The present study examines the relationship between the cash conversion cycle (CCC) and profitability in major service sectors in Greece, including hotels, education, healthcare, transfer—rentals, and information technology. Using financial data from 343 public limited companies for the year 2023, the research applies descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and ANOVA to evaluate how CCC components affect profitability, measured through return on assets (ROA). The results indicate that firms across all sectors maintain a negative CCC, suggesting efficient liquidity management, with the education sector exhibiting the most negative CCC due to upfront tuition payments. Additionally, the study finds a significant positive correlation between CCC and ROA, implying that firms with longer negative CCC values tend to achieve higher profitability. However, firm size, measured by total assets and sales, does not appear to influence CCC efficiency or profitability. These findings underscore the importance of industry-specific financial strategies and highlight the role of CCC optimization in enhancing financial performance. The study contributes to the literature on working capital management and provides practical implications for improving liquidity and profitability in service-oriented firms.

Purpose: This paper aims to offer new insights on how the adoption of contemporary international accounting standards can affect the financial performance of a hotel. It provides significant input for strategic decision making in property management, especially in countries where hotels properties are given a choice between different accounting standards.Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected from 3-, 4- and 5- star hotels in Greece, through primary research with questionnaires, filled by hotel financial managers. Greece was selected because hotels can choose between national and international accounting standards; therefore, the research could focus on actual factors beyond mandatory adoption.Findings: Microeconomic factors such as category or legal form of the hotel in combination with other factors can affect the perceived benefits of the selected accounting standards. Macroeconomic factors such as the overall tourism development of the destination also affect the perceived impact.Research limitations/implications: The research was targeted at hotel executives with knowledge and participation in decision making regarding accounting standards. This requirement limited the sample since all hotels do not have a financial manager position.Practical implications: The new knowledge can be utilized in property management as an element of hospitality strategic planning for improved assessment of anticipated effects resulting from the adoption of specific accounting standards.Originality/value: The research fills a gap in existing knowledge by introducing elements not previously examined; additionally, it expands previous knowledge from other sectors to hospitality and tourism, while verifying or rejecting past findings.

The purpose of this research is to determine, first, whether an auditor, by conducting a statutory audit of the company’s financial statements, can improve the company’s non-quantitative information quality, and, second, whether the six leading audit firms in Greece improve the non-quantitative information quality more than other, smaller audit firms. The data are primary, arising from the published financial statements for the period from 2019 to 2022 of 84 companies operating in the agricultural supplies sector. These financial statements were retrieved in January 2024 from the General Commercial Registry of Greece. We have reviewed the management reports of these companies to examine their compliance with Greek legislation requirements on non-quantitative information reporting, i.e., on the entity’s performance, business risk management, and environmental and labor issues. We note that non-quantitative information reporting is improving during the period 2019–2022, regardless of the auditor’s involvement. The average reporting scores of audited companies are higher than the corresponding scores of non-audited companies, so the auditors have significantly improved the non-quantitative information reporting. In addition, the reporting scores of companies audited by six leading audit firms are higher than the corresponding scores of companies audited by the other, smaller audit firms.

This study examines how individuals engage with smart city technologies (SCTs) through the dual roles of residents and tourists. Drawing on a new conceptual framework of affective-symbolic engagement, it explores not only adoption patterns but also users’ emotional responses and perceived inclusion. A quantitative analysis of 194 respondents reveals that while adoption rates are similar across roles, residents and tourists differ in usage routines, usability experiences, and sensitivity to symbolic cues. Tourists report more interface challenges and rely on third-party sources, while residents engage more with civic platforms. Age predicts usability barriers, but education does not significantly affect engagement. Emotional comfort and symbolic belonging are shaped less by demographic background and more by situational role and perceived design inclusivity. The findings extend smart city theory by incorporating role-sensitive, affective, and symbolic dimensions of digital engagement and support policies aimed at inclusive, human-centered urban technologies.