Harsha Chacko
University of New Orleans, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Faculty Member
Research Interests:
This paper examines the issue of service quality in one of the top tourism and convention destinations in the United States. It focuses upon the hotel industry, in particular the mid to upscale market segment, using an expert panel... more
This paper examines the issue of service quality in one of the top tourism and convention destinations in the United States. It focuses upon the hotel industry, in particular the mid to upscale market segment, using an expert panel approach to identify critical issues in service quality. In an increasingly competitive market for corporate, leisure and convention business, individual hotels and destinations have seen the need to address the issue of service quality as a means of differentiating themselves. The New Orleans market has several characteristics that set it apart from other destinations as is suggested by its colloquial name ‘The Big Easy.’ This name brings to mind connotations of a laid back and unhurried lifestyle often attributed, in music and verse, to the sultry southern climate of this historic city on the banks of the Mississippi river.
Research Interests:
In 2001, Starwood Hotels and Resorts announced that it would be the first hospitality company to embrace Six Sigma, a quality improvement program where the development and adoption of innovative customer-focused solutions were to result... more
In 2001, Starwood Hotels and Resorts announced that it would be the first hospitality company to embrace Six Sigma, a quality improvement program where the development and adoption of innovative customer-focused solutions were to result in improving the quality and consistency of guests' experiences and lead to enhanced financial performance. The purpose of this article is to illustrate this process
Research Interests:
... Accountant? Students' Interests and Career Choices HARSHA E. CHACKO University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana Perhaps it all began with Dickens. His Bob Cratchit created an image of the accounting profession that never... more
... Accountant? Students' Interests and Career Choices HARSHA E. CHACKO University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana Perhaps it all began with Dickens. His Bob Cratchit created an image of the accounting profession that never seems to fade away. ...
Research Interests:
This paper examines meeting planners’ rating of seven US convention cities not only as overall destinations but also on specific city attributes that are important in site selection. Regression analysis showed that promotional appeal of... more
This paper examines meeting planners’ rating of seven US convention cities not only as overall destinations but also on specific city attributes that are important in site selection. Regression analysis showed that promotional appeal of the city had a significant effect in the overall ratings of destinations. In addition, results suggested that different attributes are significant for different cities in explaining their convention, exposition and meeting-site attractiveness.
Research Interests:
... status, and travel interests. The Page 12. 8O JOURNAL OF TRAVEL & TOURISMMARKETING implications of the aging US population on the tour operator's business will be discussed later in this article. While motorcoach-only is ...
Research Interests:
... August 29, 2005, the day that Hurricane Ka-trina made landfall, will go down in history as the worst natural disaster to befall the ... The biggest hurdle facing the New Orleans' tourism industry, however, is the perception that... more
... August 29, 2005, the day that Hurricane Ka-trina made landfall, will go down in history as the worst natural disaster to befall the ... The biggest hurdle facing the New Orleans' tourism industry, however, is the perception that the city is somehow tarnished as a tourist destination. ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This study examines the relationship between the techniques of upward influence used by administrators, their motivational needs, and the way they view their supervisors' leadership styles. Subjects of the study were 144 randomly... more
This study examines the relationship between the techniques of upward influence used by administrators, their motivational needs, and the way they view their supervisors' leadership styles. Subjects of the study were 144 randomly selected heads of departments at two-year and four-year higher educational institutions. Methods used by department heads to influence their supervisors include reason, coalition, higher authority, bargaining, friendliness, and assertiveness. Results showed that reason and coalition were the most prevalent methods, and there was a relationship between need for achievement, perceived initiation of structure, and the use of these two methods. Results also suggest that subordinates are more likely to use assertiveness and higher authority to influence supervisors who exhibit leadership styles that are low in initiation of structure and low in consideration.
