Service robots have become a trend in hotel services, presenting new opportunities and challenges for the development of the hospitality industry. This study aims to explore how the perceptual attributes of service robots affect customer value co-creation intention in the luxury hotel industry. In China, Shanghai is the city with the most hotels from luxury brands and the city with the highest number of service robots deployed in luxury hotels. Currently, only 11 luxury hotels in Shanghai use service robots. Therefore, this study conducted an online survey of customers who have used service robots in these 11 luxury hotels in Shanghai. A total of 644 responses were collected from customers in luxury hotels in China who have used service robots through convenience sampling. Subsequently, the data underwent a validity analysis, and structural equation modeling was used to process the data. The results indicate that when service robots are perceived as possessing anthropomorphism, animacy, perceived intelligence, and perceived safety, they significantly enhance the customer hospitality experience. These attributes boost the enjoyment and trust customers feel when interacting with the robots, leading to greater engagement during the experience. Notably, likeability lacks significant impact on customer hospitality experience, suggesting that in luxury hotel settings, customers place more emphasis on whether robots possess practical attributes like intelligence and safety. Moreover, the customer hospitality experience serves as a significant mediator, implying the anthropomorphism, as the most critical attribute.
Актуальність. В умовах глобалізації та впливу кризових явищ, зокрема воєнного стану в Україні, питання підвищення продуктивності праці у готельно-ресторанному бізнесі набуває особливої актуальності. Сучасні виклики вимагають запровадження ефективних підходів до організації праці та управління персоналом, що довели свою результативність у світовій практиці. Впровадження міжнародного досвіду дозволяє посилити конкурентоспроможність підприємств сфери гостинності та забезпечити їхню стійкість в умовах невизначеності. Проблематика дослідження є важливою для розроблення дійових механізмів адаптації світових практик до національних особливостей ведення бізнесу. Метою статті є виявлення ефективних механізмів підвищення продуктивності праці на основі аналізу та адаптації міжнародного досвіду для потреб готельно-ресторанного бізнесу України. Для досягнення мети застосовано методи теоретичного узагальнення, аналізу та порівняння міжнародних практик, системного підходу, а також елементи кейс-методу для оцінки реальних прикладів впровадження іноземних моделей управління персоналом. Результати. У результаті дослідження визначено пріоритетні напрями вдосконалення організації праці, серед яких –застосування гнучких моделей зайнятості, розвиток корпоративної культури, активне використання нематеріальної мотивації та інвестування в безперервне навчання персоналу. Запропоновано конкретні механізми адаптації міжнародних підходів до українських реалій, що враховують економічні та соціальні особливості сучасного періоду. Висновки та обговорення. Висновки та обговорення одержаних результатів свідчать про доцільність інтеграції світового досвіду управління продуктивністю праці у вітчизняну практику готельно-ресторанного бізнесу. Новизна дослідження полягає у систематизації та обґрунтуванні ефективних зарубіжних практик з адаптацією до умов функціонування українських підприємств під час воєнного стану. Практичне значення результатів проявляється у можливості підвищення стійкості бізнесу, оптимізації трудових процесів і створенні основ для відновлення та розвитку сфери гостинності в післявоєнний період.
Hospitality industry. Hotels, clubs, restaurants, etc. Food service, Commerce
Rommena D. Glory, Grace T. Estrope, Shenna Rose L. Fontelara
et al.
The main purpose of this study was to assess the service quality of DOT-accredited travel agencies in Lucena City and to identify areas that required improvement to enhance customer satisfaction, thereby increasing their competitiveness and success. The study was anchored in the SERVQUAL theory proposed by Parasuraman et al. (1988), which expanded the understanding of service quality by categorizing it into five essential dimensions: tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy, forming the SERVQUAL model. The respondents of the study consisted of one hundred twenty-five (125) individuals, specifically customers who had availed themselves of the services of DOT-accredited travel agencies in Lucena City. The study employed probability-stratified sampling. The results revealed that DOT-accredited travel agencies in Lucena City performed exceptionally well in terms of service quality, exceeding customer expectations across all five SERVQUAL dimensions. Furthermore, the application of the SERVQUAL model indicated a highly positive customer experience, with high satisfaction levels reported in all dimensions.
