عنوان

Factors influencing the successful development of hospitality SMEs :

Number

TLets529423

Title Proper

Factors influencing the successful development of hospitality SMEs :

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Yazici, Senem

Title Proper by Another Author

a study of independent hotels in North Cyprus

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

University of Surrey

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2010

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ph.D.

Body granting the degree

University of Surrey

Text preceding or following the note

2010

Text of Note

In the field of business growth, most research has focused on the entrepreneur's characteristics andformulation of growth paths for business. In recognising this, the research presented in this thesisaimed to explore and evaluate the key factors controlling hotel growth in the tourism industry.More specifically, the thesis is concerned with entrepreneurship in a two specific contexts - islandtourism and socio-economic uncertainty. Islands are a feature of the tourism industry, and theymay present special characteristics which influence small business growth (capacity constraints, lackof infrastructure, etc. ). Likewise much tourism is undertaken in contexts of socio-economicuncertainty due to political instability - which might also affect how small businessesfu nction andgrow.From an extensive review of the entrepreneurship literature a number of different approaches togrowth were identified and their propositions for achieving successful growth were evaluated. Inaddition, this review identified common key factors from different sectors and business variableswhich were further categorised into four groupings: entrepreneur/personality attributes, business,external influence and entrepreneur orientation.A qualitative case study approach was employed in order to develop a richer and deeperunderstandingo f the key growth factors for hotel entrepreneurship.T he key factors of growth were investigated in five successful hotels in North Cyprus. Data was collected from any person who wasrelated to the activities of the hotel: entrepreneurs, family members, managers, employees,customers and friends. A series of in-depth semi-structured interviews and observations were carriedout involving respondents in Kyrenia, North Cyprus. Relevant documents for analysis werecollected from the five case study hotels and official bodies like the Tourism Ministry.The literature related to the growth of hotels indicated that the hotel business is complex andrequires a different management style and personal skills compared to any other business sector,which makes forming strategiest o pursue growth complicated for entrepreneurs.Of 25 key factors investigated, sixteen influences on the growth of hotels in North Cyprus werefound, These are desire to succeed, active risk taker, education, family history, network of contacts,other business interests of the owner, age of founders, state support, location, familyt"investing"friends, key employees/partners,c ustomer concentration, autonomy, innovativeness,p roactivenessand competitive aggressivenessE. ach growth factor is related to the others and the factorsc reate thepath of growth for the entrepreneurs. However, the entrepreneur's intention to grow also plays animportant role in making the developments successful. It is therefore suggested that it is theentrepreneurs' decisions that lead them to see the opportunities and use them with the combinationof factors to pursue successful growth.It was found that the key factors were primarily related to the entrepreneur's characteristics andleadership. The findings from the case study hotels further suggested that location, loyal customersand loyal employees played a key role in achieving growth. An entrepreneur's ability and skills todevelop and manage a hotel with the combination of good networking, leadership, and seeingopportunities and adapting to changes in time, appear to depend very much on the country'scircumstances and past life experiences of the entrepreneur.

Yazici, Senem

University of Surrey

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y