Tourism Spending

List of Tourism Videos, I Reviewed.

1. Fiji Travel Information: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/fiji#
2. Vacation in Ireland: http://www.discoverireland.com/us/
3. Philippines Best Vacation: http://visitwowphilippines.blogspot.com/
4. Hawaii’s Official Tourism: http://www.gohawaii.com/stories/stories.html?video=18&cid=2009r3stories_kauaihome
5. Luna Lodge of Costa Rica: http://www.lunalodge.com/index-en.html
6. Sarasota and Her Island: http://www.sarasotafl.org/
7. Cincinnati USA: http://www.cincinnatiusa.com/vidplay/
8. Visit Colorado: http://www.colorado.com/Podcasts.aspx
9. Cowboys Stadium: http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/multimedia.cfm
10. Universal Studios: http://www.universalorlando.com/home/home.aspx#
11. Visit Milwaukee: http://www.visitmilwaukee.org/
12. Disneyland: http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage&bhcp=1
13. Enjoy England: http://www.enjoyengland.com/
14. FIFA World Cup: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/
15. Visit Australia: http://www.visitaustralia.com/videos.php

Top Five Videos:
1. Vacation in Ireland
2. Hawaii’s Official Tourism
3. Sarasota and Her Island
4. Visit Australia
5. Philippines Best Vacation

This class was remarkable and this blog was very enjoyable. It was amusing going online and view different kinds of videos that help improve tourism spending to the entity featured. In the past few years the tourism industry had to come up with new ideas on how to build a tourism video that is going to bring in revenue to the destination. Tourism destination are innovating their websites and adding more features to the video tours.

I looked around online and find 15 different types of videos that help exemplify what are the current trends and how it can persuade an tourists’ to visit the destination. Out of those 15 videos, I have chosen 5 videos that had good characteristics of tourism spending. Those 5 videos are, 1. Vacation in Ireland, 2. Hawaii’s Official Tourism, 3. Sarasota and Her Island, 4. Visit Australia, 5. Philippines Best Vacation. Of those top five videos I view, the best video I chose is Vacation in Ireland.
I love the how Ireland offers itself to you by saying, “Go Where Ireland Takes You.” Ireland looks like a breathtaking experience to visit. Ireland offers a variety of outdoor recreation activities to each tourist who visits Ireland. I really love how DiscoeverIreland.com has plenty of videos’ on their website to view, so can view other tourist or locals experience in Ireland. The video I watch had two guys going on an outdoor recreational activity in Ireland. By having video of customer testimonials is such a great piece for Return on Investment on tourism spending in Ireland. The Ireland videos’ on the website also really shows much of what you are going to expect when you visit Ireland. There is a variety of videos’ that show the culture in Ireland to music and dancing in Ireland. The videos’ are all in high quality and very clear to watch. DiscoverIreland.com will definitely attract future tourist interest to visit Ireland and help tourism spending in Ireland.

Lon's at The Hermosa Inn

Want to eat where Senator John McCain and his wife eats when their in Phoenix? You can if you are willing to pay for a luxurious 4 diamond meal. Lon’s at The Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley is one of the best 4 diamond restaurants I been to. The main attraction that caught my eye was that, Lon’s is very beautiful and elegant. Lon’s is much smaller than other 4 diamond restaurants but according to Lon’s, small is beautiful where not just a room is offered, but a choice of intimate settings with unmistakable style and casual elegance accommodating 12 to 150. (Lon’s 2009) You have to know where Lon’s is because; Lon’s is hidden in the neighborhoods of Paradise Valley. When you first approach, Lon’s you are directed to park your car in front and the valets will take it from there. Valet service is complimentary. Lon’s has a much different feel to it than any other luxurious restaurants I been to. Lon’s gives you a glimpse back in time to the days when the cowboys where all over the southwest. Lon’s offers brunch, lunch, and dinner. Lon’s also offers a wine celler, which will cost you about $80 a person. Lon’s wine selection is the best in Arizona; Lon’s takes pride in their wine selection. Lon’s offers the wine aficionado a selection of outstanding wine and exceptional wine values from countries like Italy, Spain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, as well as Germany and Alsace, Elegant stemware showcases the flavor of each wine. (Lon’s 2009) Today the artistry is carried on by the renowned Chef Michael Rusconi at Lon’s restaurant in Phoenix. It is because of Rusconi’s ‘edible art’ that many restaurant reviews and national publications have named Lon’s one of the best restaurants in Phoenix and Scottsdale. (Lon’s 2009) When you eat at Lon’s you are eating on a spectacular patio and the fireplaces warms up the area and has a great glowing feeling on the patio as you eat. Lon’s has the most beautiful desert landscape that surrounds the restaurant and the resort. The desert landscape brings in the southwest environment and feeling to the guest. You can plan your next special event or wedding at Lon’s. Lon’s will provide gracious service, personalized arrangements, and an environment that boasts with southwestern architecture, authentic furnishings, and original artwork painted by the original owner, Lon Megargee, some 60 years ago. (Lon’s 2009) Paula, a guest author on Bellaonline.com says the following about Lon’s, the menu is authentic southwest and yet very sophisticated. The meats are wood – grilled which add that tang that only comes from real wood. I like the fact that many of the dishes feature local ingredients. When I travel I want to a taste experience that cannot be duplicated at chain restaurants across the country. Fresh vegetables and herbs are grown at the Hermosa! (Laurita 2009) Gourmet Magazine, Recognized Lon’s as one of the southwest’s most distinctive restaurants. Bryan Miller of the New York Times says Stucco walls…Wood beams…Southwestern art…and the enticing aroma of a wood burning oven – all contribute to a beguiling and romantic evening. Lon’s is a great example of a successful profitable manage restaurant in Phoenix and Scottsdale. The staffs are very friendly and are ready to sit you for your southwestern dinner at Lon’s. Lon’s does an excellent job on managing there reservation. You can setup your reservation online at Lons.com. Lon’s is the place to eat in Phoenix and Scottsdale for a romantic dinner.