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Research Interests:
Mid-level administrators are caught between the needs of the groups they lead and the top administrators who have the power to meet those needs. A study of hospitality-program heads shows how these mid-level administrators influence their... more
Mid-level administrators are caught between the needs of the groups they lead and the top administrators who have the power to meet those needs. A study of hospitality-program heads shows how these mid-level administrators influence their superiors to win advantages for their department
Research Interests:
As hospitality customers become more seasoned, well‐travelled and quality conscious, a hotel’s organizational structure must facilitate the implementation of strategies designed to provide higher levels of service quality. This article... more
As hospitality customers become more seasoned, well‐travelled and quality conscious, a hotel’s organizational structure must facilitate the implementation of strategies designed to provide higher levels of service quality. This article discusses the weaknesses of the current organizational structure of hotels and presents a framework for the development of a seamless hotel organization. This modified structure is more favorable to the creation of an environment where customer service quality is the organizational driver, allowing hotels to develop service quality as a true competitive advantage.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
ABSTRACT Creole Christmas is a month-long festival created in 1986 to boost the fortunes of the tourism industry in New Orleans during the lowest point in the season. This is a case study about the development of the festival and the... more
ABSTRACT Creole Christmas is a month-long festival created in 1986 to boost the fortunes of the tourism industry in New Orleans during the lowest point in the season. This is a case study about the development of the festival and the economic impact it has had on the tourism community in the city. An evaluation of the festival shows that it has turned out to be a success in economic terms but the social and cultural benefits have not yet been proven. The success of the festival can be traced to the cooperation between the major constituents of the tourism industry such as the city government, the hospitality industry and the merchants and residents of New Orleans.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Positioning is a form of market communication that plays a vital role in enhancing the attractiveness of a tourism destination. This article describes the different parts of the positioning process and applies it to the case of... more
Positioning is a form of market communication that plays a vital role in enhancing the attractiveness of a tourism destination. This article describes the different parts of the positioning process and applies it to the case of positioning a US destination to Japanese ...
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Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
... August 29, 2005, the day that Hurricane Ka-trina made landfall, will go down in history as the worst natural disaster to befall the ... The biggest hurdle facing the New Orleans' tourism industry, however, is the perception that... more
... August 29, 2005, the day that Hurricane Ka-trina made landfall, will go down in history as the worst natural disaster to befall the ... The biggest hurdle facing the New Orleans' tourism industry, however, is the perception that the city is somehow tarnished as a tourist destination. ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Positioning is a form of market communication that plays a vital role in enhancing the attractiveness of a tourism destination. This article describes the different parts of the positioning process and applies it to the case of... more
Positioning is a form of market communication that plays a vital role in enhancing the attractiveness of a tourism destination. This article describes the different parts of the positioning process and applies it to the case of positioning a US destination to Japanese ...
Research Interests:
Contracts between meeting planners and hotels are getting longer and more complex to protect the interests of both parties. Unlike many other industries, there is no standard contract for use between meeting planners and hotels. This... more
Contracts between meeting planners and hotels are getting longer and more complex to protect the interests of both parties. Unlike many other industries, there is no standard contract for use between meeting planners and hotels. This study was undertaken to try to ascertain (a) what elements the literature suggests should be contained in all contracts between meeting planners and hotels,
Research Interests:
... Accountant? Students' Interests and Career Choices HARSHA E. CHACKO University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana Perhaps it all began with Dickens. His Bob Cratchit created an image of the accounting profession that never... more
... Accountant? Students' Interests and Career Choices HARSHA E. CHACKO University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana Perhaps it all began with Dickens. His Bob Cratchit created an image of the accounting profession that never seems to fade away. ...
Research Interests:
ABSTRACT No Yes
Canonical correlation analysis is a multivariate statistical model which facilitates the study of interrelationships among multiple dependent variables and multiple independent variables. It identifies components of one set of variables... more
Canonical correlation analysis is a multivariate statistical model which facilitates the study of interrelationships among multiple dependent variables and multiple independent variables. It identifies components of one set of variables that are most highly related linearly to the components of the other set of variables. The underlying logic of canonical correlation analysis involves the derivation of a linear conbination of variables from each of the two sets of variables so that correlation between the two sets is maximized. Few research studies that use canonical correlation are reported in the literature because of: (1) prohibitive calculations prior to the use of computers; (2) limited awareness of canonical methods; (3) a multitude of mathematical symbolism used in discussions of the technique in textbooks; and (4) difficulty in interpreting canonical results. Greater use of the technique will be facilitated as computer packages become more readily available and the technique...
Research Interests:
... status, and travel interests. The Page 12. 8O JOURNAL OF TRAVEL & TOURISMMARKETING implications of the aging US population on the tour operator's business will be discussed later in this article. While motorcoach-only is ...
Research Interests:
... August 29, 2005, the day that Hurricane Ka-trina made landfall, will go down in history as the worst natural disaster to befall the ... The biggest hurdle facing the New Orleans' tourism industry, however, is the perception that... more
... August 29, 2005, the day that Hurricane Ka-trina made landfall, will go down in history as the worst natural disaster to befall the ... The biggest hurdle facing the New Orleans' tourism industry, however, is the perception that the city is somehow tarnished as a tourist destination. ...
