title: An investigation of the factors affecting guest selection of hotel/motel accommodation within New Zealand: development of a management decision model

authors: Lockyer, Tim

abstract: This research investigates the factors that influence the selection of hotel/motel accommodation in New Zealand. The tourism and hospitality industries are an important part of the New Zealand economy, with tourism producing more overseas income than any other individual industry. It is vitally important for hotel and motel owners and management to understand the factors that affect occupancy in order that they may implement decisions to take best advantage of the assets and obtain the highest return on the investment. A holistic approach or one that looks at the many factors influencing hotel occupancy has been adopted as this encourages an interdisciplinary method to the study of hotel occupancy, and broadens the investigation. This gives the research a particular focus on the problem of occupancy because the analysis includes an extensive spectrum of factors. 

The specific objective is to investigate the factors that influence occupancy and to produce the findings in the form of a management decision model. The data for this research was gathered from three sources: first a small group of researchers and industry stakeholders participated in-depth interviews, which comprised open questions asked to determine from their perspective the factors that have the greatest affect on occupancy. The main findings from these interviews were used to develop a survey conducted among hotel decision-makers; management was specifically chosen for this, as it was believed that there would be a broader knowledge and experience base. The final set of data was collected from a survey of potential guests. 

In developing the management decision model, a number of tools were employed including neural networks and linear structural equation modelling. These analyses gave a rich result to the findings and this was applied to the development of stochastic¹ management decision models (Goel & Richter-Dyn, 1974; Bekker & Saayman, 1999), using the main findings from the interviews with researchers and industry stakeholders as a reference point. 

The contribution of this research included evidence of: 1). The significant “Gap” between the factors influencing occupancy relating to researchers and industry stakeholders and hotel decision-makers on the one hand and potential guests on the other; 2). The structure and factors involved within a hotel occupancy decision model; 3). The demographic influences on the factors within the management decision model. 

¹The way in which the variables within the model relate and impact on each other.

text: An investigation of the factors affecting guest selection of hotel/motel accommodation within New Zealand: development of a management decision model This research investigates the factors that influence the selection of hotel/motel accommodation in New Zealand. The tourism and hospitality industries are an important part of the New Zealand economy, with tourism producing more overseas income than any other individual industry. It is vitally important for hotel and motel owners and management to understand the factors that affect occupancy in order that they may implement decisions to take best advantage of the assets and obtain the highest return on the investment. A holistic approach or one that looks at the many factors influencing hotel occupancy has been adopted as this encourages an interdisciplinary method to the study of hotel occupancy, and broadens the investigation. This gives the research a particular focus on the problem of occupancy because the analysis includes an extensive spectrum of factors. 

The specific objective is to investigate the factors that influence occupancy and to produce the findings in the form of a management decision model. The data for this research was gathered from three sources: first a small group of researchers and industry stakeholders participated in-depth interviews, which comprised open questions asked to determine from their perspective the factors that have the greatest affect on occupancy. The main findings from these interviews were used to develop a survey conducted among hotel decision-makers; management was specifically chosen for this, as it was believed that there would be a broader knowledge and experience base. The final set of data was collected from a survey of potential guests. 

In developing the management decision model, a number of tools were employed including neural networks and linear structural equation modelling. These analyses gave a rich result to the findings and this was applied to the development of stochastic¹ management decision models (Goel & Richter-Dyn, 1974; Bekker & Saayman, 1999), using the main findings from the interviews with researchers and industry stakeholders as a reference point. 

The contribution of this research included evidence of: 1). The significant “Gap” between the factors influencing occupancy relating to researchers and industry stakeholders and hotel decision-makers on the one hand and potential guests on the other; 2). The structure and factors involved within a hotel occupancy decision model; 3). The demographic influences on the factors within the management decision model. 

¹The way in which the variables within the model relate and impact on each other.