Hospitality industry. Hotels, clubs, restaurants, etc. Food service, Recreation. Leisure
This study delves into the significant role of adventure sports activities in fostering the economic development of small regional economies. It focuses on the potential economic benefits of adventure sports in attracting tourists, creating jobs, and developing local businesses. The study particularly examines Bir, a town in Himachal Pradesh known for paragliding, to demonstrate how adventure sports can serve as powerful economic driver. The study also investigates how unclear and inconsistent regulations pose barriers to investment and growth in adventure sports destinations like Bir. It aims to identify the challenges that regulatory issues present and explore opportunities for economic growth through clearer and more consistent regulations. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of these issues, the study thoroughly reviews empirical evidence, survey data, and various articles and papers on the topic. The findings indicate that unclear regulations stifle investment, reduce participation, and create economic uncertainty, ultimately hindering the economic growth of regions like Bir. Based on these insights, the study provides actionable recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to address these challenges and promote sustainable growth in adventure sports destinations. The research aims to offer valuable guidance for fostering economic development through adventure sports tourism in small regional economies. Adventure sports significantly contribute to the economies of small regions by attracting tourists, creating jobs, and stimulating local businesses. These activities draw visitors who spend money on lodging, food, equipment rentals, and other local services, generating substantial revenue for the area. The influx of tourists also leads to the creation of various jobs, including guides, instructors, and hospitality staff, further strengthening the regional economy with a variety of new employment opportunities. Regional economics, which studies how geographical spaces influence economic activities, explores how spatial phenomena such as agglomeration economies and infrastructure development affect both private and social welfare. In the context of adventure sports, regional economics helps in understanding how the geographical features and infrastructure of a region can enhance or limit the economic benefits derived from these activities. Despite the potential economic benefits, unclear regulations and rules can hinder the growth of adventure sports. Ambiguous regulations can create uncertainty, stifle investment, and reduce participation, thereby limiting the economic potential of these activities. For example, inconsistent policies on when and where adventure sports can be conducted can deter tourists and investors, negatively impacting the local economy. This paper will explore how unclear regulations impede the economic potential of adventure sports in small regional economies. By examining specific case studies and analyzing the impact of ambiguous rules on various aspects of the adventure sports industry, we aim to uncover the challenges and opportunities for economic growth in this sector. Through a comprehensive review of relevant literature and empirical evidence, we will shed light on the implications of regulatory ambiguity and offer insights into potential solutions for maximizing the economic benefits of adventure sports in small regional economies. Adventure sports tourism has the potential to bring significant economic benefits to a region. According to a study by Buckley in 2012, adventure tourism can generate substantial revenue for local communities through direct spending on activities, lodging, meals, and transportation. Additionally, the introduction of adventure sports activities can attract investments in infrastructure such as roads, accommodations, and recreational facilities, contributing to further economic development (Pomfret & Bramwell, 2016). The study of regional economics examines how geographic space influences economic activities, emphasizing factors like agglomeration economies and infrastructure development. These factors impact the distribution of economic resources and activities within a region, affecting both private and social welfare. In small regional economies, adventure sports can have a significant impact by drawing tourists, creating job opportunities, and stimulating local businesses. The impact of adventure sports on regional economies is complex. On one hand, these activities can drive the development of infrastructure like roads, accommodations, and recreational facilities, benefiting the local economy. On the other hand, they can encourage agglomeration economies, with businesses and services congregating around popular adventure sports destinations, creating a center of economic activity. However, the economic benefits of adventure sports are not guaranteed and depend heavily on the management of spatial factors such as land use planning, transportation networks, and the preservation of natural resources. Effective regional planning can amplify the positive impacts of adventure sports, while inadequate planning can result in issues such as congestion, environmental harm, and social tensions. Adventure sports significantly impact small regional economies by attracting tourists and generating revenue. These