Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of the three dimensions of travel agents’ manager competencies – ability, motivation and opportunity seeking – on knowledge transfer and travel agents’ performance. In addition, the study investigates how employee’s absorptive capacity moderates the effects of managers’ competencies on knowledge received by the employees and moderates the effects of knowledge received by the employees on travel agents’ performance. Design/methodology/approach A positivist research philosophy was adopted with a quantitative approach, in which quantitative data were gathered based on questionnaires to tackle different stages of the study. To test the hypotheses, a self-administrated face-to-face survey of about 42 questions, launched on November 7, 2016, was used to compile response from top and medium management Category A travel agents operating in Egypt. Findings Based on a sample of 577 travel agents’ frontline employees, the results showed that the three dimensions of travel agents’ competencies have a positive effect on knowledge received by the employee. Findings further indicated that knowledge received by employee mediates the link between these three competencies and travel agents’ performance. The link between the competencies and knowledge received by the employee was found to be positively moderated by employee absorptive capacity. Moreover, these findings suggested that the relationship between knowledge received and travel agents’ performance is stronger when employees’ absorptive capacity is greater. Research limitations/implications This study is bound by certain limitations that also provide fertile grounds for further research. First, the study examined how an employee’s absorptive capacity moderates the effects of managers’ competencies on knowledge received by the employees and moderates the effects of knowledge received by the employees on travel agents’ performance. However, innovation as a dependent variable can be investigated. Second, one limitation is that the study is restricted to Category A travel agents only in Greater Cairo. Third, examining the antecedents of ability, motivation and opportunity seeking to transfer knowledge is also important. Practical implications It is important for travel agents, owners, managers and employees to acknowledge absorptive capacity as a critical component for organizations to sustain, grow and compete. Travel agents can also take steps to develop their employees’ absorptive capacity. Doing so would further enhance the success of knowledge, employees and travel agents’ performance. Also, travel agents’ top management has to ensure their employees’ absorbing knowledge, identifying and recognizing external knowledge, processing and understanding it, combining it with existing knowledge and applying the new knowledge to commercial ends. Hence, the development of absorptive capacity contributes to a travel agent’s achievement of competitive advantage. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by expanding the extant literature on knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity by investigating the influence of travel agents’ manager competencies – ability, motivation and opportunity seeking – for knowledge transfer in the Egyptian context. In addition, it investigates the direct effects of the three dimensions of travel agents’ manager competencies – ability, motivation and opportunity seeking – for knowledge transfer. Finally, the paper investigates how employee’s absorptive capacity moderates the effects of managers’ competencies on knowledge received by the employees and moderates the effects of knowledge received by the employees on travel agents’ performance

Purpose This study aims to examine the role of eco-label hotel engagement as a pathway to sustainable practices via scouting entrepreneurial resilience and orientation at highly ranked hotels in Oman. The authors developed and tested a novel model built on resilience theory, the theory of entrepreneurial orientation and the theory of reasoned action (TRA). Design/methodology/approach Data from 167 human resources directors, hotel managers and other employees were analyzed by partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Findings Results indicate a strong positive relationship between entrepreneurial resilience and entrepreneurial orientation. Entrepreneurial orientation significantly increased all eco-label strategies, but not all strategies enhanced sustainable tourism practices. High adoption of sustainability practices depended on core strategies related to awareness, benefits, reputation and necessity, but the cost was also an issue. Managers adopted sustainability practices if they were not perceived as costly, or when perceived as costly if they believed they would help them reduce operating costs. Practical implications Policymakers should assist hotel managers when the sector is hit by political events, natural disasters or health crises such as the current pandemic can bounce back and develop their resilience. Likewise, training and workshops can be organized to improve managers’ entrepreneurial mindset, which was found to be a precursor to favorable attitudes toward sustainability. Originality/value This study tests a novel model built on three theories: resilience theory, the theory of entrepreneurial orientation and the TRA by using PLS-SEM and fsQCA.

