Microsoft Word 2007 ichrie conference Proceedings Final-Final 06-06-07. doc

 

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2007 Annual International CHRIE Conference & Exposition 
357
INCREASING RESPONSE RATES WHEN SURVEYING HOSPITALITY MANAGERS FOR 
CURRICULUM-RELATED RESEARCH: LESSONS FROM PAST STUDIES AND INTERVIEWS WITH 
LODGING PROFESSIONALS 
 
Swathi Ravichandran 
Kent State University 
Kent, OH, USA 
and 
Susan W. Arendt 
Iowa State University 
Ames, IA, USA 
 
ABSTRACT 
Low response rates have been reported by several researchers when surveying hospitality professionals 
regarding competencies and skills essential to succeed in the hospitality industry. Based on a literature review, 
researchers had indicated that low response rates are a concern specifically with lodging managers. Hence, this 
study sought to identify strategies used in past studies for obtaining higher response rates when surveying hospitality 
managers using mail surveys. Personal interviews were conducted with lodging professionals to identify strategies 
to increase response rates when surveying lodging managers using online surveys. This information is currently 
absent in the hospitality literature. Results of the interviews are presented.
Key words: 
lodging managers, hospitality, online surveys, response rate