Measuring tourist satisfaction: a factor-cluster segmentation approach

Tourist satisfaction has been considered as a tool for increasing destination competitiveness. In an attempt to gain a better understanding of tourists’ satisfaction in an island mass destination this study has taken Crete as a case with the aim to identify the underlying dimensions of tourists’ satisfaction, to investigate whether tourists could be grouped into distinct segments and to examine the significant difference between the segments and sociodemographic and travel arrangement characteristics. A segmentation procedure based on destination dimensions produced three clusters: the ‘Higher-Satisfied’; the ‘In-Betweeners’; and the ‘Lower-Satisfied’. The implications and the conclusions of the study are provided in relation to the marketing of the island of Crete in the future

Coaching as a social process

In this conceptual paper, we argue the importance to the coaching profession of a critical understanding of coaching as a social process, in order to promote coaching as an enabler for change, and facilitate its use in other cultures and challenging contexts. We start with a critical analysis of the origin of coaching, arguing that neoliberal values have been embedded in the discourse of coaching. We also discuss the impact of coaching as an instrumental and ideological device, sometimes used in organisations as a process of control, and suggest that understanding coaching as a social process has the potential to transform it into an enabler for change. We propose a framework for understanding how different philosophical positions affect the way coaches may respond to the challenges of intercultural or oppressive social contexts. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for coaching research and development

Tourist vacation preferences: the case of mass tourists to Crete

Tourists during their vacations participate in a variety of activities. These activities range from active to passive ones and they may depend on various factors including travel arrangement and sociodemographic characteristics. The aim of this paper is to provide guidelines to Cretan destination managers for supplying well diversified tourist products that could satisfy particular requirements of tourists by examining tourist vacation preferences and identifying whether certain factors can influence tourists’ preferences. The findings suggest that tourists visiting Crete prefer passive activities, and that the three main factors that influence tourists activities are nationality, age and season of visit. Despite the limitations of the study, it is evident that various policies are required by Cretan destination managers in order to provide activities directed to satisfy tourists’ demand. These policies are discussed in relation to Crete’s brand identity

The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Leadership in Business Management of Greek Pharmaceutical Companies

This research purpose has to do with a theoretical communication model, having as main participants of the research,supervisors, middle and senior managers, working for Greek pharmaceutical companies to derive & comment the following data: The recognition and administration of Emotional Intelligence that incorporates self-awareness, self-management, social management and social awareness among the participants, The recognition and administration of Emotional Intelligence traits i.e. self-awareness, self-management, social management and social awareness among the participants that express communication abilities & leadership effectiveness to a large extent among genders, males and females, The recognition and administration of Emotional Intelligence traits that express communication abilities & leadership effectiveness to a large extent among ages’ groups, The recognition and administration of Emotional Intelligence traits that express communication abilities & leadership effectiveness to a large extent among ages’ groups. In practice, the aim of this research will lead to the development of the above mentioned theoretical communication model which incorporates the existence & use of all Emotional Intelligence traits in the pharmaceutical sector as valuable contributors in leadership effectiveness, decision making processes. Based on the abovementioned reasons, a specific questionnaire was formulated and distributed to 250 specialized pharmaceutical professionals after having been adapted accordingly always based on existing data of Pharmaceutical Market in Greece; in order to guide us to relevant conclusions about importance of Emotional Intelligence for the Greek pharmaceutical companies. Another aspect of the answers for that set of questions addressed to senior or middle level managers might lead at the same time to the assessment of emotional intelligence value in the context of communication with other members of the team & also subordinates. Therefore, we believe that this specific study will be an additional tool available for pharmaceutical companies’ executives since it focuses on the usefulness and application of Emotional Intelligence incorporated in the communication model of leadership effectiveness, decision making processes that are associated with profitability and generally professional progress