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The major impact of hotel industry on the environment has become a serious concern for both hoteliers and tourists, with many studies showing that tourists are having more and more expectations from hoteliers to implement environmental practices. Considering the fact that most hotel bookings are now made online through booking websites, it is important for these to show and manifest the same preoccupation with the environment, by promoting environmentally friendly initiatives. The aim of the present study is to emphasize the crossroads between sustainability and digitalization, and to increase the role of digital technologies in encouraging a sustainable development of all tourism sectors, including hospitality. The study provides information and identifies important elements to assess the environmental practices of booking websites. In order to identify the position that booking websites and platforms take towards the environmental practices, the filter section of four booking platforms is analyzed. The present study aims not only to analyze the current position of booking platforms towards the environment, but also to identify methods that improve the way they highlight their implemented environmental practices, based on tourist’ reviews. In order to identify the customers’ opinion regarding these types of practices, a total of 31,800 tourist reviews posted on Booking.com were analyzed. The results have indicated that the level of awareness related to the need of protecting the environment, in the case of both hoteliers and tourists, must increase aspects that also imply the need for booking websites to highlight and encourage environmental practices. The obtained results are useful for booking websites developers who can adapt and make the website’s interface friendlier regarding environmental practices. In addition, hotel managers and entrepreneurs can make use of these results in order to develop new types of business in the hospitality industry, and in the long run the results are useful for increasing the awareness among tourists of the need for environmental practices. Suggestions are made on how booking websites can involve themselves more in environmentally friendly initiatives and in potential future study subject discussions.
Diana Foris; Natalia Crihalmean; Tiberiu Foris. Exploring the Environmental Practices in Hospitality through Booking Websites and Online Tourist Reviews. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10282 .
AMA StyleDiana Foris, Natalia Crihalmean, Tiberiu Foris. Exploring the Environmental Practices in Hospitality through Booking Websites and Online Tourist Reviews. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (24):10282.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDiana Foris; Natalia Crihalmean; Tiberiu Foris. 2020. "Exploring the Environmental Practices in Hospitality through Booking Websites and Online Tourist Reviews." Sustainability 12, no. 24: 10282.
Destination management organizations have a key role to play in the governance of tourism destinations, in managing destination networks and in ensuring good cooperation between stakeholders. Although, destination management organizations (DMOs) are atypical organizations, their operations are evaluated according to their organizational efficiency and effectiveness. This study aims to propose a framework to improve the management of the tourist destination through an innovative approach that interconnects strategic management and Lean techniques to increase efficiency and productivity in operational processes, organizational efficiency and effectiveness at the DMO level. The framework developed in this study interconnects the analysis of the internal environment through the Value Chain and the Lean Six Sigma methods identified to be suitable for application in the management of the tourist destination. Testing of the practical application of this framework was done for Association for the Promotion and Development of Tourism (APDT), which is the DMO that ensures the management of the tourist destination of Brasov, Romania. The research contributes to the optimization of the processes at the DMO’s level. The framework developed in this study can be implemented by practitioners to improve the management of the tourist destination. The paper also offers future research directions.
Diana Foris; Adriana Florescu; Tiberiu Foris; Sorin Barabas. Improving the Management of Tourist Destinations: A New Approach to Strategic Management at the DMO Level by Integrating Lean Techniques. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10201 .
AMA StyleDiana Foris, Adriana Florescu, Tiberiu Foris, Sorin Barabas. Improving the Management of Tourist Destinations: A New Approach to Strategic Management at the DMO Level by Integrating Lean Techniques. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (23):10201.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDiana Foris; Adriana Florescu; Tiberiu Foris; Sorin Barabas. 2020. "Improving the Management of Tourist Destinations: A New Approach to Strategic Management at the DMO Level by Integrating Lean Techniques." Sustainability 12, no. 23: 10201.
