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National and local governments are harmonizing the regional policies to enable balanced development of regions. Related research is questioning whether priority should be given to information and communication technologies in the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy in a regional level. The objective of this article is to find out whether ICTs have any impact on key tourism statistical performance indicators. Such an impact would justify the priority of ICT in regional policies. 2.181 tourism industry entities were checked for web presence; the region of the entity’s activity was recorded. The correlation between the on-line presence and the key statistical indicators was analyzed. Only 655 (30 %) are present on the Internet by a means of a web page. There is a strong positive correlation (τb=0,656, p

Background/Purpose: This paper explores how organisational values can help to understand the interlinks of hotel brands and their hotel rating. The study assumes that the importance of organisational values in the service sector represents one of the key components of both growth and development of an organisation. Methods: Conceptual content analysis was used on the dataset of organisational values found on websites of the top 100 European hotel brands. Advanced network analytic procedures were applied to identify clustered dimensions of organisational values among various hotel brands. Results: Results identified shared organisational values among hotel brands clustered into four predominant dimensions: entrepreneurial, stakeholders, moral, and tradition. The study confirmed wide content variability of organisational values within the hotel brand industry. Conclusion: The cluster analysis identified clusters of the most important words from values statements, concluding that hotel brands highly value “entrepreneurial” and “ethical” clusters. The island analysis approach on hotel brands’ level also reveals that organisational values in this sector are determined by many factors, including the scale and market positioning. Our study provides theoretical and practical implications to hotel brand strategists in order to better understand their current and desired sector position.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the content of hotel brands’ mission statements (MSs) and their relationship with selected attributes of hotel brands. Design/methodology/approach Content analysis of hotel brands’ MSs was used to detect the MSs’ key words, which were further processed by methods of social network analysis, complemented by clustering techniques and correspondence analysis on the generalized aggregated lexical tables, a special type of correspondence analysis. Findings Hotel brands operating in luxurious markets more often emphasize experiences than those in midscale markets. Furthermore, hotel brands with longer traditions and those with a large number of controlled rooms communicate words in their MSs that represent a rather traditional approach to hospitality. Younger hotel brands with fewer controlled rooms chose words that indicate a more commercially oriented approach. Finally, cluster analysis revealed four dimensions of hotel brands’ MSs, instead of the nine most typically used in mission statement component models. Practical implications Understanding the frequencies and networks of keywords, and their relationship with hotel brand attributes, will help create more focussed MSs. This will strengthen hotel brands, raise their revenues and subsequently increase company performance. Originality/value The analysis provides valuable insight into MSs in the specific tourism context of hotel brands. The authors have achieved this with the use of a wide range of advanced network analytic methods. These insights can guide hotel brands to better position themselves in the competitive tourism accommodation market.

Background and purpose: The importance of soft-skills that managers can use to promote job satisfaction of employees is well known. Previous research has shown several different ways how managers can influence job satisfaction of employees, mostly in the form of external factors. Very little research is available on internal factors. This led us to the following research question: How managers’ competencies influence job satisfaction of employees? Design/Methodology/Approach: We have performed a pencil-paper survey among employees in the hotel industry sector. The questionnaire asked respondents to evaluate the competencies of their supervisors; later, we asked respondents to evaluate what influences their job satisfaction, and, in the final part, we collected some demographical data. Results: The results show a weak, but still detectable, positive correlation between the competencies of managers and job satisfaction of employees in the factor that we have labelled “work itself”. We have not found any correlation between the competencies of managers and job satisfaction of employees with regard to working conditions or possibilities of career development. Conclusion: The competency of managers has an influence on job satisfaction of employees with regard to work itself. Although correlations that we have found are weak, they do exist, and have to be taken into account when it comes to discussing job satisfaction of employees. Managers who understand this core competency and promote it onwards to their employees will influence the job satisfaction of employees through this competency.

The current state of knowledge in this area is still alarming, and tour guides and tour managers need to get educated or educate themselves mostly about the symptoms and also about preventive measures. Here we also see the possibility for travel agencies or professional associations to participate and help raise the awareness of risks posed by certain common travelers' diseases.