activities can support local economies through direct spending on services like accommodation, food, and equipment rental, as well as through indirect effects like job creation and the stimulation of local businesses. For instance, in regions where adventure sports are a primary draw, local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and retail stores often experience increased demand, leading to higher employment rates and improved economic conditions for residents. Additionally, adventure sports can enhance the region's visibility and reputation, attracting further investment and development. Case studies from different regions highlight the positive economic impact of adventure sports. Malaysia, for example, has experienced substantial economic growth and increased tourist activity through hosting various sporting events, including adventure sports. These events attract international visitors, generate revenue, and stimulate economic activity in the host regions. However, the economic impact of adventure sports comes with challenges. The seasonal nature of many adventure sports can lead to fluctuations in economic activity, and the reliance on specific natural environments makes these regions vulnerable to environmental changes and degradation. Therefore, sustainable practices and strategic planning are crucial to maximize the economic benefits of adventure sports while mitigating potential negative impacts. Regulations play a crucial role in shaping the economic potential of adventure sports. Clear and effective regulations can enhance the safety, sustainability, and attractiveness of adventure sports, thereby boosting their economic impact. Conversely, ambiguous or poorly enforced regulations can hinder economic benefits by creating uncertainty, increasing costs, and discouraging investment. In the context of adventure sports, regulations encompass various aspects, including safety standards, environmental protection, land use, and business operations. Clear and consistent regulations can provide a stable environment for businesses and investors, ensuring that adventure sports activities are carried out safely and sustainably. However, unclear regulations can present significant challenges. Ambiguities in rules can lead to inconsistent enforcement, legal disputes, and increased costs for businesses. These issues can deter investment and limit the economic potential of adventure sports in small regional economies. For instance, in regions where regulatory frameworks are unclear, businesses may encounter difficulties in obtaining permits, navigating legal requirements, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. By combining insights from Buckley (2012) and Pomfret & Bramwell (2016), we can see how the management of spatial factors and effective regulations are critical for maximizing the economic benefits of adventure sports tourism. Proper planning and sustainable practices are key to overcoming the challenges and ensuring long-term positive impacts on regional economies.
The article presents a general overview and analysis of professional communicative competencies of employees of the tourism and hotel and restaurant sectors, with an emphasis on the importance of their maximum consideration in the management and marketing activities of enterprises. The specific features of tourism and hotel and restaurant business in the application of communicative competencies of personnel are proven, their differences from any other industries are due to the different nature of communications. The communicative competencies of personnel of three categories are analyzed – “first line”, focused on communicating with consumers when providing services, “second line”, which communicates mainly with partners and within the team, and management personnel. The key communicative competencies of “first line” personnel at different stages of the consumption cycle of the corresponding product are highlighted. A general overview and analysis of professional communicative competencies of employees of enterprises and establishments of the tourism (hotel and restaurant) sector, as well as individual “independent” service providers, is presented, with an emphasis on the importance of their maximum consideration in personnel policy and marketing activities. The specific features of tourism and hotel and restaurant business in the application of communicative competencies of personnel, their peculiar “exclusivity” and difference from any other industry, even within the socially oriented service sector, are proven, which is due to the provision of services (and, accordingly, the implementation of communications) in the process of moving in space with due consideration of all local natural, economic and linguistic and cultural differences, are provided. In the future, in-depth research in this area is possible, in particular, an analysis of the evolution of communicative competencies of employees of the tourism and hospitality sector during their career growth, or tracing differences in the application of professional communications at different stages of activity, with the formulation of relevant recommendations for their improvement, etc. Overall, the presented study is important for improving the quality of services (tourism, hotel, restaurant) in conditions of high competition among enterprises and destinations on the market.
Siti Aisyah, Herna Rizaldi, Eka Reni Noviati Wahyuni
et al.