year: 2001

title: Obesity and breast cancer outcomes in chemotherapy patients in New Zealand - a population-based cohort study

authors: Elwood, J. Mark

subjects: Breast cancer

abstract: Background: Obesity has been reported as an adverse prognostic factor in breast cancer, but inconsistently, and under-treatment with chemotherapy may occur. We provide the first assessment of obesity and breast cancer outcomes in a population-based, multi-ethnic cohort of New Zealand patients treated with chemotherapy.
Methods: All 3536 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the Waikato region of New Zealand from 2000-2014 were registered and followed until last follow-up in specialist or primary care, death or Dec 2014; median follow-up 4.1 years. For the 1049 patients receiving chemotherapy, mortality from breast cancer, other causes, and all causes, and rates of loco-regional and of distant recurrence, were assessed by body mass index (BMI), recorded after diagnosis, adjusting for other clinico-pathological and demographic factors by Cox regression.
Results: BMI was known for 98% (n=1049); 33% were overweight (BMI 25-29.9), 21% were obese (BMI 30-34.9), and 14% were very obese (BMI 35+). There were no significant associations between obesity and survival, after adjustment for demographic and clinical factors (hazard ratios, HR, for very obese compared to BMI 21-24, for breast cancer deaths 0.96 (0.56-1.67), and for all deaths 1.03 (0.63-1.67), respectively, and only small non-significant associations for loco-regional or metastatic recurrence rates (HR 1.17 and 1.33 respectively). Subgroup analyses by age, menopausal status, ethnicity, stage, post-surgical radiotherapy, mode of diagnosis, type of surgery, and receptor status, showed no associations. No associations were seen with BMI as a continuous variable. The results in all patients irrespective of treatment but with recorded BMI data (n=2296) showed similar results.
Conclusions: In this population, obesity assessed post-diagnosis had no effect on survival or recurrence, based on 1049 patients with chemotherapy treatment with follow-up up to 14 years.

text: Obesity and breast cancer outcomes in chemotherapy patients in New Zealand - a population-based cohort study Background: Obesity has been reported as an adverse prognostic factor in breast cancer, but inconsistently, and under-treatment with chemotherapy may occur. We provide the first assessment of obesity and breast cancer outcomes in a population-based, multi-ethnic cohort of New Zealand patients treated with chemotherapy.
Methods: All 3536 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the Waikato region of New Zealand from 2000-2014 were registered and followed until last follow-up in specialist or primary care, death or Dec 2014; median follow-up 4.1 years. For the 1049 patients receiving chemotherapy, mortality from breast cancer, other causes, and all causes, and rates of loco-regional and of distant recurrence, were assessed by body mass index (BMI), recorded after diagnosis, adjusting for other clinico-pathological and demographic factors by Cox regression.
Results: BMI was known for 98% (n=1049); 33% were overweight (BMI 25-29.9), 21% were obese (BMI 30-34.9), and 14% were very obese (BMI 35+). There were no significant associations between obesity and survival, after adjustment for demographic and clinical factors (hazard ratios, HR, for very obese compared to BMI 21-24, for breast cancer deaths 0.96 (0.56-1.67), and for all deaths 1.03 (0.63-1.67), respectively, and only small non-significant associations for loco-regional or metastatic recurrence rates (HR 1.17 and 1.33 respectively). Subgroup analyses by age, menopausal status, ethnicity, stage, post-surgical radiotherapy, mode of diagnosis, type of surgery, and receptor status, showed no associations. No associations were seen with BMI as a continuous variable. The results in all patients irrespective of treatment but with recorded BMI data (n=2296) showed similar results.
Conclusions: In this population, obesity assessed post-diagnosis had no effect on survival or recurrence, based on 1049 patients with chemotherapy treatment with follow-up up to 14 years.

year: 2018

title: Nga taonga o Te Urewera

authors: Te Awekotuku, Ngahuia

subjects: Maori

abstract: This report sets out to establish that Te Urewera and Tuhoe - the place, the people -
are synonymous. It is argued by two discrete approaches - cultural property and the
significance of place. These are both enmeshed in the Tuhoe concept of
matemateaone, which is defined and demonstrated throughout the text. Issues of
Tuhoe heritage and cultural property are positioned within the international
indigenous context, and considered in detail with reference to the United Nations
Report on the Protection of the Heritage of Indigenous Peoples tabled in June 1995.
A Tuhoe response to the nine sections of this document form the basis of this
submission, as they clearly reflect the intentions and principles that configure the
articles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

text: Nga taonga o Te Urewera This report sets out to establish that Te Urewera and Tuhoe - the place, the people -
are synonymous. It is argued by two discrete approaches - cultural property and the
significance of place. These are both enmeshed in the Tuhoe concept of
matemateaone, which is defined and demonstrated throughout the text. Issues of
Tuhoe heritage and cultural property are positioned within the international
indigenous context, and considered in detail with reference to the United Nations
Report on the Protection of the Heritage of Indigenous Peoples tabled in June 1995.
A Tuhoe response to the nine sections of this document form the basis of this
submission, as they clearly reflect the intentions and principles that configure the
articles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

year: 2003-08