title: Hotel Loyalty

authors: Lockyer, Tim

subjects: loyalty programmes

abstract: This study focused on the crucial impact of loyalty programmes offered by hotels as a way to enhance repeat business. The study collected data using self-administered surveys completed by domestic hotel guests in New Zealand (i.e. residents who lived in New Zealand at the time of the study) who had stayed more than once in a particular hotel (as an indication of loyalty) over a three year time frame. Data collected from the survey were analyzed using both regression and structural equation modelling.  Results indicated that loyalty programmes have a significant impact before, during and after the service encounter. First, loyalty programmes before the service encounter had a significant positive impact on guest loyalty. Second, loyalty programmes during the service encounter had a significant positive impact on guest satisfaction, and third, loyalty programmes after the service encounter had a significant positive impact on guest affective and continuance commitment. Results from the survey showed that loyalty programmes have a significant impact on guest loyalty, more than staff loyalty and staff interaction, but guest satisfaction and guest affective commitment had more significant impact on guest loyalty than loyalty programmes.  The contribution of this study is that it generates an improvement over the current knowledge in the field of services marketing by explaining the significant impact of loyalty programmes on hotel guests in the hotel sector. Loyalty programmes (during the service encounter) have more significant impact on guest satisfaction than staff interaction, and guest appreciate having a hassle-free stay. Also, satisfaction and commitment should be realised before a sense of loyalty develops and it is the sense of loyalty which further drives guests to initiate the decision to become members of a hotel loyalty programme, although the study asserted the significant impact of loyalty programmes on guest loyalty. The second contribution of the study is that it found different guests tend to join hotel loyalty programmes for different reasons. For example, males look for better service, special treatment and collecting points, while females look mainly for price incentives and experiencing a unique stay.

text: Hotel Loyalty This study focused on the crucial impact of loyalty programmes offered by hotels as a way to enhance repeat business. The study collected data using self-administered surveys completed by domestic hotel guests in New Zealand (i.e. residents who lived in New Zealand at the time of the study) who had stayed more than once in a particular hotel (as an indication of loyalty) over a three year time frame. Data collected from the survey were analyzed using both regression and structural equation modelling.  Results indicated that loyalty programmes have a significant impact before, during and after the service encounter. First, loyalty programmes before the service encounter had a significant positive impact on guest loyalty. Second, loyalty programmes during the service encounter had a significant positive impact on guest satisfaction, and third, loyalty programmes after the service encounter had a significant positive impact on guest affective and continuance commitment. Results from the survey showed that loyalty programmes have a significant impact on guest loyalty, more than staff loyalty and staff interaction, but guest satisfaction and guest affective commitment had more significant impact on guest loyalty than loyalty programmes.  The contribution of this study is that it generates an improvement over the current knowledge in the field of services marketing by explaining the significant impact of loyalty programmes on hotel guests in the hotel sector. Loyalty programmes (during the service encounter) have more significant impact on guest satisfaction than staff interaction, and guest appreciate having a hassle-free stay. Also, satisfaction and commitment should be realised before a sense of loyalty develops and it is the sense of loyalty which further drives guests to initiate the decision to become members of a hotel loyalty programme, although the study asserted the significant impact of loyalty programmes on guest loyalty. The second contribution of the study is that it found different guests tend to join hotel loyalty programmes for different reasons. For example, males look for better service, special treatment and collecting points, while females look mainly for price incentives and experiencing a unique stay.

year: 2013

title: Tidal inlet configuration and bathymetric changes resulting from active sedimentation, Buffalo Bay, New Zealand.

authors: Steeghs, Lauren

subjects: accretion

abstract: The Whitianga tidal inlet lies within Mercury Bay, on the northeast coast of New Zealand. The Whitianga Estuary harbours many recreational and commercial vessels. Terrestrial sediment inputs into the Whitianga Estuary catchment are high, due to the erodible tertiary sediments and the steep nature of the catchment, which suffers intense rainfall that results in high sediment influxes, much of which becomes deposited within the estuary. In recent years active shoals have appeared in Buffalo Bay and the inlet channel has noticeably shallowed, both of which inhibit the use of the inlet by boat traffic. The past and present bathymetry of Buffalo Bay is compared to establish changes in morphology and zones of accretion and erosion within Buffalo Bay. The outcomes of this research contribute to a larger research programme which aims to use numerical model simulations to identify sediment transport pathways and patterns within Buffalo Bay. This research will particularly provide information which can be used to calibrate a sediment transport model. Comparison of the Buffalo Bay bathymetries over the 38 year period from 1938 to 1979 and Whitianga inlet bathymetries between 1979 and 1995, show extensive accretion in the ebb discharge channel which is predominantly associated with the migration of the tidal inlet channel and growth of the ebb delta, and within the inner inlet area which are attributed to the growth of the flood delta system.

text: Tidal inlet configuration and bathymetric changes resulting from active sedimentation, Buffalo Bay, New Zealand. The Whitianga tidal inlet lies within Mercury Bay, on the northeast coast of New Zealand. The Whitianga Estuary harbours many recreational and commercial vessels. Terrestrial sediment inputs into the Whitianga Estuary catchment are high, due to the erodible tertiary sediments and the steep nature of the catchment, which suffers intense rainfall that results in high sediment influxes, much of which becomes deposited within the estuary. In recent years active shoals have appeared in Buffalo Bay and the inlet channel has noticeably shallowed, both of which inhibit the use of the inlet by boat traffic. The past and present bathymetry of Buffalo Bay is compared to establish changes in morphology and zones of accretion and erosion within Buffalo Bay. The outcomes of this research contribute to a larger research programme which aims to use numerical model simulations to identify sediment transport pathways and patterns within Buffalo Bay. This research will particularly provide information which can be used to calibrate a sediment transport model. Comparison of the Buffalo Bay bathymetries over the 38 year period from 1938 to 1979 and Whitianga inlet bathymetries between 1979 and 1995, show extensive accretion in the ebb discharge channel which is predominantly associated with the migration of the tidal inlet channel and growth of the ebb delta, and within the inner inlet area which are attributed to the growth of the flood delta system.

year: 2007

title: Here to stay: Reshaping the regions through mana Māori

authors: Simmonds, Naomi Beth

abstract: Situated 65 kilometres south-east of Hamilton, Putāruru (population 3747 in the 2013 Census) is typical of the many farming service towns scattered across rural Aotearoa New Zealand. Bakeries, op shops, a sports bar and a farm equipment supplier occupy the main street. Unlike nearby Tirau, which transformed from a one-stop shop into a vibrant boutique village in the late 1990s, Putāruru township remains largely indistinguishable from other rural centres. There are few clues to the substantial farming-based and water-generated wealth that lies beyond the town.

text: Here to stay: Reshaping the regions through mana Māori Situated 65 kilometres south-east of Hamilton, Putāruru (population 3747 in the 2013 Census) is typical of the many farming service towns scattered across rural Aotearoa New Zealand. Bakeries, op shops, a sports bar and a farm equipment supplier occupy the main street. Unlike nearby Tirau, which transformed from a one-stop shop into a vibrant boutique village in the late 1990s, Putāruru township remains largely indistinguishable from other rural centres. There are few clues to the substantial farming-based and water-generated wealth that lies beyond the town.

year: 2016