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji peran mediasi nilai yang dirasakan dalam hubungan antara daya tarik rasional dan daya tarik emosional terhadap minat beli konsumen terhadap produk Samsung Galaxy melalui konteks iklan produk. Penelitian kuantitatif, pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui penyebaran kuesioner elektronik kepada 100 responden menggunakan teknik simple random sampling. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah masyarakat di wilayah Purwokerto yang pernah terpapar iklan Samsung Galaxy melalui berbagai media. Analisis data menggunakan metode Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa daya tarik rasional berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap nilai yang dirasakan, namun tidak memiliki pengaruh langsung yang signifikan terhadap minat beli. Nilai yang dirasakan berperan sebagai mediator penuh dalam hubungan antara daya tarik rasional dan minat beli. Sebaliknya, daya tarik emosional terbukti berpengaruh secara positif dan signifikan baik secara langsung terhadap minat beli maupun secara tidak langsung melalui nilai yang dirasakan, sehingga menunjukkan adanya mediasi parsial. Temuan ini mengindikasikan bahwa persepsi nilai berperan sentral dalam menjembatani pengaruh komunikasi pemasaran terhadap intensi perilaku konsumen. Implikasi konseptual dari penelitian ini memperkuat validitas Theory of Planned Behavior dalam konteks pemasaran. Secara praktis, hasil ini menegaskan pentingnya pengembangan strategi komunikasi pemasaran terpadu yang mampu mengombinasikan daya tarik informatif dan emosional secara seimbang. REFERENSI Aisyah, S., Rizaldi, H., Wahyuni, E. R. N., & Ferdianto, R. (2024). BAGAIMANA KENIKMATAN BERBELANJA ONLINE MEMPENGARUHI MINAT PEMBELIAN KEMBALI?. Neraca, 20(2), 126-136. Baheti, G., Jaim, R.K., Jain, N. (2012). The impact of advertising appeals on customer buying behavior. 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(2006). Green value: A new dimension of customer perceived values. China Industrial Economy, 7, 110–116. Yoo, A., Lee, B., & Park, C. (2010). Consumer behavior patterns in online shopping. Journal of Marketing Research, 47(3), 456–472. Zawisza, M., Pittard, C. (2015). When Do Warmth and competence Sell Best? The “Golden Quadrant” Shifts as a Function of Congruity with the Product Type, Targets Individual Differences, and Advertising Appeal Type, Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 37 (2): 131-141.
This study aims to explore the impact of the influence of financial ratios on financial distress with corporate governance as a moderation variable in tourism industry, hotel and restaurant service companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the 2019-2023 period. The method used in this study is purposive sampling from a total of 50 companies, where 23 companies were selected because they met the criteria that have been set. The analysis was carried out to involve multiple linear regression and moderating regression analysis (MRA) by utilizing the IBM SPSS Statistics 23 application as a tool for statistical and hypothesis testing. The financial distress variable was driven using the Zmijewski X-Score formula. The findings of the study show that return on equity (ROE) has a negative and significant influence on financial distress. Current ratio (CR) has a positive and significant influence on financial distress. Debt to equity ratio (DER) has a positive and insignificant effect on financial distress. In the moderation test, it can be seen that gender diversity does not positively moderate the effect of return on equity (ROE) on financial distress. Similarly, gender diversity does not positively moderate the influence of the current ratio (CR) on financial distress. However, gender diversity is able to negatively moderate/weaken the influence of debt to equity ratio (DER) on financial distress. Institutional ownership negatively moderates/weakens the effect of return on equity (ROE) on financial distress. However, institutional ownership does not negatively moderate the influence of the current ratio (CR) on financial distress. On the other hand, institutional ownership is able to positively moderate/strengthen the influence of the Debt to equity ratio (DER) on financial distress.