The competitive environment increasingly forces tourism organizations to review, restructure and redirect activities in order to gain competitive advantage in the conditions of a sustainable tourism development. The concept of Lean Management, as a new philosophy, successfully applied in the field of increasing production’s efficiency, can be developed and implemented in services, tourism and hospitality as well as in tourism destination management organizations. On this project, a new methodology for tourism destination management is developed, based on Lean Management principles. Throughout a new approach, the research carried out in this study offers opportunities to increase the competitiveness of the tourism and hospitality industry by improving the management system and, implicitly, an efficient use of the tourism resources, increasing productivity and satisfying customer requirements by offering services and products with higher added value. By efficiently applying Lean tools and techniques, we rethink the system, we control and improve processes in the value chain in order to increase the performance. Therefore, we will create a user-oriented and interactive support framework that can be used by management to streamline the activity and the operations of the management organizations for the tourist destinations.
Diana Foris; Adriana Florescu; Tiberiu Foris; Sorin Barabas. Implementation of Lean Techniques in Destination Management Organizations. Blockchain Technology and Innovations in Business Processes 2020, 293 -303.
AMA StyleDiana Foris, Adriana Florescu, Tiberiu Foris, Sorin Barabas. Implementation of Lean Techniques in Destination Management Organizations. Blockchain Technology and Innovations in Business Processes. 2020; ():293-303.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDiana Foris; Adriana Florescu; Tiberiu Foris; Sorin Barabas. 2020. "Implementation of Lean Techniques in Destination Management Organizations." Blockchain Technology and Innovations in Business Processes , no. : 293-303.
The intervention of intermediaries in supporting collaboration for sustainability is considered an effective way to address the challenges faced by all parties involved in this type of commitment. Our paper includes several less frequently approached perspectives in this field of research and refers to the intervention of commissioning in supporting collaborative relationships with multiple stakeholders for sustainable territorial development. This paper proposes a model of structural and systemic development of commissioning at the national level, by specific geographical regions and development domains, and analyzes how commissioning structures intermediate the connection between multiple stakeholders, public authorities, and other relevant actors from different sectors of society, which mobilize resources to solve sustainability issues. The results show that the intervention of commissioning adds value to sustainability collaboration by providing stakeholders with an accessible and updated database specialized in development domains, where demands and offers for development resources can be managed safely, and the identification of the appropriate offer is carried out operatively through fast and secure computer systems able to create efficient and prompt connections. We believe that the model presented in the paper can be extended internationally to support global collaboration for sustainability, and we suggest further research in this direction.
Camelia-Cristina Dragomir; Diana Foriş; Aurel Mihail Ţîţu; Tiberiu Foriş. The Role of Intermediaries in Supporting Collaboration for Sustainability: A Model of Commissioning Intervention in the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Sustainable Territorial Development. Sustainability 2020, 12, 6769 .
AMA StyleCamelia-Cristina Dragomir, Diana Foriş, Aurel Mihail Ţîţu, Tiberiu Foriş. The Role of Intermediaries in Supporting Collaboration for Sustainability: A Model of Commissioning Intervention in the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Sustainable Territorial Development. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (17):6769.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCamelia-Cristina Dragomir; Diana Foriş; Aurel Mihail Ţîţu; Tiberiu Foriş. 2020. "The Role of Intermediaries in Supporting Collaboration for Sustainability: A Model of Commissioning Intervention in the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Sustainable Territorial Development." Sustainability 12, no. 17: 6769.
Diana Foris; Transilvania University of Brasov; Baiba Rivza; Maiga Kruzmetra; Ioana Sonia Comanescu; Tiberiu Foris; Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Agritourism in the context of sustainable tourism development. 21st International Scientific Conference "Economic Science for Rural Development 2020". Home Economics, Marketing and sustainable consumption, Integrated and sustainable regional development, New dimensions in the development of society. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleDiana Foris, Transilvania University of Brasov, Baiba Rivza, Maiga Kruzmetra, Ioana Sonia Comanescu, Tiberiu Foris, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Agritourism in the context of sustainable tourism development. 21st International Scientific Conference "Economic Science for Rural Development 2020". Home Economics, Marketing and sustainable consumption, Integrated and sustainable regional development, New dimensions in the development of society.. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDiana Foris; Transilvania University of Brasov; Baiba Rivza; Maiga Kruzmetra; Ioana Sonia Comanescu; Tiberiu Foris; Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. 2020. "Agritourism in the context of sustainable tourism development." 21st International Scientific Conference "Economic Science for Rural Development 2020". Home Economics, Marketing and sustainable consumption, Integrated and sustainable regional development, New dimensions in the development of society. , no. : 1.