Localization has encountered substantial focus in academia as well as practice; however, scarce studies have empirically examined this theme within tourism-related sectors in Oman, including the aviation sector. That is why the purpose of this paper is to develop and test an integrated model of the key predictors and outcomes of successful localization within the aviation industry. It also evaluates the mediating role of knowledge sharing ability between human resources development (HRD) practices and localization as well as the moderating effect of organizational commitment on the link between localization and firm performance. This paper is based on primary data collected from 194 employees operating in the national aviation sector in Oman. Based on PLS-SEM, the results indicated that HRD practices (i.e., training, performance appraisal, and rewards) have a positive impact on expatriates' ability to share knowledge with national staff, and thus positively

This paper explores the factors potentially responsible for the overconsumption of office paper and estimates the adverse environmental and economic impact of overconsumption. Data were collected from the employees of selected higher educational institutions in Oman. Technical factors, workplace environment, printing preferences and lack of awareness were found the main cause of overconsumption. Environmental and economic impact of the paper was estimated from the actual amount of paper consumed using standard formulas from literature. The institutions have used 5,200 reams (13 tons) of 80gm A4 size paper in one year. The economic cost of the paper was 7,800 OMR (20,280 US$). The environmental impact estimated are: cutting of 312 trees, 73,970 Ibs of CO2 gas emission, 144,742 KWh of energy consumption, solid waste produced 29,614 lbs and 247975 gallons of water were wasted. Changing printing preferences, a significant amount of economic and environmental resources to the tune of 44.8% can be saved.

Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) were used to uncover the determinants of customers’ overall positive image of green hotels, which can affect behavioral intentions. A sample of 323 customers of 54 four- and five-star “green” hotels in the Sultanate of Oman were surveyed. The findings can explain the complex process shaping customers’ perceived image. The fsQCA analysis shows that the overall positive image of green hotels was driven by the interaction of two core conditions, environmental values and cognitive image, and one peripheral condition, low-carbon knowledge. Together, these factors are sufficient to form a favorable image of eco-hotels and could make a favorable affective image unnecessary. The PLS-SEM approach clarifies that this process takes place through an indirect mechanism wherein environmental values and low-carbon knowledge shape customers’ cognitive image, which then boosts the overall positive image of eco-hotels. Such comprehensive insights address the gap in the body of literature vis à vis the influence of customers’ psychological factors through cognitive and affective images. Theoretical and practical implications are examined.

Limited research has examined foreign direct investment (FDI) determinants within the tourism industry, particularly in the MENA region. Thus, based on the internationalization framework of Dunning (Multinational enterprises and the global economy, Addison‐Wesley, 1993), this article aims to empirically investigate and compare the FDI determinants of the tourism industry in Oman and Egypt not only through the investors perceptive but more importantly through other stakeholders perspective such as experts in economy and tourism sector due to their vital role in decision making. It also examines the moderating role of investment environment on the relationship between the determinants and attractiveness of FDI. Further, PLS‐SEM was employed for data analysis purposes. The results revealed that resource‐seeking and efficiency‐seeking have a significant role in both countries. However, though market‐seeking was positive and significant in Egypt, it was found insignificant in Oman. Interestingly, the investment environment has a significant moderating role in both countries. The current study contributes to the literature by providing an obvious understanding of tourism FDI determinants with a special emphasis on the essential view of the related experts. It also presents a clear sight to tourism authorities on the essential factors that attract FDI in tourism.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of stress factors on entrepreneurial failure and to examine the relationship between prior entrepreneurial failure and future fear of failure. This study takes a novel approach by considering the moderating role of social support on this relationship. We employed the least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique to analyze the responses of 162 failed entrepreneurs in Oman. Our findings demonstrate that stress factors in all four dimensions (managerial and planning elements, working capital, competitive environment, and growth and overexpansion) have a significant impact on entrepreneurial failure. Moreover, the results reveal that prior entrepreneurial failure is positively related to fear of failure. However, social support has a crucial moderating effect on the relationship between prior failure and present and future failure-related anxiety, reducing the influence of prior entrepreneurial failure on entrepreneurs’ fear of failure. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of the antecedents and outcomes of entrepreneurial failure and offers practical implications for policymakers and practitioners seeking to promote entrepreneurship and reduce failure rates.

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