Hotels strategic objectives regarding direct bookings at four- and five-star hotels in the Cape Town Metropole

Permission to conduct research was requested from hotels, with approval given by general managers, before making contact with relevant personnel to complete the online questionnaire. This was done be calling the hotel, emailing general managers and at times by sending WhatsApp messages to general managers where there was an existing relationship with the researcher due to previous employment with the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa. The questionnaire included an introduction to the research to explain its purpose as well as to suppress any concerns. It informed respondents that their participation was voluntary and that they were able to withdraw from the study at any stage. Respondents were also assured that data provided would be known to the researcher and supervisors only and be managed with the utmost integrity. Data related to specific hotels would not be presented with no hotel names used in relation to individual hotel data. Data would only be presented as an outcome from collective responses. Respondent email addresses and other personal contact information provided by respondents would be kept confidential. 

No financial or sensitive information was requested. Ethical approval was obtained from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Faculty’s Research Ethics Committee, on the 28th of April 2020. The research only commenced once ethical approval was obtained. 

Clearance Certificate No | 2020FOBREC755