This article addresses issues regarding the intention of responsible tourism to increase the accessibility of tourist destinations for children with disabilities and their families. The main objective of this research is to identify the barriers that families with disabled children confront during their touristic experiences and to find ways to diminish these barriers. In this respect, qualitative marketing research based on the focus group method was conducted. The research results revealed that the most important barriers faced by such families are attitude barriers, followed by physical barriers and a lack of information. Starting from these results, we proposed the higher involvement of national authorities and other stakeholders in strategies meant to decrease or remove the barriers faced by people with disabilities and their attendants in order to develop responsible tourism. Such strategies could firstly involve the development of a primary school curriculum by including educational programs that are meant to avoid attitude barriers. Secondly, other stakeholders could use new emerging technologies, such as virtual reality, to offer tourists the opportunity to experience some tourism products and places before they travel.
Alina Simona Tecău; Gabriel Brătucu; Bianca Tescașiu; Ioana Bianca Chițu; Cristinel Petrișor Constantin; Diana Foris. Responsible Tourism—Integrating Families with Disabled Children in Tourist Destinations. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4420 .
AMA StyleAlina Simona Tecău, Gabriel Brătucu, Bianca Tescașiu, Ioana Bianca Chițu, Cristinel Petrișor Constantin, Diana Foris. Responsible Tourism—Integrating Families with Disabled Children in Tourist Destinations. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (16):4420.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlina Simona Tecău; Gabriel Brătucu; Bianca Tescașiu; Ioana Bianca Chițu; Cristinel Petrișor Constantin; Diana Foris. 2019. "Responsible Tourism—Integrating Families with Disabled Children in Tourist Destinations." Sustainability 11, no. 16: 4420.
Ioana Sonia Comanescu; Diana Foris; Tiberiu Foris; Transilvania University of Brasov. Dimensions of the funding programmes for sustainable rural development in Romania. Economic Science for Rural Development 2019, 1 .
AMA StyleIoana Sonia Comanescu, Diana Foris, Tiberiu Foris, Transilvania University of Brasov. Dimensions of the funding programmes for sustainable rural development in Romania. Economic Science for Rural Development. 2019; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIoana Sonia Comanescu; Diana Foris; Tiberiu Foris; Transilvania University of Brasov. 2019. "Dimensions of the funding programmes for sustainable rural development in Romania." Economic Science for Rural Development , no. : 1.
Danut Tokar; Politehnica University of Timisoara; Diana Foris; Adriana Tokar; Tiberiu Foris; Transilvania University of Brasov. Sustainable development of disadvantaged regions by renewable energy sources integration. Economic Science for Rural Development 2019, 1 .
AMA StyleDanut Tokar, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Diana Foris, Adriana Tokar, Tiberiu Foris, Transilvania University of Brasov. Sustainable development of disadvantaged regions by renewable energy sources integration. Economic Science for Rural Development. 2019; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDanut Tokar; Politehnica University of Timisoara; Diana Foris; Adriana Tokar; Tiberiu Foris; Transilvania University of Brasov. 2019. "Sustainable development of disadvantaged regions by renewable energy sources integration." Economic Science for Rural Development , no. : 1.
