Start Date

6-1-2011 2:30 PM

End Date

6-1-2011 3:45 PM

Track

1. Track 1 – Formal Paper Presentation

Subject Area

Information Technology

Faculty Member

Dr. Khaldoon Nusair [knusair@mail.ucf.edu]

Abstract

Individuals have many motivations to visit the Internet such as searching for information, communication, and shopping (Rodgers & Sheldon, 2002). Increasingly those individuals meet online to share their opinions and information, express views, and regularly update their status or post blogs and microblogs. More and more people discuss on forums and exchange information/opinions on social networking websites (Chung & Buhalis, 2009). The case for the hospitality industry is not discovered. There is unlimited number of opportunities that social networking website presents to tourism organizations. This study will investigate the issue from consumers’ point of view. In view of the fact that environmental factors have influenced Generation Y shoppers (who born after 1977) to make them different from older groups (Bakewell & Mitchell, 2003), this study only focuses on Generation Y since 65% of this cohort had booked travel arrangements online in 2008 (Jones & Fox, 2009). A sample of U.S. college students was given an online survey, and the survey returned 512 valid responses. It was found that respondents tend to share their experiences related to their experiences in restaurants and hotels, however, they are not using social networking websites to make decisions.

Keywords

Social Networking Websites, Hospitality, Generation Y, Commitment-Trust

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Jan 6th, 2:30 PM Jan 6th, 3:45 PM

Social Networking Websites: Do Generation Y Use Them Before Making Decisions for Hotels and Restaurants?

Individuals have many motivations to visit the Internet such as searching for information, communication, and shopping (Rodgers & Sheldon, 2002). Increasingly those individuals meet online to share their opinions and information, express views, and regularly update their status or post blogs and microblogs. More and more people discuss on forums and exchange information/opinions on social networking websites (Chung & Buhalis, 2009). The case for the hospitality industry is not discovered. There is unlimited number of opportunities that social networking website presents to tourism organizations. This study will investigate the issue from consumers’ point of view. In view of the fact that environmental factors have influenced Generation Y shoppers (who born after 1977) to make them different from older groups (Bakewell & Mitchell, 2003), this study only focuses on Generation Y since 65% of this cohort had booked travel arrangements online in 2008 (Jones & Fox, 2009). A sample of U.S. college students was given an online survey, and the survey returned 512 valid responses. It was found that respondents tend to share their experiences related to their experiences in restaurants and hotels, however, they are not using social networking websites to make decisions.