Works Cited

Lon's. "Welcome." Lon's at The Hermosa. Mullen Public Relations, Jan. 2009. Web. 27 Oct. 2009. <http://www.lons.com/about-lons.html>.

Laurita, Paula S.W. "Lon's at the Hermosa - A Restaurant Review." The Voice of Women. Minerva Webworks. LLC, 2009. Web. 27 Oct. 2009. .

Sport Management Book Review

Ruben R. Rush

TDM 401 – Tourism Management

14 October 2009

Review of Popular Management Book

Sport Management Principles and Applications

Butterworth – Heinemann is an imprint of Elsevier Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP 30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803. ISBN – 13: 978-07506-6676-2, ISBN – 10: 0-7506-6676-5; 229 pages, paperback

This unique sport management book showcases an extensive examination of moral and ethical concepts, principles, and issues in sport management administration, sport organization and operation of sport management. In the introductory chapter, it presents what is sport management, unique features of sports, and the environment of sport management, three sectors of sports, and the difference about sports management. The growth and professionalization of sports has driven changes in the consumption, production and management of sporting events and organizations at all levels (Chapter 1). The unique feature of sport is the phenomenon of students and / or people having a passion for athletes, competitions, and professional sport teams. Sport management is concise in the areas of economic and social activity in the country. In the sport management environment, there are two sides: consumers and the government. The consumer can watch any elite sporting event (Olympic Games, English Premier League Football, National Football League, and Major League Baseball) through cable television, free air television; listen to them on the radio; and read about their favorite player or player’s statistics online or in the newspaper. The governments’ viewpoint of elite sporting events is a way to nationalism, economic development, and social development for the country as a whole. In chapter 2, it talks about the roles of the state in sport development. Today the state government institutions, provides a complex array of sport facilities and service. Many sport stadiums throughout the world were initially financed by government funds and while subsequently controlled and operated by independent operators, are subject to government legislation and policy guidelines (Chapter 2) In chapter 3 its goes over the roles of the nonprofit sector in sports development. It looks at why nonprofit sport has a huge part in the provision on sport participation opportunities. Chapter 3 also looks at the governing bodies of sports, the sports club environment (Administrators, Coaches, Officials, and General Volunteers), government intervention, and issues for the nonprofit sport sector. Chapter 4 inspects the key roles of professional sport organizations and looks at the unique features of professional sport leagues and clubs. Chapter 4 reviews the relationship between sport organizations and professional sports and the impact that professional sports has on the sport industry. Professional sports are the most expensive and most watched sporting event. Professional sports and the industry that surrounds it dominates world sport and those that play it are cultural celebrities on a global scale. Local, regional, state, and national sports organizations are often geared around feeding professional sport leagues by developing player talent or spectator interest. (Chapter 4) Chapter 5 analyzes the process and techniques of strategic management. Chapter 5 focuses on the analysis of an organization’s position in the competitive environment, the determination of its direction and goal, and the selection of an appropriate strategy. In the competitive environment analysis is the five forces analyses, which are 1. The threat of new entrants: At any time an organization is faced with the possibility that new competitors could enter their industry. 2. The bargaining power of buyers: Individuals, groups, and companies that purchase the products and services that the sport organization offers. 3. The bargaining power of suppliers: Raw materials essential to sporting organizations threaten to raise prices or withdraw their products or services. 4. The threat of substitute product and service: The traditional sport industry sectors are expanding, and it is more common for different sports to compete against each other. 5. The intensity of rivalry among competitors in an industry: More sports organizations offering virtually identical products and services as each other, which brings the higher intensity of rivalry. Chapter 6 and 7 reviews the organizational structure and the human resource management of sports development. Chapter 6 provides the unique feature of how sport organizations are structured and the principles for managing organizational structures within a community, state, national, and professional sport organizations. Chapter 7 looks at the most important concepts of human resource management within a sport organization, such as volunteer management and paid staff management. Chapter 7 also looks at non – sport organization and professional sport organization and their chief executive officers, general managers and other senior executives often receive performance bonuses and have access to share options that allow them to share in the wealth and profitability of the company. Chapter 8 reviews the role of leadership in sport management. Leadership is probably the most research topic but the least understood in the context of sport management. When there is leadership there has to be followersip too. In chapter 8 it states, Irrespective of the diversity of opinion in both academic and popular writings most leadership authors agree on one of the most basic of leadership principles: Leadership implies direction. One cannot lead if there is no destination or anticipated outcome. Even if the followers do not exactly know the destinations or anticipated outcome, the leader should at least have some understanding of where he or she will lead towards. Chapter 9 observes the influence of organizational culture in sports. In many countries sports has for some time been regarded as a particularly important social institution. A trait common too many sport organizational cultures, and one that many are seeking to change. However, the influence of the national culture means that such changes are more likely to occur in some nations than others. (Chapter 9) Chapter 10 talks about sports governance and what are the roles. Governance is necessary for all groups – nation states, corporate entities, societies, associations, and sport organizations – to function properly and effectively. (Chapter 10) This chapter talks about the theory of sport governance on how it provides a unique overview of the development of theories of corporate governance. Some of the important theories applied to the study of organizational governance include agency theory, stewardship theory, institutional theory, resource dependence theory, network theory, and stakeholder theory. The last chapter of this Sport Management book studies the ways sport organizations can manage their operations and evaluate their performance. Sport organizations face two conflicting models of organizational behavior when deciding upon their underlying mission and goals. The first is the profit maximization model, which assumes that a club is simply a firm in a perfectly competitive product market ant that profit is the single driving motivational force. The second is the utility maximization model, which emphasizes the rivalry between clubs, and their desire to win as many games as possible. (Chapter 11) This Sport management book will introduce you to the management principles within a sport organizations operating at the community, state, national, and professional level of sports. It will also give you insight on how international sport organization practices the range of management in sports. This is the review Barnes and Noble gives Sport Management: principles and application second edition provides a comprehensive introduction to the practical application of management principles within sport organisations, ideal for all students studying sport management at an introductory level. It presents an international balanced view between accepted practice and what research evidence tells us about the application of a range of management principles and practices in sport. (Barnes 2009)

Works Cited

Sports Management: Principles and Applications. January 2009. Barnesandnoble.com. 9 October 2009. <http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Sport-Management/Russell-Hoye/e/9780750687553>

Blog Assignment 1

SWOT Analysis of 5 Tourism Website

Ruben R. Rush
TDM 401 – Tourism Management
9 September 2009

1. Kings Island (Example of Strength)
Website = http://www.visitkingsisland.com
Strengths
- They showcase when their hours of operation, on the homepage. They have flashing date and time when their close.
- Great strategy on bring in people with their 4 – day renewal sale for $69.99, which days are September 7, 25, 26, 27
- They have their announcement and upcoming events on their homepage.
- Website is very easy to navigate
- When you first go the homepage, an important flashing message pops up in bright red and white lettering telling you what is important.
Weaknesses
- They can show some video clips of their thrill rides, for potential thrill seekers.
- No parking prices or information.
- No park policies information.
Opportunities
- Have a quick link on homepage, for parking prices, and information.
- Have some photos and video of the park in action.
- Have a quick link to show park policies.
Threats
- No zoom opinion to view the park map closer.
- The park map is very small and lettering is very small.
- Kings Island name is not very large on homepage.

