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Blal Inès

Main contract

EHL Hospitality Business School
Route de Berne 301, 1000 Lausanne 25, Switzerland, CH

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Completed

The impact of hotel online-customer ratings on lodging performance across industry segments.

AGP

Role: Main Applicant

Description du projet : This research project has two main objectives in relation to the effect of social media on firm performance: ' To assess the impact that the content of user-generated websites has on lodging performance. In other words, we aim to examine the degree to which online customer ratings predict the performance of lodging sales. ' To determine whether the effect of online customer ratings on lodging performance varies across industry segments.

Research team within HES-SO: Blal Inès

Partenaires académiques: HES-SO Rectorat

Durée du projet: 01.09.2013 - 28.02.2015

Montant global du projet: 97'350 CHF

Statut: Completed

2023

Emotional intelligence matters in hospitality education: contributions of emotional intelligence, fluid ability, and personality to hospitality grades

Scientific paper ArODES

Juliane Völker, Inès Blal, Marcello Mortillaro

Frontiers in Psychology, 14

Link to the publication

Summary:

Introduction: According to recent meta-analyses, emotional intelligence can significantly predict academic performance. In this research, we wanted to investigate a particular group of students for which emotional intelligence should be crucial. Namely, we examined whether emotional intelligence, conceptualized as an ability, uniquely contributes to academic performance in hospitality management education beyond fluid intelligence and personality. Methods: Using a battery of tests and questionnaires in an online survey, we analyzed if fluid ability, the Big-Five personality dimensions, and ability-based emotional intelligence predict six module grades in a sample of N = 330 first-semester students at a Swiss-based hospitality school. Results: We found that the ability to manage other people’s emotions is more predictive of module grades than fluid ability if the courses involve substantial parts of interactive work. Complementarily, the more a module focuses on theoretical knowledge or abstract subject material, the more fluid ability predicted performance. Other abilities and factors – emotion understanding, emotion regulation, the students’ age, conscientiousness, and openness – predicted performance only in specific modules, hinting that the didactic methods and grading procedures are complex and involve various skills and dispositions of the students. Discussion: Given that the hospitality education and industry are buzzing with interactions with peers and guests alike, we provide evidence that interpersonal and emotional competencies are vital to hospitality curricula.

Cross-dimensional measures of asset lightness and fee orientation in lodging groups

Scientific paper ArODES

Sonja Lussi, Philippe Masset, Jean-Philippe Weisskopf, Inès Blal

International journal of hospitality management, 2023, vol. 109, article 103391

Link to the publication

Summary:

This study proposes cross-dimensional measures of the degree of implementation of the lodging industry’s asset- light & fee-oriented (ALFO) strategy. We apply a common factor analysis to measure the degree of implemented ALFO strategy on a sample of 14 lodging companies over the period 2001–2021. The analysis confirms that there is no one-size-fits-all approach and that companies position themselves distinctively on the two dimensions. The fee-oriented strategy has strengthened continuously since 2005, while that of the asset-light strategy has increased rapidly between 2001 and 2005, but its evolution has been more erratic since then. Our results shed light on the importance of intangibles in the asset-light strategy and the operationalisation of the construct. This study also contributes to the debate on the financial impact of the ALFO strategy. We show that AL and FO positively affect financial performance and firm value and that by combining them, the effect doubles.

2020

The asset-light strategies and the dividend puzzle

Scientific paper ArODES

international evidence from the hospitality industry

Cédric Poretti, Inès Blal

International journal of hospitality management, 2020, vol. 91, article 102639, pp. 1-10

Link to the publication

Summary:

This study investigates the impact of the asset-light strategy on dividend policy using a sample of large international publicly-listed companies (399 firm-year observations) operating in the hotel and restaurant industry over the 2006–2018 period. Taking the perspective of agency theory, we posit that the asset-light strategy in conjunction with significant growth is a context in which high agency conflicts arise. Using Tobit and OLS models, our results indicate that adopting an asset-light strategy only impacts dividend policy for firms with high growth. More interestingly, the positive impact of the asset-light strategy on dividend payouts occurs for firms with substantial growth if institutional ownership is low. In such situations, significant potential agency conflicts (due to high free cash flows) coupled with the lack of monitoring from institutional investors lead firms to use dividends as a monitoring tool. Finally, a change analysis supports our main findings.

