Communicating effectively across the cultural barrier : a cross-cultural study of the Sydney and Atlanta hotel industries
type: CreativeWork
description: This study aimed to look at the importance of cultural awareness across the hospitality industry as a whole and the industry's response to this issue. The research set out three hypotheses based on one main research question. The research question postulated was: What guest services are Sydney and Atlanta hoteliers providing to meet the needs of guests from different cultural backgrounds? The research was carried out using a descriptive qualitative research design, additionally a cross-sectional time frame was used. The research was conducted within the hotel population in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, and in Sydney, New South Wales. Australia. The research was completed through the use of a mail-questionnaire, however there was a relatively small sample size and a low response rate. The average hotel that responded to the questionnaires were three star properties located in the city centre or suburbs with an average of one hundred rooms, and an average occupancy rule of between sixty and eighty percent over the previous twelve months. The data was analysed using SPSS to calculate frequency distribution and percentages. Cross- tabulations. Chi-square tests, and correlations. The analysed data showed that hoteliers ranked the issue of cultural awareness as important to the hospitality industry, thus hypothesis one was accepted. However further analysis showed that hoteliers' beliefs are not affected by the grade of the property to which they are attached. The analysed data showed that even though the majority of hoteliers provided less than four of the listed facilities to their guests, there was a positive relationship between the perceived importance of cultural awareness by hoteliers and the level of the facilities that are provided by the hoteliers, and therefore hypothesis two can be accepted. Furthermore the data revealed that there is no relationship between the star grading that a hotel has achieved and the level of facilities that they provide.…
abstract: This study aimed to look at the importance of cultural awareness across the hospitality industry as a whole and the industry's response to this issue. The research set out three hypotheses based on one main research question. The research question postulated was: What guest services are Sydney and Atlanta hoteliers providing to meet the needs of guests from different cultural backgrounds? The research was carried out using a descriptive qualitative research design, additionally a cross-sectional time frame was used. The research was conducted within the hotel population in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, and in Sydney, New South Wales. Australia. The research was completed through the use of a mail-questionnaire, however there was a relatively small sample size and a low response rate. The average hotel that responded to the questionnaires were three star properties located in the city centre or suburbs with an average of one hundred rooms, and an average occupancy rule of between sixty and eighty percent over the previous twelve months. The data was analysed using SPSS to calculate frequency distribution and percentages. Cross- tabulations. Chi-square tests, and correlations. The analysed data showed that hoteliers ranked the issue of cultural awareness as important to the hospitality industry, thus hypothesis one was accepted. However further analysis showed that hoteliers' beliefs are not affected by the grade of the property to which they are attached. The analysed data showed that even though the majority of hoteliers provided less than four of the listed facilities to their guests, there was a positive relationship between the perceived importance of cultural awareness by hoteliers and the level of the facilities that are provided by the hoteliers, and therefore hypothesis two can be accepted. Furthermore the data revealed that there is no relationship between the star grading that a hotel has achieved and the level of facilities that they provide.…
author: Lacey, Danielle
keywords: Hotels, Employees, Training of, Intercultural communication., Business
date published: 2005-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-27T19:21:17Z
provider: Edith Cowan University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia