The Tourist Gaze or Employee Recruitment and Retention Handbook

The Tourist Gaze

Author: John Urry

Praise for the First Edition:

"There is much to be applauded here...this is an engaging and thought provoking book which should be read by those interested in advertising and the changing nature of contemporary culture." - Contemporary Sociology

"The book is written in a very accessible style that would serve as a good point of entry for anyone interested in leisure, tourism, and cultural change in contemporary societies. The scope of Urry's book is breathtaking, one is left with a feeling of coming to terms with the complex set of social relations that are tourism, both in their production and consumption." - Planning Practice and Research

This is a fully revised edition of the groundbreaking study on tourism, which was originally published in 1990. The original chapters have been empirically updated and many new research findings incorporated and evaluated.

This Second Edition deepens our understanding of how the tourist gaze orders and regulates the relationship with the tourist environment, demarcating the "other" and identifying the "out-of-the-ordinary." It elucidates the relationship between tourism and embodiment and elaborates on the connections between mobility as a mark of modern and postmodern experience and the attraction of tourism as a lifestyle choice.

The result is a book that builds on the proven strengths of the First Edition and revitalizes the argument to address the needs of researchers and students in the new century.

 

Booknews

Urry (sociology, Lancaster U.) discusses how and why people, for short periods, leave their normal place of work and residence and consume unnecessary goods and services for pleasure, centering his excursions around the tourist gaze upon landscapes or townscapes that are, for them, out of the ordinary. The gaze, he points out, varies by society, social group, and historical period. The 1990 edition having been reprinted almost years since then, he now updates it with new data and studies and better illustrations, and adds a chapter on globalizing the gaze. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Table of Contents:

	The Tourist Gaze
	Mass Tourism and the Rise and Fall of the Seaside Resort
	The Changing Economics of the Tourist Industry
	Working under the Tourist Gaze
	Cultural Changes and the Restructuring of Tourism
	Gazing on History
	Seeing and Theming
	Globalizing the Gaze

Book review: The Reflexology Atlas or What You Must Know About Vitamins Minerals Herbs and More

Employee Recruitment and Retention Handbook

Author: Diane Arthur

Here is the definitive recruitment and retention guide for the today's employment environment. It reflects the realities of a workplace in which job candidates are scarce, competition for good workers is fierce, and employees are expecting greater incentives to stay.

Because it's the first in-depth resource to blend new strategies with traditional and emerging best practices, this handbook covers everything you need to consider as a recruiter and HR professional.

Despite swings in the economy at large, employers are facing a steady and unprecedented labor shortage. In almost every field, the demand for skilled employees continues to exceed the supply. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the situation will only worsen, projecting a shortfall of 10 million workers through 2008. Other experts estimate that the labor/capital inversion may last for 25 years.

As this competitive environment stretches into the future, how can your company be sure that it finds and keeps the best employees now? The solution lies in recognizing how employment needs are changing -- and in anticipating as well as addressing those needs. This comprehensive handbook will position you to do just that. Filled with insights from best-practices employers, it analyzes the shifting employment picture. You'll discover a blend of new and proven methods designed to help you recruit and retain top performers.

HR expert Diane Arthur starts by examining today's diverse workforce in depth. Citing examples from companies ranging from Cisco to Kron Chocolatier, she reveals which incentives and benefits really matter to employees ... how they define loyalty ... and why they may ultimately choose to stay with your company or leave it.

If you've been seeking a compendium of solidly creative HR ideas, you'll find it here. With an eye toward the bottom line, Arthur compares traditional recruitment sources like employee referrals and newspaper ads to innovative efforts such as billboard advertising and company-sponsored events. A key chapter probes the benefits and drawbacks of recruiting online, whether via your company's own Web site or a generalized site.

Of course, attracting good candidates is just the beginning. Now more than ever, you have to be sure they can perform. Arthur provides a refresher course on competency-based interviewing that soundly evaluates a person's likelihood of success in your organization.

Your company must also strive to retain the best talent. This book is filled with ideas for structuring attractive compensation packages and work/life practices that support your business objectives. You'll also learn about unusual but successful perks (private movie screenings, pets at work) and the changing role of training, which helps employees become more invested in your business.

Finally, the author points you toward trends that may ease your long-term recruitment and retention needs. These include such innovations as business/education partnerships, employer consortiums, and the use of autonomous work units.