GUIDELINES FOR THE SERVICE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTELS THAT ATTRACT DOMESTIC WORKCATION TOURISTS: THE CASE OF PATTAYA CITY, THAILAND

The aims of this study are to 1) study the level of service quality of small boutique hotels in Pattaya City, (2) study the behaviors of Domestic workcation tourists at small boutique hotels in Pattaya City, and (3) suggest guidelines for the service quality development of small boutique hotels th...

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Main Authors: Chayapoj LEE-ANANT, Phornprom RUNGREAUNG
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Editura Universităţii din Oradea 2024-08-01
Series:Geo Journal of Tourism and Geosites
Subjects:
Online Access:https://gtg.webhost.uoradea.ro/PDF/GTG-3-2024/gtg.55305-1277.pdf
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author Chayapoj LEE-ANANT
Phornprom RUNGREAUNG
author_facet Chayapoj LEE-ANANT
Phornprom RUNGREAUNG
author_sort Chayapoj LEE-ANANT
collection DOAJ
description The aims of this study are to 1) study the level of service quality of small boutique hotels in Pattaya City, (2) study the behaviors of Domestic workcation tourists at small boutique hotels in Pattaya City, and (3) suggest guidelines for the service quality development of small boutique hotels that attract domestic workcation tourists in Pattaya City. Small boutique hotels are presently dispersed around the globe, especially in Pattaya City, Thailand, where small boutique hotels are plentiful. Meanwhile, the concept of ‘workcation’ is more recognizable due to its concept of ‘anywhere is an office’. Although this concept is not new, limited studies concerning workcation tourists were found, particularly studies of service quality among small boutique hotels as well as workcation tourists’ behaviors. A mixed research method was used to accomplish the research objectives. For quantitative research, a validated questionnaire was refined to collect data from targeted samples of 400 domestic workcation tourists who had stayed at small boutique hotels in Pattaya City. For qualitative research, a semi-structured in-depth interview was organized to collect data from 30 small boutique hotel entrepreneurs in Pattaya. The results indicated that domestic workcation tourists prioritize the following service quality factors: tangibility (x̄ = 4.51), responsiveness (x̄ = 4.51), reliability (x̄ = 4.48), assurance (x̄ = 4.29), and empathy (x̄ = 4.35). For behavioral studies, the findings revealed that domestic workcation tourists usually traveled alone, spent only one night at the hotels, stayed over five times per year, preferred July–September as a travel period, obtained hotel information via social media, and regularly made reservations through social media platforms. Having an internet connection was crucial to them. Lastly, three dimensions of guidelines were formulated, including human resource development, organization development, and information technology development. The findings give valuable insights for tourism stakeholders to cater domestic workcation tourists in response to the blooming of small boutique hotels in Pattaya, Thailand and other equivalent areas.
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language English
publishDate 2024-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-2ec3630aded342caa8eb8253020f9ae02025-01-28T08:41:48ZengEditura Universităţii din OradeaGeo Journal of Tourism and Geosites2065-08172065-11982024-08-015531028103810.30892/gtg.55305-1277GUIDELINES FOR THE SERVICE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTELS THAT ATTRACT DOMESTIC WORKCATION TOURISTS: THE CASE OF PATTAYA CITY, THAILANDChayapoj LEE-ANANT0Phornprom RUNGREAUNG1Hospitality Industry Management Program, Faculty of Management Sciences, Kasetsart University, Chonburi, Thailand, e-mail: chayapoj.l@ku.thLogistics Management Program, Faculty of Management Sciences, Kasetsart University, Chonburi, Thailand, e-mail: phornprom.r@ku.th.The aims of this study are to 1) study the level of service quality of small boutique hotels in Pattaya City, (2) study the behaviors of Domestic workcation tourists at small boutique hotels in Pattaya City, and (3) suggest guidelines for the service quality development of small boutique hotels that attract domestic workcation tourists in Pattaya City. Small boutique hotels are presently dispersed around the globe, especially in Pattaya City, Thailand, where small boutique hotels are plentiful. Meanwhile, the concept of ‘workcation’ is more recognizable due to its concept of ‘anywhere is an office’. Although this concept is not new, limited studies concerning workcation tourists were found, particularly studies of service quality among small boutique hotels as well as workcation tourists’ behaviors. A mixed research method was used to accomplish the research objectives. For quantitative research, a validated questionnaire was refined to collect data from targeted samples of 400 domestic workcation tourists who had stayed at small boutique hotels in Pattaya City. For qualitative research, a semi-structured in-depth interview was organized to collect data from 30 small boutique hotel entrepreneurs in Pattaya. The results indicated that domestic workcation tourists prioritize the following service quality factors: tangibility (x̄ = 4.51), responsiveness (x̄ = 4.51), reliability (x̄ = 4.48), assurance (x̄ = 4.29), and empathy (x̄ = 4.35). For behavioral studies, the findings revealed that domestic workcation tourists usually traveled alone, spent only one night at the hotels, stayed over five times per year, preferred July–September as a travel period, obtained hotel information via social media, and regularly made reservations through social media platforms. Having an internet connection was crucial to them. Lastly, three dimensions of guidelines were formulated, including human resource development, organization development, and information technology development. The findings give valuable insights for tourism stakeholders to cater domestic workcation tourists in response to the blooming of small boutique hotels in Pattaya, Thailand and other equivalent areas. https://gtg.webhost.uoradea.ro/PDF/GTG-3-2024/gtg.55305-1277.pdfservice quality developmentsmall boutique hotelsworkcation touriststourismhospitalityservice industriespattaya city; thailand
spellingShingle Chayapoj LEE-ANANT
Phornprom RUNGREAUNG
GUIDELINES FOR THE SERVICE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTELS THAT ATTRACT DOMESTIC WORKCATION TOURISTS: THE CASE OF PATTAYA CITY, THAILAND
Geo Journal of Tourism and Geosites
service quality development
small boutique hotels
workcation tourists
tourism
hospitality
service industries
pattaya city; thailand
title GUIDELINES FOR THE SERVICE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTELS THAT ATTRACT DOMESTIC WORKCATION TOURISTS: THE CASE OF PATTAYA CITY, THAILAND
title_full GUIDELINES FOR THE SERVICE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTELS THAT ATTRACT DOMESTIC WORKCATION TOURISTS: THE CASE OF PATTAYA CITY, THAILAND
title_fullStr GUIDELINES FOR THE SERVICE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTELS THAT ATTRACT DOMESTIC WORKCATION TOURISTS: THE CASE OF PATTAYA CITY, THAILAND
title_full_unstemmed GUIDELINES FOR THE SERVICE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTELS THAT ATTRACT DOMESTIC WORKCATION TOURISTS: THE CASE OF PATTAYA CITY, THAILAND
title_short GUIDELINES FOR THE SERVICE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTELS THAT ATTRACT DOMESTIC WORKCATION TOURISTS: THE CASE OF PATTAYA CITY, THAILAND
title_sort guidelines for the service quality development of small boutique hotels that attract domestic workcation tourists the case of pattaya city thailand
topic service quality development
small boutique hotels
workcation tourists
tourism
hospitality
service industries
pattaya city; thailand
url https://gtg.webhost.uoradea.ro/PDF/GTG-3-2024/gtg.55305-1277.pdf
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