Conference Proceedings The 26th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism Jan 8-9, 2021 Virtual Conference Planned and Hosted by: Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON School of Hotel and Tourism Management THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY Editors Dr. Dan Wang, Paper Review Committee Chair Dr. Yoon Koh, Conference Organization Co-Chair Dr. Jason Draper, Conference Organization Co-Chair The 26th Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism University of Houston Preface On behalf of the Graduate Conference Organizing Committee at the University of Houston and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, I am very pleased to introduce the proceedings of The 26th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism held online, January 8-9, 2021. This year we received 253 submissions. The abstracts were split between two presentation types. 129 papers made stand-up presentations, and 117 made poster presentations. Two panel sessions were devoted to the development of young professionals. Titles of the panel sessions were 1) A session with three editors and 2) Effectively engaging students. Each panel session was highly appreciated. We express our sincere thanks to the panels. The success of this year’s conference is accredited to many individuals and organizations. First, we would like to acknowledge the sponsoring schools and industry partners for their financial support. We would also like to thank all of the authors, reviewers, and track chairs for making this massive project possible. Special thanks to 10 track chairs and all 222 external reviewers for their precious time spent providing valuable comments to the authors. The paper review process could not have been completed without the dedication of reviewers. We also wish to acknowledge that all of the ten track chairs were extremely supportive, and the review process was completed smoothly. This proceeding is the final result of the quality work contributed by the authors, the reviewers, and the track chairs. Our thanks also go to the Best Paper Selection Committee members: Professor Kaye Chon, Professor Ki-Joon Back, and Professor Dennis Reynolds. They spent their valuable time evaluating papers nominated for the best paper awards and provided recommendations for the four best conference paper awards. And now, last but not least, a special thanks goes to the organizing committee. Thank you for your hard work! This past year was a particularly challenging year to all of us. However, the University of Houston and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University felt it was extremely important to forge ahead and continue the tradition of this annual conference that develops and supports future hospitality and tourism educators and scholars. Although different than the previous 25 years, we hope all who participate enjoy and learn from our virtual experience, especially those who are the future of hospitality and tourism education and scholarship. This annual conference shows why hospitality and tourism are and will continue to be vital to our global society. Once again, thank you to all of the students, faculty, industry, and everyone who continue to support this great conference! In conclusion, we would like to thank Professor Kaye Chon for having the insight to initiate this meaningful conference 26 years ago. Without his great vision and tremendous efforts, we would not have such a valuable platform for future talents in academia to share their cutting-edge research, develop new research ideas, and network with fellow students and faculty members. Despite the challenges in the environment, we expect another great conference online! Dan Wang, PhD, Yoon Koh, PhD, & Jason Draper, PhD Editors The 26th Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism University of Houston Proceedings Editorial Team Editors: Dan Wang, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Yoon Koh, University of Houston Jason Draper, University of Houston Paper Review Committee Chair Dr. Dan Wang The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Best Conference Paper Selection Committee Professor Kaye Chon The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Professor Ki-Joon Back University of Houston Professor Dennis Reynolds University of Houston Track Chairs Consumer Behavior, Hospitality Dr. Laurie Wu Temple University Consumer Behavior, Tourism Dr. Ksenia Kirillova Institut Paul Bocuse, France Education Dr. Nicholas Thomas DePaul University Finance & Economics Dr. Agnes DeFranco Univ. of Houston Human Resources & Leadership Dr. Hyounae (Kelly) Min Cal Poly Pomona Lodging Mgt & Service Quality Dr. David Kwun Univ. of Central Florida Marketing Dr. Wan Yang Cal Poly Pomona Restaurant & Food Service Dr. Junehee Kwon Kansas State Univ. IT Adoption & Application Dr. Thomas Schrier Iowa State University Tourism & Sustainability Dr. Vincent Tung The Hong Kong Polytechnic Univ. Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism University of Houston Page | i Reviewers Aaron Hsiao James Cook Univ. Chang Huh Niagara Univ. Univ. of Central Alan Fyall Charles Qiu Xiamen Univ. Florida Alei Fan Purdue Univ. Chen-Wei Willie Tao Oklahoma State Univ. Alessandra Marasco Chihyung Ok Temple Univ. Univ. of Nevada, Las Univ. of Nevada, Las Amanda Belarmino Christine Bergman Vegas Vegas Chun-Chu Bamboo Washington State Amit Sharma Penn State Univ. Chen Univ. Cyprus Univ. of Anna Farmaki Courtney Suess Texas A&M Univ. Technology Univ. of Nevada, Las Anthony Gatling Craig Lee Univ. of Otago Vegas Antony Wong Hong Kong PolyU Crystal Shi Hong Kong PolyU Univ. of Central Arthur Huang D. Christopher Taylor Univ. of Houston Florida Univ. of Nevada, Las Ashok Singh Dae-Young Kim Univ. of Missouri Vegas Sam Houston State Basem Boutros Daniel Leung Hong Kong PolyU Univ. Ben Dewald Cal Poly Pomona Danny Choi Texas Tech University Univ. of Nevada Las Billy Bai Dave Chan Hong Kong PolyU Vegas Carl Behnke Purdue Univ. David Olds Bradley Univ. Carl Boger Univ. of Houston Demi Deng Western Sydney Univ. Univ. of Nevada Las Carola Raab Denis Tolkach James Cook Univ. Vegas Univ. of Nevada Las Cass Shum Dennis Reynolds Washington State Univ Vegas Univ. of Central Catherine Curtis Oklahoma State Univ. Diego Bufquin Florida Cecilia Ngwira Hong Kong PolyU Dori Dennison East Carolina Univ. Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism University of Houston Page | ii Edward Udd Radford Univ. Han Wen Univ. of North Texas Univ. of Central Univ. of Central Edwin Torres Heejung Ro Florida Florida California State E'Lisha Fogle Polytechnic Univ. Heekyung Sung California State Univ. Pomona Univ. of Massachusetts Emily Ma Heelye Park Iowa State Univ. Amherst Eojina Kim Virginia Tech Hengyun Li Hong Kong PolyU Florida International Eric Beckman Henry Tsai Hong Kong PolyU Univ. Eric Brown Iowa State Univ. Hongbo Liu Univ. of Surrey Eric Olson Iowa State Univ. Honggen Xiao Hong Kong PolyU Florida International Eunha Jeong Iowa State Univ. Howook Chang Univ. Macau Univ. of Univ. of Nevada Las Eunhye Olivia Park Science and Hyelin Kim Vegas Technology The Univ. of Washington State Eunkyong Cindy Choi Hyounae Min Mississippi Univ. Washington State Eunkyoung Park Iowa State Univ. Hyun Jeong Kim University The Univ. of Faizan Ali Univ. of South Florida Hyun-Woo Joung Mississippi Univ. of South Fang Meng Jacey Choe Univ. of Macau Carolina Univ. of Nevada Las Faranak Memarzadeh San Jose State Univ. James Busser Vegas Fei Hao Hong Kong PolyU Janelle Chan Hong Kong PolyU Fred Mayo New York University Jay Neal Univ. of Houston The Open Univ. of Univ. of Central Fuad Mehraliyev Jeeyeon Jeannie Hahm Hong Kong Florida Northern Arizona Univ. of Central Galen Collins Jeffrey Weinland Univ. Florida Gary Ellis Texas A&M Univ. Jenna Seung Hyun Lee East Carolina Univ. Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism University of Houston Page | iii North Dakoda State Southwest Minnesota Jeongdoo Park Joyce Hwang Univ. State Univ. Univ. of Central Jeong-Yeol Park Juan Madera Univ. of Houston Florida Univ. of Central Jessica Yuan Texas Tech Univ. Juhee Kang Florida Jewoo Kim Iowa State Univ. Junghoon Lee East Carolina Univ. Univ. of Hawaiʻi at Ji Hye Min Univ. of North Texas Junwook Chi Mānoa Jichul Jang Kansas State Univ. Kara Wolfe Bradley Univ. California State Jie Sun Polytechnic Univ. Karen Xie Univ. of Denver Pomona Jinah Park Hong Kong PolyU Karin Weber Hong Kong PolyU USF Sarasota- Jing Li Texas Tech Univ. Katerina Berezina Manatee/ The univ. of Mississippi Deggendorf Institute of Jing Yang Katerina Volchek Technology Univ. of South Jingru Zhang Fudan Univ. Kawon Kim Carolina Iowa State Univ. Joan Su Iowa State Univ. Ken Tsai Submission 26 Oklahoma State Joelle Soulard Univ. of Illinois Kevin Kam Fung So University California Polytechnic John Farrish Southern Illinois Univ. Kevin Lin State Univ. Eastern Kentucky Jon Mcchesney Kevin Roberts Kansas State Univ. Univ. Jonathon Day Purdue Univ. Kiwon Lee Kent State Univ. Joongwon Shin Hong Kong PolyU Kristin Malek Kansas State Univ. Univ. of Central North Dakoda State Jorge Ridderstaat Kwangsoo Park Florida Univ. Joy Huang Univ. of Illinois Lakshman Rajagopal Iowa State Univ. Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism University of Houston Page | iv Macao Institute for Univ. of Nevada, Las Lianping Ren Mehmet Erdem Tourism Studies Vegas Univ. of Massachusetts Lina Xiong Colorado State Univ. Melissa Baker Amherst Linchi Kwok Cal Poly Pomona Michael Tews Penn State Univ. Linda Woo Hong Kong PolyU Michelle Alcorn Texas Tech Univ. Lindsey Lee Temple University Michelle Russen Univ. of Houston Florida International Lisa Cain Mimi Li Hong Kong PolyU Univ. Lisa Gao Hong Kong PolyU Mingming Cheng Curtin Univ. Lisa Slevitch Oklahoma State Univ. Minjung Shin Univ. of Houston Lorenzo Masiero Hong Kong PolyU Minsun Kim LSU Shreveport Lu Lu Temple Univ. Minwoo Lee Univ. of Houston Lu Zhang Michigan State Univ. Miran Kim Michigan State Univ.