2019

What is happening in Paris ? Airbnb, hotels, and the Parisian market :

Scientific paper ArODES

a case study

Cindy Yoonjoung Heo, Inès Blal, Miju Choi

Tourism management, 2019, vol. 70, pp. 78-88

Link to the publication

Summary:

Airbnb has been the subject of heated discussions among tourism and hospitality scholars. In order to understand the true impact of P2Psharing on the tourism and hospitality landscape, it is important to understand that market in detail first. Therefore, in this paper, we explore the development of the Airbnb market over the last seven years in Paris, the most popular destination for Airbnb guests with more than 40,000 accommodation rentals. This research note is a summary of our findings on the Paris market. Our study shows different growth and seasonality patterns for Airbnb and hotels and dissimilarities in the geographical location of the offers. The findings indicate that the two products are not in direct competition and that their relationship might be more complex than previously thought. We trust that exploring the nature of the competitive relationship would be a valuable avenue for further investigation.

The asset light model :

Scientific paper ArODES

a blind spot in hospitality research

Inès Blal, Giuliano Bianchi

International journal of hospitality management, 2019, vol. 76, part A, pp. 39-42

Link to the publication

Summary:

This research note raises the question of the lack of critical appraisal of the asset light model. Its purpose is to trigger an in-depth exploration of the determinants of performance of the implementation of such decision. To explore our argument, we used a longitudinal data design that combines both cross sections and time series to examine the effects of the asset light model on share returns, EBITDA and ROE of six leading U.S corporations over a 16-year period. We found that the model had no impact on financial performance. Our purpose is to a trigger debate within academia and practitioners on when and how the asset light model is a valid option. As well as which type of contract to rely on and how to build a differentiating strategy when implementing the asset light model.

2018

Airbnb’s effect on hotel sales growth

Scientific paper ArODES

Inès Blal, Manisha Singal, Jonathan Templin

International journal of hospitality management, 2018, vol. 73, pp. 85-92

Link to the publication

Summary:

Disruption of existing industries by peer-to-peer sharing economy platforms, like Airbnb, has received extensive media attention primarily regarding the regulatory and the social aspects of the sharing economy. In this paper, we examine the substitution and complementary effects of Airbnb supply on hotel sales performance patterns in San Francisco, the birthplace of Airbnb. Our results, based on a mixed-model analysis using a saturated, unstructured covariance matrix, show that overall hotel RevPAR is unrelated to total Airbnb supply. Interestingly however, in certain segments, RevPAR is affected by the average price of Airbnb listings. More importantly, hotel sales performance is impacted by Airbnb customer reviews, which points to nuanced and contextual complementary and substitution effects. We outline suggestions for future research as well as practical implications for hotel firms operating in similar markets where Airbnb has high penetration rates.

2016

Entry modes : management contract

Book chapter ArODES

Michael Turner, Demian Hodari, Inès Blal

The Routeledge Handbook of Hotel Chain Management (pp. 157-170). 2016, Oxon, New-York : Routledge

Link to the publication

Selecting a partner hotel by the chain

Book chapter ArODES

Inès Blal, Demian Hodari, Michael Turner

The Routeledge handbook of hotel chain management (pp. 205-215). 2016, New York : Routledge, 2016

Link to the publication

Summary:

This Handbook aids in filling the gap by exploring and critically evaluates the debates, issues and controversies of all aspects of hotel chains from their nature, fundamentals of existence and operation, expansion, strategic and operational aspects of their activities and geographical presence. It brings together leading specialists from range of disciplinary backgrounds and regions to provide state-of-the-art theoretical reflection and empirical research on current issues and future debates. Each of the five inter-related section explores and evaluates issues that are of extreme importance to hotel chain management, focusing on theoretical issues, the expansion of hotel chains, strategic and operational issues, the view point of the individual affiliated hotel and finally the current and future debates in the theory and practice of hotel chain management arising from globalisation, demographic trends, sustainability, and new technology development. It provides an invaluable resource for all those with an interest in hotel management, hospitality, tourism and business encouraging dialogue across disciplinary boundaries and areas of study. This is essential reading for students, researchers and academics of Hospitality as well as those of Tourism, Marketing, Business and Events Management.

