international one. As international trade and business expand, there is little question but that international linkage will become even more important for the industry in such competitive business environment. Defining the international hotel industry is not an easy mission. Broadly, the international hotel industry can be defined as an industry that exports hospitality services and generates export income. In a sense the hotel industry has always been international, because most hotels have received foreign guests at one time or another. As the industry has evolved over the years, its structure has become increasingly more complex with respect to range, ownership, management, and affiliation. There are many models one may observe, such as independently owned and operated properties; properties that are independently owned and operated with chain affiliation; chain-owned and-operated properties; independently owned, chain-operated properties; franchised properties; referral group properties and others (Gee, 1994). br/>
Table 1. Characteristics of Globalization in Tourism (Feige 1998: 111)
ECONOMY
Horizontal and vertical integration strategies of tourism enterprises
Foreign investment in hotels and tourist attractions ("Global tourism markets")
Global players and strategic alliances (air companies, hotels, tour operators)
Global tourism management
Global competition of holiday resorts
TECHNOLOGY
Global booking systems
Standardized technologies in transport systems
CULTURE
Global tourist: uniform traveller behaviour
Creation of "global tourist village"
ECOLOGY
Tourism as "global syndrome of ecology problem"
Climate changes and their effects on destinations
POLITICS
Increasing importance of international tourism organizations
Necessity for global coordination and regulation of passenger circulation
Sustainable development as quality and dominant idea.
Most of sub industries of hospitality industry were influenced by globalization. Here are some examples:
Hotels: in the period between 1980 and 1998 the global accommodation capacity increased from 8 to 15.4 million beds. The largest increase took place in Europe, it accounts for 38.5 percent and is followed by the USA accounting for 33.5 percent. In the nineties most hotels, around 70,000, were opened in south Asia, a 45 percent growth was achieved in East Asia and in the Pacific Ocean. Six Continents Hotels has establ...
