The new economy in Spain: a regional analysis

Paper submitted to the 44th European Congress of the European Regional Science Association, Porto, 25-29 August 2004.

Estrategias y ventajas competitivas de los hoteles españoles y su relación con el desempeño

Actualmente, el sector hotelero está inmerso en un entorno de alta incertidumbre y muy competitivo por lo que necesita información estratégica para la correcta gestión de sus establecimientos. Dicha información puede obtenerse a partir de la clasificación de los hoteles en grupos estratégicos. Esta investigación empírica presenta los grupos estratégicos en el sector hotelero como una herramienta muy útil para la planificación y la implantación de estrategias de los hoteles ya que permiten identificar las estrategias y las ventajas competitivas de este sector. Además, se analiza si existen diferencias de desempeño entre los distintos grupos estratégicos hoteleros obtenidos. Para la identificación y la caracterización de los grupos se emplean las dimensiones compromiso de recursos y alcance de las actividades hoteleras.

Travel frequency of seniors tourists

Current demand for tourism is characterized by more frequent, shorter trips throughout the year. Such trends may have adverse effects on the hospitality industry but benefit the travel industry. Most current literature assumes that the variables that determine travel participation are identical to those that influence travel frequency, though there is no evidence to support this assumption. Therefore, the current study seeks to identify variables that influence travel frequency among Spanish senior tourists, who represent a key target market for the tourism industry. The results specify that gender, self-perceived economic status, and self-perceived time available variables strongly determine Spanish seniors' travel frequency.

Evaluation of an integrated system for classification, assessment and comparison of services for long-term care in Europe: the eDESDE-LTC study

Background: The harmonization of European health systems brings with it a need for tools to allow the standardized collection of information about medical care. A common coding system and standards for the description of services are needed to allow local data to be incorporated into evidence-informed policy, and to permit equity and mobility to be assessed. The aim of this project has been to design such a classification and a related tool for the coding of services for Long Term Care (DESDE-LTC), based on the European Service Mapping Schedule (ESMS). Methods: The development of DESDE-LTC followed an iterative process using nominal groups in 6 European countries. 54 researchers and stakeholders in health and social services contributed to this process. In order to classify services, we use the minimal organization unit or “Basic Stable Input of Care” (BSIC), coded by its principal function or “Main Type of Care” (MTC). The evaluation of the tool included an analysis of feasibility, consistency, ontology, inter-rater reliability, Boolean Factor Analysis, and a preliminary impact analysis (screening, scoping and appraisal). Results: DESDE-LTC includes an alpha-numerical coding system, a glossary and an assessment instrument for mapping and counting LTC. It shows high feasibility, consistency, inter-rater reliability and face, content and construct validity. DESDE-LTC is ontologically consistent. It is regarded by experts as useful and relevant for evidence-informed decision making. Conclusion: DESDE-LTC contributes to establishing a common terminology, taxonomy and coding of LTC services in a European context, and a standard procedure for data collection and international comparison.