Entrepreneurial characteristics, motives, and business challenges: exploratory study of small- and medium-sized hotel businesses

The purpose of this study is to gather information about the determinants and characteristics of the owners/managers of small- and medium-sized hotels (SMSHs) and identify various issues in starting up and operating businesses in the United Arab Emirates. The results of this study reveal that the ma...

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Main Authors: Ahmad, Syed Zamberi, Muhammad Arif, Afida Mastura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54175/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54175/1/Entrepreneurial%20characteristics%2C%20motives%2C%20and%20business%20challenges.pdf
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author Ahmad, Syed Zamberi
Muhammad Arif, Afida Mastura
author_facet Ahmad, Syed Zamberi
Muhammad Arif, Afida Mastura
author_sort Ahmad, Syed Zamberi
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The purpose of this study is to gather information about the determinants and characteristics of the owners/managers of small- and medium-sized hotels (SMSHs) and identify various issues in starting up and operating businesses in the United Arab Emirates. The results of this study reveal that the majority of the owners/managers of SMSHs in the United Arab Emirates are male, young and middle age, and relatively new to the tourism industry. The motivations for the business ventures of the entrepreneurs include wanting to be financially independent, become one’s own boss, involvement in family business and the opportunities of the hotel business. Among the key business challenges highlighted by the owners/managers of SMSHs are stiff competition in the hotel industry, increased operating costs, reduced demand, and lack of skilled employees. Several key strategies have been employed to face these challenges. These include offering competitive pricing, improving the marketing and channels of promotion, enhancing the quality of service and providing superior customer service.
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spelling upm-541752018-03-02T02:32:38Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54175/ Entrepreneurial characteristics, motives, and business challenges: exploratory study of small- and medium-sized hotel businesses Ahmad, Syed Zamberi Muhammad Arif, Afida Mastura The purpose of this study is to gather information about the determinants and characteristics of the owners/managers of small- and medium-sized hotels (SMSHs) and identify various issues in starting up and operating businesses in the United Arab Emirates. The results of this study reveal that the majority of the owners/managers of SMSHs in the United Arab Emirates are male, young and middle age, and relatively new to the tourism industry. The motivations for the business ventures of the entrepreneurs include wanting to be financially independent, become one’s own boss, involvement in family business and the opportunities of the hotel business. Among the key business challenges highlighted by the owners/managers of SMSHs are stiff competition in the hotel industry, increased operating costs, reduced demand, and lack of skilled employees. Several key strategies have been employed to face these challenges. These include offering competitive pricing, improving the marketing and channels of promotion, enhancing the quality of service and providing superior customer service. Taylor & Francis 2016 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54175/1/Entrepreneurial%20characteristics%2C%20motives%2C%20and%20business%20challenges.pdf Ahmad, Syed Zamberi and Muhammad Arif, Afida Mastura (2016) Entrepreneurial characteristics, motives, and business challenges: exploratory study of small- and medium-sized hotel businesses. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, 17 (3). pp. 286-315. ISSN 1525-6480; ESSN: 1525-6499 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15256480.2016.1183550?journalCode=wjht20 Business challenges; Entrepreneurship; Hospitality and tourism; Motivation; Small and medium-sized hotel business; United Arab Emirates 10.1080/15256480.2016.1183550
spellingShingle Business challenges; Entrepreneurship; Hospitality and tourism; Motivation; Small and medium-sized hotel business; United Arab Emirates
Ahmad, Syed Zamberi
Muhammad Arif, Afida Mastura
Entrepreneurial characteristics, motives, and business challenges: exploratory study of small- and medium-sized hotel businesses
title Entrepreneurial characteristics, motives, and business challenges: exploratory study of small- and medium-sized hotel businesses
title_full Entrepreneurial characteristics, motives, and business challenges: exploratory study of small- and medium-sized hotel businesses
title_fullStr Entrepreneurial characteristics, motives, and business challenges: exploratory study of small- and medium-sized hotel businesses
title_full_unstemmed Entrepreneurial characteristics, motives, and business challenges: exploratory study of small- and medium-sized hotel businesses
title_short Entrepreneurial characteristics, motives, and business challenges: exploratory study of small- and medium-sized hotel businesses
title_sort entrepreneurial characteristics, motives, and business challenges: exploratory study of small- and medium-sized hotel businesses
topic Business challenges; Entrepreneurship; Hospitality and tourism; Motivation; Small and medium-sized hotel business; United Arab Emirates
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54175/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54175/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54175/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54175/1/Entrepreneurial%20characteristics%2C%20motives%2C%20and%20business%20challenges.pdf