2. Marriott (Example of strength) (Strongest Site)
Website = http://www.marriott.com
Strengths
- Homepage is simple and very user friendly.
- Has ease on reserving guest rooms online
- At the bottom of the homepage, you can click on various city hotel sites.
Weaknesses
- Too much writing on the homepage.
- Word font on website a little too small.
- White background makes website a bit blinding.
Opportunities
- Can minimize some of the less use information on the homepage.
- Increase the word font throughout the whole website.
- Add some color to homepage.
Threats
- Too much information on homepage can chase way potential visitor.
- Too much searching on website can make website hard to use for seniors.
- Homepage is overwhelming with a lot of writing.

3. Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Example of Strength)
Website = http://www.siouxfalls.org
Strengths
- Great city news and information on homepage.
- Has employment, business, and contact us information on top of the homepage, instead of, on the bottom like most website.
- Has weather information at the bottom of homepage.
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t have a quick link for the Parks and Recreation Department.
- A lot of writing on the homepage.
- Homepage has too much information, can be overwhelming.
Opportunities
- Add a quick link for the Parks and Recreation Department.
- Reduce some of the less use information on the homepage.
- Reduce some of the writing on the homepage.
Threats
- May have some complaints about not having a quick link to access the Parks and Recreation Department easier.
- Can lose resident focus with the overwhelming of information on homepage.
- City brand name on homepage is very small.

4. Navajo Nation (Example of Weaknesses)
Website = http://discovernavajo.com
Strengths
- Great introduction letter on homepage, tells you a little about the Navajo nation.
- Website is very basic, with different quick links on the left side of the homepage.
- A lot of information on website to learn about the Navajo people.
Weaknesses
- Have some tour video of key attraction on the Navajo Reservation.
- Have some information about the president and vice – president of the Navajo nation.
- Have some information about the casino.
Opportunities
- Add some tour video of the great scenic attraction across the Navajo nation.
- Add information about president and vice – president of the Navajo nation.
- Add map and information about the casino, for future tourist.
- Finish putting up the scenic routes page.
Threats
- May lose tourist focus, because there’s no casino information.
- No city or town information on website, can lose assurance of potential tourist.
- Website is very unclear on buying authentic Navajo jewelry and art.
- Website is very unclear on getting authentic Navajo food.

5. Fiji (Example of Strength)
Website = http://www.fijime.com
Strengths
- Great photo slideshow on homepage.
- Has nice photo quick link to view islands map, quick search, Air pacific, Matai specialists, and your Fiji wedding.
- There’s quick links for Bula (Hello), dive, explore, meet, romance, thrill, and vacation package.
- You can easy search different islands, places to stay, things to do or see, and getting to Fiji.
- Very neat and clean.
Weaknesses
- They these quick link, that say “Advertise your Business here” Needs to be remove.
- Too small writing under the photos.
- No chat option.
Opportunities
- Show when the best time, to visit Fiji.
- Have a quick link for Chat.
- Have information on government policies.
Threats
- Show current Fiji trends.
- Show current weather.
- Show some example of Fiji food and tradition.


I strongly believe the Marriott website is number one, because on January 8, 2007, Marriott.com set a record by generating more than 55,000 reservations in one day, posting a record 55,109 reservations and generating over $17 million in gross revenue. You could say ‘They must be doing something right.’ When travelling, travelers often compare various companies based on price, location, and availability. Due to the size of the company and their well developed website, Marriott has a strict advantage over other hotel chain companies.

The Marriott homepage is simple and very user friendly. The first thing a viewer would see is “Find a Hotel”. This feature allows the user to find a Marriott hotel anywhere in the world. It is very self explanatory and the user would just have to type in where in particular they would want to go and the results would give the viewer all the Marriott hotels in that area. The company has many no hassle policies that guests really love. The Find and Reserve feature online is very convenient for many users. They can just type in where they want to go and when they want to go and the website does the rest. It will pull up Marriott hotels in that area and the user can explore and decide which Marriott hotel is best for them. Potential customers can also pick and choose what room and price range fits their needs. The Marriott also has a great rewards program that their guests can sign up for.

The Marriott website does have room for improvement. They can reduce a lot of the wording on the homepage and add some size to the writing font.

The Marriott Hotel website was the strongest website of the five websites. The website was very simple and user friendly. The website had ease on reserving guest rooms online.

Introduction

Welcome to my Blog. I will be posting my Blog for my TDM 401 class. I hope I get a good grade!

I’m a senior at Arizona State University, my Major is Parks and Recreation Management. I love to watch sports, go to the local gym, and enjoy the outdoors. Here are some interesting things about me, I don’t drink pop and it’s been 8 years and counting and I don’t eat at any fast food chains and it’s been three years. For my internship, I’m planning on working for a sports management company.