Abstract
eSports as viewed through sports tourism is a viable business within the hospitality industry. Understandings around the creation of hotels that cater to eSports gamers and eSports competitions offer the opportunity towards enhanced venue operation and attractiveness at the global scale. This discussion is focused upon the Ukraine, specifically focusing upon the Black Sea and Azov Sea costs, in particular the Kherson region. A discussion around the understanding of eSports as viewed through the hospitality industry interest, as well as the potentials towards embracing hotels that cater to eSports gamers and events within the Kherson region, is offered through the view of knowledgeable hospitality professionals. Included in the discussion are the eSports-focused desirable amenities and potentials associated with hidden costs within eSports hotels.
TopIntroduction
Sports tourism attracts more people, fans and, athletes every year all over the world. Within the field of eSpors, the opportunity to create eSports tourism is clearly in its burgeoning stages and has the opportunity to more fully develop within Eastern European countries. Ukraine has the potential resources for sports tourism development. This country is attractive for eSports tourism due to its geographical location, well placed within beautiful and historic lands that are described as Eastern European countries, while representing outstanding tourism opportunities that may enhance the eSports attractiveness associated with the development of hospitality opportunities within hotel and restaurant venues. As understood by Hotel Tech Report (2020),
Let’s go back to basics and look for ways to enhance the guest experience. Put yourself in the guest’s shoes: what are the pain points you experience while traveling? What do you wish you could bring along, and what amenities would really make a difference in your stay?
Today’s guests crave novelty and utility. They want to be surprised with hotel amenities that they’ll actually use. For example, Westin partnered with New Balance to provide running shoes and exercise gear for guests who want to maintain their workout routine while on the road. (para. 4-5)
Yet understanding the desirable amenities as well as hidden costs associated with appealing to and enticing esports gamers and esports competitions is vitally important to the viability of eSports hotels. The hospitality realm encompasses hotels and associated restaurants, while eSports hotels also engage in additional aspects of viability and embracing venues as esports-supportive arenas.
Tourism and the hotel business is a profitable sector of the economic space from the modern world economy point of view. The service sector of hotel complexes are able to make a significant contribution, not only to the economic sphere but also to the enablement of eSports development as an integrally important aspect of the sports industry. In addition, an accelerated development of the tourism and hospitaility economic branch can contribute to a dynamic expansion of the domestic market, as the basis for sustainable economic growth in a country where cyber-tournaments are held.
The global experience of eSports as clearly aligned with the economic development of a country while also enhancing the already superior hotel and restaurant experiences within the Ukraine are associated with implementing the idea of successful long-term development and enhancement of the country’s economic strength. These opportunities testify to the wide horizons associated with tourism and hotel business use, especially within the Ukraine. This might be articulated as regional and national hospitality opportunities through hotel and restaurant development, so local as well as international hotel venues might align with superior eSports opportunities within the Ukraine.
eSports is a relatively new branch of the sports industry, which is associated with the high-tech market and a progressive movement in the modern youth environment while also inclusive of middle age gamers. eSports competitions are held all over the world. There are tournaments, which require the personal attendance of eSportsmen. Such tournaments require special eSports hotel venues to support eSports events, that are attractive as hotel venues and service quality, as well as specifically supportive and engaging of eSports gaming with associated requisite hospitality needs. Offering eSports venues on a global scale is impactful and important towards developing a global understanding of the global citizenry and with special opportunities to experience different ways of living and being in the world through travel and associated hospitality experiences. The global scale of eSports gaming and associated venues, housed within unique countries, cultures and differentiated experiences as eSports venues as well as the larger experiential journey. Some fans get the opportunity to watch and support their favorite team or players. In terms of hosting tournaments, hosting teams and fans of eSports events may be a perspective for the future, so the hospitality venues are relevant and attractive for the hotel sector of the tourism economy.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Hotel: This is a venue that supports and accommodates different services for visitors and guests, including tourists and travelers. Hotel establishments, within the framework if this discussion, are the focus of attention and are highlighted as venues that can be positively developed so as to support and provide accommodations for eSports tournaments as well as other forms of eSports engagement.
Kherson Region: This is a region of the Ukraine that is located in the Black Sea region. Kherson Region is the largest island in the Ukraine, including the Black Sea region.
Sports Tourism: Sports tourism, or eSports tourism as a specific focus, is the expectation and act of movement from one location to another so as to engage in an eSports activity and/or event. Travel is integral to the eSports tourism experience, mandating the engagement in hospitality venues such as hotels and restaurants.
Black Sea Coast: Within the country of Ukraine, there is a body of water labeled as the Black Sea. The placement of the Black Sea is between Eastern Europe and Asia, known as a beautiful body of water and a vacation location.
Tourism: From a business standpoint, this is the commercial side of travel, highlighting places to visit as well as the social, cultural, and economic experience that one can realize through traveling and developing an understanding or awareness with a different environment through involvement and familiarity.
Hospitality: This is a description of the business sector that supports the housing, feeding and entertainment of visitors, guests, tourists, and travelers. Hospitality is considered to be an industry, inclusive of hotels and restaurants.
eSportsmen: This is a label for both men and women, who are eSports gamers.