) and the far future scenario (20-40 years). The debate/discussion about these scenarios is framed within the context of both societal trends and future technology developments and their possible impacts on the rural tourism recreation experience. In terms of the future of rural tourism, there is likely to be a shift from functional leisure activities such as walking/hunting to experience/pleasure focused activities. We may also see the development of segregated/ protected/exclusive rural tourism areas that are only available to elite tourists who can afford to pay for the experience. For the great majority of tourists, driven by land use conflicts, labour and land shortages, they may expect to see an increase in the use of technology to deliver the future rural tourism experience, but this rural experience may be in an urban environment.
From Leisure to Pleasure: The Future of Sexual Services in Hotels
(2011-11) Hay, Brian
This paper reviewed the future development and use of robots in hotels, both for service and sexual functions. A number of futurists have explored the use of robots in hotels, and their ideas were tested through two focus groups of hotels managers, based in two city regions in Scotland. In these groups, the hotel managers explored the feasibility of using robots, and discussed their operational concerns about guests using robots for sexual functions.
Future Timelines for the Extinction and Adpotion of New Technology in Hotels with Particular Reference to the Future Use of Service and Sexual Service Robots: A Manager's Perspective
(2012-02) Hay, Brian
Hotels have always been quick to adopt emerging technology; last century it was elevators, telephones and television, today it is wi-fi, ipad docks and adult movies. Through two focus groups of hotel managers, three scenarios were explored: the extinction of existing technology in the known future (next 10 years), the adoption of emerging new technology in the foreseeable future (10-20 years) and in the far future (20+ years) the emergence of advance technology, particularly in the provision of robots. The study explored the likelihood of robots providing a more active role in hotels in the future, by undertaking functions such as front office services, but it also investigated possible future use of sexual service robots, and the challenges this will present to hotel managers. The study concluded that service robots in hotels might become common, while the provision of sexual service robots will be a niche market, constrained by the norms of society.
Introduction: Social media special issue
(Cognizant Communication Corp, 2013-10) Backer, E.; Hay, Brian
Political Intervention in a National Tourism Event: The Politics of Homecoming Scotland
(2012-02) Hay, Brian; Morrison, Alison
The aim of this paper is to provide insight and analysis into the politics of a government tourism initiative within the geographic context of Scotland. It highlights the catalytic role of key government agencies in channelling investment, energies, events and marketing effort into a nationally focused tourism theme: Homecoming Scotland 2009 (HS09). The paper delves below the public relations veneer of many such activities to uncover the political debates and controversies that may have detracted from the successes of the initiative.
The development, rationale, organisation and future management of public sector tourism in Scotland
(University of Strathclyde, 2011-03) Frew, Andrew J.; Hay, Brian
The Use of YouTube as a Tourism Marketing Tool
(Travel & Tourism Research Association, 2011-06) Reino, Sofia; Hay, Brian
YouTube started as a social media tool, but is now evolving into a marketing communications tool. The aim of this paper is to investigate the use of YouTube as a tourism-marketing tool from the viewpoint of tourism organizations and tourists. Developing its theoretical base from the perspective on how tourists recognize images, a review of 320 European tourism videos on YouTube concluded that many organizations failed to understand that media produced for traditional marketing outlets (TV, cinema) cannot be transferred directly to YouTube. The study also highlighted the growing power of the individual consumer in tourism marketing, as reflected in the dominance of tourism videos produced by real tourists rather than by official tourism organizations. The study concluded that while YouTube was useful as a promotional/ communications tool, more research is required to understand how the YouTube generation filter, select and use tourism information in their trip planning. The
Twitter Twitter - But who is listening? a review of the current and potential use of Twittering as a tourism marketing tool
(Queen Margaret University, 2010) Hay, Brian
This paper investigates the use of twittering as a tourism marketing, tool from the perspectives of destination marketing organisations (DMO), hotels and the consumer. Twittering is a social networking tool and, as with all such tools - especially one that has existed only since 2006 - its use is still evolving. This study had initially two objectives: to review the current use of twitter by DMOs and by hotels, but during the course of the research sufficient information was obtained from both these organisations to add a third objective, the perceived use of twittering by tourists. Using twitter as the survey instrument, in mid 2009 over 400 hotels and DMOs were contacted about their use of twitter as a marketing tool, both now and in the future. The results suggest that because twitter is the new kid on the social networking block and as its development is still evolving, both organisations and consumers are struggling to understand its full potential. Although it remains open as to twitter's effectiveness as marketing tool, two questions still remain - can a organisation be real friend, and the much bigger question - who is actually listening? The paper concludes that twittering provides a voice for the consumer to learn and to share common experiences, and outlines some issues that require further research.
VFR Travel in Practice: Case Studies from Victoria, Australia
(2014-02) Hay, Brian; Backer, Elisa
Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel has been highlighted through previous research as being historically ignored and underestimated by both researchers and tourism marketing practitioners. However, a new wave of research may be encouraging an awakening in industry circles as to the economic, social and political benefits. Through three case studies in Victoria, Australia of successful VFR marketing campaigns, the reasons why practitioners have developed such marketing campaigns dedicated to reach and optimise their VFR travel 'market' are discussed. In addition, the rationale for such campaigns, and their associated marketing activities along with the measures used to judge their effectiveness are explored. The conclusions outline the common themes and issues from the three case studies, and in particular highlight the need for the campaigns to provide economic, social and political benefits.
What's in a name: a review of popular new words to describe holidays - a clever marketing ploy or a pointless waste of time?
(Queen Margaret University, 2010-02) Hay, Brian
Traditionally, tourism classifications are based around the function of the trip, such as holiday, business tourism (including conferences, conventions, and exhibitions) and Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR). In one of the first major studies of the tourism industry Ogilvie (1933, p.75) suggested that 'a broad, unphilosophical antithesis is commonly drawn between business and pleasure tourism'. He also and noted that there are two main groups of tourists and eight main categories for foreign visitors: Wealthier Groups (Business Visitors, etc.) and Less Wealthy Groups (Seaman, etc.). By 1937 the League of Nations developed a set of four tourism categories: holidays, business, health and social purposes. In the early 1960s the International Union of Official Tourism Organisations (IUOTO, 1963) still used the terms as outlined by the League of Nations in 1937, with the addition of 'students'. In 1994, the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization officially endorsed a set of terms to classify tourism, which are in common use today (holidays, business, VFR, etc.).