Nowadays, the tourists increasingly prefer to plan their travels using online search engines, to the detriment of classical travel agencies. A well-designed and well-managed booking website can satisfy the tourists’ needs, whereas a less intuitive one can make them dissatisfied. The search engine developers cannot develop an effective and efficient booking website which satisfies the users’ needs, creates a favorable experience for them, and influences their intention to purchase, without understanding the users’ needs regarding the search engines attributes and features. This study applies a quantitative research, collects primary data, and investigates how booking websites can move from a basic to a sophisticated online presence. The aim of the analysis is to provide an insight regarding the tourists’ preferences and their interface needs, as well as the filters and the options that may help them find the most relevant results for the chosen destinations. The study develops a comprehensive performance evaluation model for booking websites using specific attributes and features of the tourism industry. This model includes usability and functionality dimensions that have been identified by analyzing six booking websites, three used at the international level (Booking, Priceline, and Hotwire) and three used only in Romania (Vola, Infoturism, and Carta), and correlated with the customers’ needs regarding booking websites and hotel website evaluation. The results are useful for booking website developers and can be used to adapt their user interfaces, making them far more user-friendly. Suggestions are made regarding how to improve the performance of booking websites and potential ways for future research are discussed.
Diana Foris; Alina Simona Tecau; Madalina Hartescu; Tiberiu Foris. Relevance of the features regarding the performance of booking websites. Tourism Economics 2019, 26, 1021 -1041.
AMA StyleDiana Foris, Alina Simona Tecau, Madalina Hartescu, Tiberiu Foris. Relevance of the features regarding the performance of booking websites. Tourism Economics. 2019; 26 (6):1021-1041.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDiana Foris; Alina Simona Tecau; Madalina Hartescu; Tiberiu Foris. 2019. "Relevance of the features regarding the performance of booking websites." Tourism Economics 26, no. 6: 1021-1041.
Gastronomic cultural heritage is part of cultural heritage. Under globalisation, individuals become increasingly interested not only in cultural heritage as a whole but also in its components, e.g. gastronomic heritage. Nowadays individuals are interested in such things as traditional foods, the techniques of preparing the foods and the traditions of consuming them. Individuals wish to see gastronomic traditions not only on a national scale but also a regional and even a local scale. Previous research studies conducted in Latvia focused on the progress of cultural heritage products as value and the introduction of such products by businesses in the rural areas of Latvia. Scientific cooperation opened up opportunities to study the phenomenon of a wider geographical space covering four countries – Poland, Lithuania, Romania and Latvia. The aim of this research stage: to identify an impact of information on the demand-supply balance of gastronomic heritage as a product in the market. The method of the research: a sociological survey (n = 1000 from Poland, Lithuania, Romania and Latvia; 285 men and 715 women) that was carried out during 2016. Despite the fact that the sample groups were not representative (did not reflect the views of the entire population), the obtained data and results of this analysis provided insight into the cultural issues under today’s circumstances through the population’s views. The results of the study strengthen the need for the modernization of the information system in order to promote rural viability.
Maiga Kruzmetra; Baiba Rivza; Diana Foris. MODERNIZATION OF THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY SIDES FOR GASTRONOMIC CULTURAL HERITAGE. Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development 2018, 40, 337 -347.
AMA StyleMaiga Kruzmetra, Baiba Rivza, Diana Foris. MODERNIZATION OF THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY SIDES FOR GASTRONOMIC CULTURAL HERITAGE. Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development. 2018; 40 (3):337-347.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaiga Kruzmetra; Baiba Rivza; Diana Foris. 2018. "MODERNIZATION OF THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY SIDES FOR GASTRONOMIC CULTURAL HERITAGE." Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development 40, no. 3: 337-347.
There is direct correlation between building powerful destination brands and the degree to which tourists and locals share the brands values. The massive penetration of the active population by Generation Y has generated a major shift in tourism marketing, based on the profile of this cohort. The members of Generation Y are very different from previous generations. The so-called “digital natives” share high technological proficiency; they like to share their skills; they are disloyal consumers; and they are affected by trends. In order to connect with members of Generation Y and to actively involve them into the life of tourist destinations, viral, participative, interactive, networked and versatile marketing techniques should be employed. This article introduces the Intelligent Solution for Brand Culturalization (CUBIS) Project, which is a collaborative research initiative that offers to Destination Management Organizations an innovative idea of how to connect the members of Generation Y with destination brands using information and communication technologies (ICT). The CUBIS Project aims to create emotional attachment with the brand values and supports the adoption of the brand by young locals and tourists. The CUBIS idea is flexible and highly adaptable to other destinations. The article uses exploratory qualitative research in the form of a case study.
