Award Date

5-15-2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

William F. Harrah College of Hospitality

First Committee Member

Jungsun (Sunny) Kim

Second Committee Member

Mehmet Erdem

Third Committee Member

Ashok Singh

Fourth Committee Member

Andrew Hardin

Number of Pages

218

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology that enables individuals to experience real-world environments within simulated settings and has increasingly been applied in education and training due to its potential benefits, including cost and time efficiency and the provision of realistic simulations (Cerga, 2024; Pixo, 2025). However, VR also presents certain drawbacks, such as eyestrain and cybersickness (Dymora et al., 2021). In the hospitality industry, VR training has gained attention for its potential to reduce training hours, enhance employee skills, and improve empathy toward customers (Kover, 2020). Despite growing scholarly interest in VR adoption, prior research has primarily focused on general hospitality or educational settings, and no empirical study has systematically examined employees’ adoption of VR training technology within the context of integrated resorts (IRs) (Lee et al., 2020; Manis & Choi, 2019; Oyanagi et al., 2023).

To address this research gap, this study developed and tested an integrated theoretical framework drawing on Person Environment Fit Theory, Perceived Risk Theory, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT and UTAUT2), and Flow Theory. The framework examined the effects of technostress, perceived health risk, perceived enjoyment, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and expected flow on employees’ behavioral intention to use VR training technology. This study also examined the moderating effects of age, gender, and VR experience on the proposed relationships. A survey method was employed, and data was collected from 433 IR employees in Las Vegas. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS 26 was used for data analysis.

The results indicated that perceived health risk had a significant negative effect on employees’ behavioral intention to use VR training technology, whereas perceived enjoyment, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and expected flow had significant positive effects on behavioral intention. In addition, perceived ease of use indirectly influenced intention through perceived usefulness. With respect to moderating effects, gender moderated the relationships between all examined antecedents and behavioral intention, except for technostress. Furthermore, age and prior VR experience moderated the relationships between perceived enjoyment, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, expected flow, and behavioral intention, but not those involving technostress or perceived health risk.

Overall, this study provides a systematic and theory-driven understanding of the factors influencing employees’ behavioral intention to adopt VR training technology while accounting for individual differences in age, gender, and VR experience. By empirically validating an integrated framework that combines technology acceptance, perceived risk, and flow-based perspectives within the IR context, this research extends existing VR and technology adoption research. Practically, the findings provide actionable guidance for IR operators and VR vendors by enabling them to more effectively assess employee perceptions prior to the adoption and implementation of VR training solutions. Additionally, the results offer insights into VR training technology vendors to design and refine systems that maximize value for both employees and IRs.

Keywords

Behavioral Intention; Flow Theory; Integrated Resort (IR); Perceived Risk; Technology Adoption; Virtual Reality (VR) Training

Disciplines

Hospitality Administration and Management | Leisure Studies | Tourism and Travel

File Format

PDF

File Size

2200 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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Available for download on Thursday, May 15, 2031


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