Reporting the Relatively Lower Success of Women in Hosted Accommodation in Rural Western Australia

Abstract

The owners of 655 hosted accommodation businesses throughout Western Australia were surveyed in 2004ndash;2005 in order to gauge and understand their level of success. The paper describes the level of business success (occupancy rates) and self-perception of success reported by these hosted accommodation owners. The study finds that there are significant differences between male and female hosted accommodation owners in rural locations. In particular, the financial resources and occupancy rates of the business were significantly lower for female-owned firms than their male counterparts. Some possible reasons for this finding are explored.

Keywords:

• Australia
• rural
• gender
• hosted accommodation
• success
• small business tourism