Jonathan Mannaert, Paolo Santonastaso, Ferdinando Zullo
Linear sets over finite fields are central objects in finite geometry and coding theory, with deep connections to structures such as semifields, blocking sets, KM-arcs, and rank-metric codes. Among them, $i$-clubs, a class of linear sets where all but one point (which has weight $i$) have weight one, have been extensively studied in the projective line but remain poorly understood in higher-dimensional projective spaces. In this paper, we investigate the geometry and algebraic structure of $i$-clubs in projective spaces. We establish upper bounds on their rank by associating them with rank-metric codes and analyzing their parameters via MacWilliams identities. We also provide explicit constructions of $i$-clubs that attain the maximum rank for $i \geq m/2$, and we demonstrate the existence of non-equivalent constructions when $i \leq m-2$. The special case $i = m-1$ is fully classified. Furthermore, we explore the rich geometry of three-weight rank-metric codes, offering new constructions from clubs and partial classification results.
Fernando F. Granado, Davi A. Bezerra, Iuri Queiroz
et al.
Food delivery platforms face the challenge of helping users navigate vast catalogs of restaurants and dishes to find meals they truly enjoy. This paper presents RED, an automated recommendation system designed for iFood, Latin America's largest on-demand food delivery platform, to personalize the selection of curated food collections displayed to millions of users. Our approach employs a LightGBM classifier that scores collections based on three feature groups: collection characteristics, user-collection similarity, and contextual information. To address the cold-start problem of recommending newly created collections, we develop content-based representations using item embeddings and implement monotonicity constraints to improve generalization. We tackle data scarcity by bootstrapping from category carousel interactions and address visibility bias through unbiased sampling of impressions and purchases in production. The system demonstrates significant real-world impact through extensive A/B testing with 5-10% of iFood's user base. Online results of our A/B tests add up to 97% improvement in Card Conversion Rate and 1.4% increase in overall App Conversion Rate compared to popularity-based baselines. Notably, our offline accuracy metrics strongly correlate with online performance, enabling reliable impact prediction before deployment. To our knowledge, this is the first work to detail large-scale recommendation of curated food collections in a dynamic commercial environment.
In this paper, we analyse the impact of international migration on the food consumption and dietary diversity of left-behind households. Using the Kerala migration survey 2011, we study whether households with emigrants (on account of international migration) have higher consumption expenditure and improved dietary diversity than their non-migrating counterparts. We use ordinary least square and instrumental variable approach to answer this question. The key findings are that: a) emigrant households have higher overall consumption expenditure as well as higher expenditure on food; b) we find that international migration leads to increase in the dietary diversity of left behind households. Further, we explore the effect on food sub-group expenditure for both rural and urban households. We find that emigrant households spend more on protein (milk, pulses and egg, fish and meat), at the same time there is higher spending on non-healthy food habits (processed and ready to eat food items) among them.
Artificial intelligence is accelerating a new era of food innovation, connecting data from farm to consumer to improve formulation, processing, and health outcomes. Recent advances in deep learning, natural language processing, and multi-omics integration make it possible to understand and optimize food systems with unprecedented depth. However, AI adoption across the food sector remains uneven due to heterogeneous datasets, limited model and system interoperability, and a persistent skills gap between data scientists and food domain experts. To address these challenges and advance responsible innovation, the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS) convened the inaugural AI for Food Product Development Symposium at University of California, Davis, in October 2025. This white paper synthesizes insights from the symposium, organized around five domains where AI can have the greatest near-term impact: supply chain; formulation and processing; consumer insights and sensory prediction; nutrition and health; and education and workforce development. Across the areas, participants emphasized the importance of interoperable data standards, transparent and interpretable models, and cross-sector collaboration to accelerate the translation of AI research into practice. The discussions further highlighted the need for robust digital infrastructure, privacy-preserving data-sharing mechanisms, and interdisciplinary training pathways that integrate AI literacy with domain expertise. Collectively, the priorities outline a roadmap for integrating AI into food manufacturing in ways that enhance innovation, sustainability, and human well-being while ensuring that technological progress remains grounded in ethics, scientific rigor, and societal benefit.
Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of service quality on customer satisfaction in boutique hotels. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study revealed that high-quality service significantly enhances customer satisfaction, leading to increased loyalty and repeat patronage. Key dimensions of service quality, such as responsiveness, reliability, assurance, empathy, and tangibles, play crucial roles in shaping guests' perceptions. For instance, personalized attention and unique, aesthetically pleasing environments typical of boutique hotels contribute positively to the overall guest experience. Additionally, well-trained, courteous staff and prompt service responses further elevate satisfaction levels. The intimate and distinctive atmosphere of boutique hotels allows for tailored experiences, which are highly valued by guests seeking exclusivity and comfort. Ultimately, superior service quality not only meets but often exceeds guest expectations, fostering a strong emotional connection and ensuring that customers are not only satisfied but also likely to advocate for the hotel through positive word-of-mouth and online reviews. This relationship underscores the necessity for boutique hotels to continually invest in service quality improvements to sustain and enhance customer satisfaction in a competitive market. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Servqual model, expectation-confirmation theory (ECT) and Herzberg’s two-factor theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the impact of service quality on customer satisfaction in boutique hotels. Boutique hotels should prioritize ongoing training programs that focus on key service quality dimensions, such as responsiveness and empathy. Policymakers should work with industry stakeholders to establish clear service quality standards specific to boutique hotels.
Григорій Дейниченко, Дмитро Дмитревський, Віталій Червоний
et al.
Актуальність. У статті наведено методику розрахунку структурно-фізичних характеристик напівпроникних мембран після їх застосування в технологічному процесі. При експлуатації мембран відбувається зниження проникності внаслідок закупорки їх пор колоїдними речовинами. Внаслідок цього виникає необхідність отримання даних щодо розподілу пoр на поверхні досліджуваної ультрафільтраційної мембрани.
Метою статті є визначення закономірностей зміни пористості напівпроникної мембрани, яка була використана в технологічному процесі розділення молочної сировини. Це дасть можливість прогнозувати гідродинамічні властивості ультрафільтраційної мембрани.
Методи дослідження. Запропоновано тензометричний (статистичний) метод та визначені структурно-фізичні характеристики напівпроникних мембран у процесі мембранної фільтрації знежиреної молочної сировини. Показана можливість побудови математичних залежностей і методик визначення фізичних властивостей та структурного аналізу напівпроникної мембрани. Ця методика дозволяє визначити поверхню не тільки напівпроникної мембрани, а й поляризаційного шару високомолекулярних речовин.
Результати дослідження. За результатами досліджень побудовані залежності фізичних властивостей та структурної складової напівпроникної мембрани після обробки молочної сировини. Результати проведених досліджень показують, що після ультрафільтрації знежиреної молочної сировини розміри пор зазнають істотних змін.
Висновки та обговорення. Встановлено збільшення кількості пор із діаметром менше 10 нм. Спектр радіусів мікрокапілярів зміщується у бік зменшення, що відбувається внаслідок осадження частинок дисперсної фази в мікрокапілярах. Реалізація результатів дослідження можлива у промислових умовах для визначення структурно-фізичних характеристик різного типу мембран під час концентрування рідин різного походження з розробки нових модифікацій фільтрувальних елементів. Умовами до промислового використання одержаних результатів є вирішення питань співвідношення лабораторних досліджень структурно-фізичних характеристик із виробничими результатами.
Hospitality industry. Hotels, clubs, restaurants, etc. Food service, Commerce
Actualmente la modernización ha tenido un efecto negativo en las tradiciones culinarias mexicanas y esto repercute al medio ambiente. La dieta de la Milpa es un patrón alimentario mexicano tradicional que usa como base el frijol, el maíz, el chile y la calabaza, además integra el consumo de otros alimentos locales y tradicionales como una gran variedad de verduras. Una de estas verduras son lo quelites, es una especie de hojas comestibles, que aportan una fuente importante de vitaminas y minerales. El rescate del consumo de estos alimentos es de suma importancia para una dieta sostenible y saludable. Por lo cual el objetivo de este estudio es Valor nutrimental de una receta basada en la “Dieta de la Milpa”: Tortitas de quelites. Para informar sobre la relevancia y beneficio que tiene para la salud el consumo de este tipo de recetas.