A property owner's perspective on the M&A trend

Professional paper ArODES

Inès Blal, Alex Sogno

hotelsmag.com,

Link to the publication

2014

Online reviews: Insights into their effects on hotel sales

Professional paper ArODES

Inès Blal, Michael Sturman

hospitalitynet.org, Novembre 2014

Link to the publication

Quelques précisions concernant les effets des revues en ligne sur les ventes de nuitées

Professional paper ArODES

Inès Blal, Michael Sturman

tendancehotellerie.fr, Novembre 2014

Link to the publication

The differential effects of the quality and quantity of online reviews on hotel room sales

Scientific paper ArODES

Inès Blal, Michael Sturman

Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, November 2014, vol. 55, no. 4, pp. 365-375

Link to the publication

Summary:

While it is generally accepted that hotel reviews and ratings posted on travel websites drive hotel sales and revenue, the effects of reviews can be parsed into volume (the number of reviews about a hotel) and valence (the ratings in those reviews). This study finds that the two chief aspects of reviews—volume and valence—have different effects on hotels in various chain scale segments. Industry reports and academic studies show that online reviews influence customers’ choice of hotel and thus drive hotels’ revenue per available room (RevPAR). However, the valence of those reviews has a greater effect on luxury hotels’ RevPAR, while the volume of reviews has a greater effect on lower-tier hotels. Based on a study of 319 hotels in the London metropolitan market, these effects apply equally to urban and suburban hotels, as well as chain and independent hotels. The results further indicate that the rating score effect on RevPAR has little impact on the economy and midscale segments, while an increasing number of reviews actually has negative effects on higher-end hotels.

2022

Cross-dimensional measures of asset lightness and fee orientation in lodging groups

Conference ArODES

Sonja Lussi, Philippe Masset, Jean-Philippe Weisskopf, Inès Blal

Proceedings of the 4th Wine & Hospitality Management Workshop, 2022

Link to the conference

Summary:

This study proposes cross-dimensional measures of the degree of implementation of the lodging industry's asset-light & fee-oriented (ALFO) strategy. We apply a common factor analysis to measure the degree of implemented ALFO strategy on a sample of 14 lodging companies over the period 2001-2021. The analysis confirms that there is no one-size-fits-all approach and that companies position themselves distinctively on the two dimensions.FO has strengthened continuously since 2005, while the degree of AL increased rapidly between 2001 and 2005, but its evolution has been more erratic since then. Results shed light on the importance of intangibles in the asset-light strategy and the operalization of the construct. This study also contributes to the debate on the financial impact of the ALFO strategy. We show that AL and FO positively affect financial performance and firm value and that by combining them, the effect doubles.

2021

Traditional to online over night :

Conference ArODES

hospitality student satisfaction during the first Covid-19 semester

Laura Zizka, Inès Blal, Reza Etemad-Sajadi, Martha Sandoval Alvarado

ICERI2021 Proceedings : 14th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation

Link to the conference

Summary:

Student satisfaction has been the focus of research projects gauging how students evaluate the higher education institution (HEI) on a program and course level. In traditional courses, student satisfaction revolves around the teacher, pedagogical style, and academic resources available. For fully online courses, students typically rate the experience based on four relationships: Learner-faculty, learner-learner, learner-content, and learner-technology. However, the spring semester of 2020 was neither traditional nor fully online; rather, it entailed an immediate and brutal shift from one learning mode to another. With Covid-19, faculty worldwide attempted to maintain the execution of their educational mission for their students and themselves. This paper investigates the factors impacting students’ satisfaction with their remote learning experience throughout the ‘forced’ confinement period in one HEI. Although initially communicated as a temporary closure in March 2020, this HEI Switzerland was obliged by the Swiss government to remain closed throughout the rest of the academic semester (i.e., 11 weeks). Unlike other Swiss HEIs that took weeks to move online, this HEI shifted to remote teaching over the weekend. In this unique setting, there was no break in the learning cycle for the students. Based on the literature, a 19-question survey conducted in June 2020 examined the relationships students have in three educational settings, i.e., learner-technology, learner-faculty, and learner-content, to the amount, accuracy, frequency, relevance, and timeliness of the messages communicated to students for these three categories. A total of 2254 Bachelor students from this Swiss HEI received this survey. The results from this study are critical to management and faculty as schools are currently preparing for the September intake in the midst of still uncertain covid-related times. This paper concludes with recommendations for creating future innovative ‘planned’ digitized courses programs that increase student satisfaction.

