As the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm, the hotel industry struggled to remain afloat. Many resorted to innovative solutions to maintain their business and jobs. As the hotel industry grappled with ideas that could keep their business afloat, an idea called EasyHub was born. EasyHub is a hypothetical mobile device application that bridges the user and a paired SMART device or an entire ecosystem of SMART devices. While the design for EasyHub was initially intended to help hotels increase their accessibility, it soon became apparent that EasyHub could potentially be a product of much greater market value. As the idea of EasyHub became more developed, the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to subdue, and the hotel industry was on the mend. Assuming that EasyHub is found useful, it could theoretically boost demand to businesses that use them. Many hotels already utilize SMART devices to some degree making them prime targets for EasyHub. This research paper seeks to determine if EasyHub can aid hotels’ recovery from the pandemic-induced recession by increasing revenue. Surveys were conducted among hoteliers and a general audience to determine the impact of EasyHub on guests’ decisions to stay at a hotel. The results indicate that EasyHub would not be a significant factor in guests’ decision-making of hotels; however, this may be due to a lack of clarity about the product, as many respondents expressed a desire for more information. Further development and testing of EasyHub is necessary before a market analysis and its full potential can be assessed.

Social media has shifted the fashion industry to a new norm of fast fashion. This study examines the impact of social media marketing tactics utilized by the fashion industry, to determine the long-lasting effects on the environment. Primarily, research was conducted through a literature review to analyze the history of the fashion industry, as well as the shift to fast fashion, which encompasses microtrends, overproduction, overconsumption, and product utilization. Later, the literature review analyzes the environmental impact pertaining to each part of the product life cycle. Finally, two surveys were created and distributed to Arizona State University students in the W.P. Carey School of Business to further understand consumer behavior, opinions, and prominent purchase factors present in their decisions. The data interpretation from both surveys correlates to the research findings in the literature review, connecting the idea of low consumer value for ethical sustainability in purchasing habits, in addition to the level that student purchase habits are influenced by social media in respondents aged 18-24. This research provides the basis for needed legislation and corporate initiative, to alleviate the environment from the hazardous consequences of the fast fashion market.

In the United States gambling regulations have been loosening considerably over the past several years. Many states have legalized sports betting either at physical locations or through mobile apps. With the legalizations have come an influx of marketing efforts by all the large gambling companies. These marketing efforts raise serious ethical and legal questions, as groups of vulnerable people such as minors are being frequently exposed to sports betting and other online gaming. The sports gambling industry was worth 76.75 billion dollars in 2021 and is rapidly growing with a growth rate of 10% year over year (Grand View Research). Given how lucrative sports betting has been even in its relative infancy the major players in the field are attacking potential markets fiercely, flooding TV, websites, and social media with advertisements. Every major sports league has been quick to partner with the large sports betting corporations and air numerous advertisements during every nationally televised game. Mainstream exposure such as this is what makes these tactics so controversial. While these advertisements may not be as clearly problematic as previously outlawed tactics which preyed on the young and vulnerable in the alcohol and tobacco industry, they share many of the same troubling elements. For these reasons we find it important to examine the effects of current marketing practices used within the gambling industry. It is critical to begin these examinations now as every day that passes potentially harmful practices become increasingly commonplace and would be tougher to reverse or alter.

In the United States, gambling regulations have been loosening considerably over the past several years. Many states have legalized sports betting either at physical locations or through mobile apps. With the legalizations have come an influx of marketing efforts by all the large gambling companies. These marketing efforts raise serious ethical and legal questions, as groups of vulnerable people such as minors are being frequently exposed to sports betting and other online gaming.

This thesis is a marketing plan for a theoretical, potential expansion franchise that would be in San Antonio, Texas and be a part of the National Football League (NFL). There were five topics of marketing features which assist in planning an expansion franchise joining a professional sports league I wanted to cover: competitive analysis, customer analysis, target market identification, external environment, and SWOT analysis. In relation to the five topics, I was able to construct a Qualtrics Survey from a few hundred business students from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. This was necessary to determine demographics and collect data on what a random group would think of the five topics I chose in relation to an expansion team and the effects the expansion team could theoretically have in correspondence with all factors of a professional sports franchise. In conclusion, I was able to determine San Antonio would be able to sustain and have a NFL franchise whenever the time would be right to do so.