Food processing and manufacture, Nutrition. Foods and food supply
PRESENTATION AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY. At the current stage of recovery of the national economy of Ukraine, it is impossible to form a concept of ensuring innovative development, to achieve long-term results of the tourism and hotel-restaurant business without constant updating and improvement of applied technological and management processes, constant expansion of the range of services provided, and identification of new opportunities for effective development Scientific and technical progress, the creation of new innovative management technologies, the development of innovative production infrastructure, including changes in consumer preferences, new methods of management and organization of production and work should be attributed to the reasons that cause the need for innovative processes. Innovations (or innovations) play the most important role in macroeconomic development and in achieving the goals of tourism and hotel and restaurant business. To date, there is not a high level of innovative activity in the field of tourism and hotel-restaurant business, which is due to the need to find solutions for improving control in the field of management of innovative activities of tourist and hotel-restaurant enterprises. The development of market relations causes the emergence of new tasks that require the improvement of the system management of the quality of services at tourist and hotel-restaurant enterprises.The above-mentioned words prove the relevance of this article and reflect its purpose as a study of the peculiarities of managing the innovative process of improving the quality of various services of the tourist and hotel-restaurant business.RESEARCH METHODS. In the process of creating and writing the article, general and scientific methods were used: abstraction, classification of various types, comparison, systemic and system-forming approach, situational mathematical analysis, logical and analytical evaluation of parameters, analogies, modeling. The totality of the used theoretical and methodological base made it possible to formulate realistic and well-founded practical conclusions and effective solutions.THE RESULTS. It was emphasized that the development of innovations in the hospitality industry should include such aspects as automation and improvement of work processes with the help of the Internet of Things, the use of "smart" solutions, as well as the improvement of safety and hygiene through innovative solutions. Innovative processes in the tourism and hotel-restaurant business are described, which should include the introduction of new ideas, technologies, services or approaches to improve service quality and competitiveness. This may include the implementation of information systems, the creation of unique numbers or services, the development of an environmental initiative, etc.CONCLUSIONS. Innovative activity in the tourism and hotel-restaurant business is embodied in the creation of new or improvement of transport, hotel, restaurant and other services, the development of new national and international markets, the use of advanced information and telecommunication innovative technologies, modern advanced forms of organizational, planning and management activities, new ways to meet the needs of tourists, etc. Carefully selected tools for the innovative development of tourism and hotel-restaurant business enterprises ensure its competitiveness.KEYWORDS: tourism and hotel and restaurant business; quality of services; innovations; communications; management; service; digital technologies; Internet of things; blockchain.
As the global population and the per capita demand for resource intensive diets continues to grow, the corresponding increase in food demand challenges the global food system, enhancing its reliance on trade. Most previous research typically constructed either unweighted networks or weighted solely by tonnage to represent food trade, and focused on bilateral trade relationships between pairs of countries. This study investigates the properties of global food trade constructed in terms of total food calories associated with all the main food products exchanged along each trade link (edge of the food trade network). Utilizing data from the Food and Agriculture Organization between 1986 and 2022, we construct a directed, weighted network of net caloric flows between countries. This approach highlights the importance of considering nutritional value in discussions of food security and trade policies, offering a more holistic view of global food trade dynamics. Our analysis reveals significant heterogeneity in trade patterns, with certain countries emerging as major exporters or importers of food calories. Moreover, we employ network measures, including network connectivity, network heterogeneity, network modularity, and node correlation similarity, to elucidate the structural dynamics of global net food calorie trade networks that are relevant to the stability and resilience of the global food system. Our work provides a more nuanced understanding of global food trade dynamics, emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies to enhance the resilience and sustainability of food trade networks.
Lavrentia Aravani, Emmanuel Pintelas, Christos Pierrakeas
et al.