2018

Effects of women in top management roles working part-time on hotel performance volatility

Conference ArODES

Sowon Kim, Giuliano Bianchi, Teofil Ciobanu, Inès Blal

Proceedings of the EuroCHRIE 2018 Conference

Link to the conference

Summary:

This study examines the relationship between women in top management positions while working part-time (WTMpt) and sales performance using data collected from 47 hotels located across ten cantons of French- and German-speaking regions of Switzerland. We use two-stage least squares regression models to overcome the reverse causality of this relationship and include macro variables in our model (birth rates, institutional childcare, political parties, and female political representation). Our results show that WTMpt decrease the volatility of hotels’ Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) in both high and low seasons.

2016

Firm boundaries, transaction costs economics, and capabilities of lodging corporations :

Conference ArODES

a conceptual model for the adoption of the asset light model

Inès Blal

Proceedings of EuroCHRIE 2016 Conference

Link to the conference

Summary:

Why did lodging corporations opt for the asset light model in the first place and why did they adopt it at different times? The answer to such questions could not only help further explore the fundamental question in strategy of why do firms’ strategy differ, but also provide insights to managers as to the implications of such strategic choices on corporate performance. Built around three stages and three propositions, the theoretical model proposed in this article integrates constructs from the managerial capability, isomorphism literature, the resource-based view, and Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) to depict the triggers of vertical disintegration. This model underlies the dynamics of a highly significant phenomena in hospitality industry: the development of the asset light model.

2014

Drivers of IT spend in hotels :

Conference ArODES

tools to refine IT expenditures

Inès Blal, Hilary Catherine Murphy

Proceedings of EuroCHRIE conference 2014

Link to the conference

Summary:

The purpose of this study is to identify the drivers and predictors of IT spend in hotels. In this paper we take a pragmatic stand to the preparation of expenses in a hotel and suggest that because managers rely on past years’ performance to establish budgets and because of corporate politics, I T spends does not vary over short periods of time. Also we report that the hotel size, its operating type, and segment determine its IT spends. We hope that this first examination of the realities of resource allocation in hotels will trigger research on h ow to improve budgeting practices and enhance the future managerial functions within hotels.

The property management system :

Conference ArODES

an operational perspective

Inès Blal, Hilary Catherine Murphy

Proceedings of euroCHRIE Conference 2014

Link to the conference

Summary:

While Property Management System ( PMS ) is often referred to as the single most important IT application for hotels, field studies report an u nderutilization of the software functions. We suggest that while structural variables can explain this phenomenon , inadequate training and application by end - users also contribute . We designed a two - stage methodology. First we collected data from a survey of 160 hotels to establish the situation with regards to the PMS in hotel. We further explored the reasons of underutilization of PMS with in - depth interviews of f ront desk managers . Quantitative data analysis shows that little is spent on IT training at the hotel level that contributes to underutilisation. . Results of the interviews analysis reveal two major barriers to the full utilisation this critical IT system PMS in hotels. Front desk managers identified training and divergent departmental needs as the field constraints to use the PMS to its full potential. Key Words Information system, PMS, Training Theme 5 - Functional Futures Introduction Hotel propertie s widely use Property Management Systems (PMS) software ( Fuchs, Witting and Hopken, 2009 ; Murphy and Kokaz , 2011) . This information system allows hotel man

Achievements

PEOPLE@HES-SO Directory and Skills inventory

Blal Inès

PEOPLE@HES-SO
Directory and Skills inventory