Ralf Bochert; Laura Cismaru; Diana Foris. Connecting the Members of Generation Y to Destination Brands: A Case Study of the CUBIS Project. Sustainability 2017, 9, 1197 .
AMA StyleRalf Bochert, Laura Cismaru, Diana Foris. Connecting the Members of Generation Y to Destination Brands: A Case Study of the CUBIS Project. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (7):1197.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRalf Bochert; Laura Cismaru; Diana Foris. 2017. "Connecting the Members of Generation Y to Destination Brands: A Case Study of the CUBIS Project." Sustainability 9, no. 7: 1197.
Globalisation brings similarities into the entire life of society. The response to this process is focusing on the identity problems. The present research aim is to explore attitudes towards these processes. The tasks of the research are: 1) to estimate the similar and distinctive attitudes of awareness regarding cultural heritage in Romania and Latvia; 2) to identify the most important socialization process functions of cultural heritage in both countries. The qualitative and quantitative research methods have been used for various solutions in the process of the research: a survey (Romania – n = 373; Latvia – n = 327), analysis and synthesis; logical and abstract analysis, logical construction; data grouping and comparing. The surveys were carried out in the second half of 2015. The main conclusions of the research are as follows: the understanding of historical and socio- economic value of cultural heritage is an important feature of a society in the modern world regardless of a country’s location or the ethnicity of the society. The survey results revealed at least two explicit differences: in information channels where information on cultural heritage is acquired from and in shopping places for gastronomic cultural heritage products.
Laura Jeroscenkova; Maida Kruzmetra; Baiba Rivza; Diana Foris. Similarities and differences in the value manifestations and management of cultural heritage. Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development 2016, 38, 18 -27.
AMA StyleLaura Jeroscenkova, Maida Kruzmetra, Baiba Rivza, Diana Foris. Similarities and differences in the value manifestations and management of cultural heritage. Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development. 2016; 38 (1):18-27.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLaura Jeroscenkova; Maida Kruzmetra; Baiba Rivza; Diana Foris. 2016. "Similarities and differences in the value manifestations and management of cultural heritage." Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development 38, no. 1: 18-27.
Several challenges regarding the European tourism industry were recently identified at EU level which the experts of the European Commission tried to meet, thus formulating several priorities within the newest Tourism Action Framework: Stimulate long-term competitiveness in the European tourism sector, promote the development of sustainable and high-quality tourism, and consolidate the image and promotion of European tourist destinations. Due to the new generational context, information and communications technology ICT and innovation became keywords within the most recent European Tourism Policy. Considering the symbiotic relationship that exists at the European tourism level between sustainable development, innovative ICT solutions, and long-term competitiveness, the decision-makers in European destinations should focus on identifying innovative ways to implement the new Tourism Action Framework adopted by the European Commission, through ICT applications, in order to support long-term competitiveness achievement. Two such authentic proposals are formulated within the present discussion paper: the creation of a decision support system for the management of sustainable European destinations and the development of a trip-planner for quality-sensitive tourists based on an umbrella European certification/labeling system for tourism quality. There is still a fertile field in these areas and, therefore, more innovative ICT tools to support the long-term competitiveness of European tourist destinations can be developed.
Ray F. Iunius; Laura Cismaru; Diana Foris. Raising Competitiveness for Tourist Destinations through Information Technologies within the Newest Tourism Action Framework Proposed by the European Commission. Sustainability 2015, 7, 12891 -12909.
AMA StyleRay F. Iunius, Laura Cismaru, Diana Foris. Raising Competitiveness for Tourist Destinations through Information Technologies within the Newest Tourism Action Framework Proposed by the European Commission. Sustainability. 2015; 7 (9):12891-12909.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRay F. Iunius; Laura Cismaru; Diana Foris. 2015. "Raising Competitiveness for Tourist Destinations through Information Technologies within the Newest Tourism Action Framework Proposed by the European Commission." Sustainability 7, no. 9: 12891-12909.