Research Interests:
... Accountant? Students' Interests and Career Choices HARSHA E. CHACKO University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana Perhaps it all began with Dickens. His Bob Cratchit created an image of the accounting profession that never... more
... Accountant? Students' Interests and Career Choices HARSHA E. CHACKO University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana Perhaps it all began with Dickens. His Bob Cratchit created an image of the accounting profession that never seems to fade away. ...
Research Interests:
As hospitality customers become more seasoned, well-travelled and quality conscious, a hotel’s organizational structure must facilitate the implementation of strategies designed to provide higher levels of service quality. This article... more
As hospitality customers become more seasoned, well-travelled and quality conscious, a hotel’s organizational structure must facilitate the implementation of strategies designed to provide higher levels of service quality. This article discusses the weaknesses of the current organizational structure of hotels and presents a framework for the development of a seamless hotel organization. This modified structure is more favorable to the creation of an environment where customer service quality is the organizational driver, allowing hotels to develop service quality as a true competitive advantage.
Research Interests:
Positioning is a form of market communication that plays a vital role in enhancing the attractiveness of a tourism destination. This article describes the different parts of the positioning process and applies it to the case of... more
Positioning is a form of market communication that plays a vital role in enhancing the attractiveness of a tourism destination. This article describes the different parts of the positioning process and applies it to the case of positioning a US destination to Japanese ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
... DOI: 10.1177/105960119001500302 1990 15: 253 Group & Organization Management Harsha E. Chacko Styles Administrators' Perceptions of Their Supervisors' Leadership Methods of UpwardInfluence, Motivational Needs, and... more
... DOI: 10.1177/105960119001500302 1990 15: 253 Group & Organization Management Harsha E. Chacko Styles Administrators' Perceptions of Their Supervisors' Leadership Methods of UpwardInfluence, Motivational Needs, and Published by: ... Methods of Upward Influence, ...
Research Interests:
The National Tour Association (NTA) is the largest trade association in the escorted group tour industry. Members of this association represent a major share of the group motorcoach travel business in the United States. The researchers... more
The National Tour Association (NTA) is the largest trade association in the escorted group tour industry. Members of this association represent a major share of the group motorcoach travel business in the United States. The researchers obtained permission from and worked closely with NTA to analyze the following aspects of group tour operations: market segments, seasonality, organization of tours, modes of transportation, hotel accommodations used, methods of promotion and tour programs offered. A profile of the “average” group tour operator was developed from descriptive statistics.
Research Interests:
... 386 HOSPITALITY RESEARCH JOURNAL Page 5. ... Coding is the beginning of the process of reduction of field data, Coding also begins the theorizing process, which ultimately ends in whatever conclusions and generalizations one draws... more
... 386 HOSPITALITY RESEARCH JOURNAL Page 5. ... Coding is the beginning of the process of reduction of field data, Coding also begins the theorizing process, which ultimately ends in whatever conclusions and generalizations one draws from the research. ...
Research Interests:
The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration at the University of New Orleans was declared a Center of Excellence on Nov. 22,1987 by Chancellor Gregory M. St. L. O'Brien. The faculty of the School were asked to prepare... more
The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration at the University of New Orleans was declared a Center of Excellence on Nov. 22,1987 by Chancellor Gregory M. St. L. O'Brien. The faculty of the School were asked to prepare adetailed proposal for a plan of action that would propel the University of New Orleans' hospitality education program into national prominence.In
Research Interests:
The increasing sophistication of well-traveled customers and the burgeoning young demographic known as Generation Y constitute major environmental forces that are beyond the lodging industry's... more
The increasing sophistication of well-traveled customers and the burgeoning young demographic known as Generation Y constitute major environmental forces that are beyond the lodging industry's immediate control. Generation Y will form the bulk of new hires who, by the nature of their drastic differences in work values and lifestyles, will not be attracted to hotels as they are currently operated.
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Page 1. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, Vol. 9(2) 2008 Available online at http://ijhta.haworthpress.com © 2008 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved. doi:10.1080/15256480801907893 147 ...
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As US states face budgetary constraints, lawmakers are seeking justification for investment in state funded and operated entities such as state parks. The purpose of this paper is to develop a state park evaluation model that takes into... more
As US states face budgetary constraints, lawmakers are seeking justification for investment in state funded and operated entities such as state parks. The purpose of this paper is to develop a state park evaluation model that takes into account economic and noneconomic measures of performance for a portfolio of state administered parks. Utilizing Louisiana state parks, a survey questionnaire was