Recently, the application of Artificial Intelligence algorithms in hotel recommendation systems has become an increasingly popular topic. One such method that has proven to be effective in this field is Deep Learning, especially Natural Language processing models, which are able to extract semantic knowledge from user's text reviews to create more efficient recommendation systems. This can lead to the development of intelligent models that can classify a user's preferences and emotions based on their feedback in the form of text reviews about their hotel stay experience. In this study, we propose a Natural Language Processing framework that utilizes customer text reviews to provide personalized recommendations for the most appropriate hotel based on their preferences. The framework is based on Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) and a fine-tuning/validation pipeline that categorizes customer hotel review texts into "Bad," "Good," or "Excellent" recommended hotels. Our findings indicate that the hotel recommendation system we propose can significantly enhance the user experience of booking accommodations by providing personalized recommendations based on user preferences and previous booking history.
Shayan Rokhva, Babak Teimourpour, Amir Hossein Soltani
In contemporary society, the application of artificial intelligence for automatic food recognition offers substantial potential for nutrition tracking, reducing food waste, and enhancing productivity in food production and consumption scenarios. Modern technologies such as Computer Vision and Deep Learning are highly beneficial, enabling machines to learn automatically, thereby facilitating automatic visual recognition. Despite some research in this field, the challenge of achieving accurate automatic food recognition quickly remains a significant research gap. Some models have been developed and implemented, but maintaining high performance swiftly, with low computational cost and low access to expensive hardware accelerators, still needs further exploration and research. This study employs the pretrained MobileNetV2 model, which is efficient and fast, for food recognition on the public Food11 dataset, comprising 16643 images. It also utilizes various techniques such as dataset understanding, transfer learning, data augmentation, regularization, dynamic learning rate, hyperparameter tuning, and consideration of images in different sizes to enhance performance and robustness. These techniques aid in choosing appropriate metrics, achieving better performance, avoiding overfitting and accuracy fluctuations, speeding up the model, and increasing the generalization of findings, making the study and its results applicable to practical applications. Despite employing a light model with a simpler structure and fewer trainable parameters compared to some deep and dense models in the deep learning area, it achieved commendable accuracy in a short time. This underscores the potential for practical implementation, which is the main intention of this study.
Food waste and food insecurity are two closely related pressing global issues. Food rescue organizations worldwide run programs aimed at addressing the two problems. In this paper, we partner with a non-profit organization in the state of Indiana that leads \emph{Food Drop}, a program that is designed to redirect rejected truckloads of food away from landfills and into food banks. The truckload to food bank matching decisions are currently made by an employee of our partner organization. In addition to this being a very time-consuming task, as perhaps expected from human-based matching decisions, the allocations are often skewed: a small percentage of the possible recipients receives the majority of donations. Our goal in this partnership is to completely automate Food Drop. In doing so, we need a matching algorithm for making real-time decisions that strikes a balance between ensuring fairness for the food banks that receive the food and optimizing efficiency for the truck drivers. In this paper, we describe the theoretical guarantees and experiments that dictated our choice of algorithm in the platform we built and deployed for our partner organization. Our work also makes contributions to the literature on load balancing and balls-into-bins games, that might be of independent interest. Specifically, we study the allocation of $m$ weighted balls into $n$ weighted bins, where each ball has two non-uniformly sampled random bin choices, and prove upper bounds, that hold with high probability, on the maximum load of any bin.
Richard Gruss, Jessie Quesenberry, Eojina Kim
et al.
Although food trucks have attracted significant attention among the dining public, little is known in the academic literature about what drives consumer satisfaction with them. Employing a grounded theory methodology, we analyzed a large set of Yelp reviews to determine whether the antecedents of satisfaction with food trucks differ from those associated with quick-service restaurants. We found that for most attributes, positive experiences at food trucks have smaller upward effects on satisfaction than they do for quick service restaurants, whereas negative experiences have larger downward effects. We further found that comments about anticipation appear far more frequently in food truck reviews, suggesting that the downward effect of negative experiences may be attributable to expectations. This has implications for theory in that it suggests some modifications to conventional instruments for measuring satisfaction. It also has implications for management practice, in that it suggests best practices with regard to managing expectations of food trucks.