Business-to-business e-commerce adoption has become increasingly important for small and medium-sized enterprises, allowing them to gain and sustain competitive advantage. B2B adopted at different levels based on different resource endowments leads to competitive advantage being gained and sustained in proportion to that level of adoption. This study uses structural equation modelling to investigate how levels of B2B e-commerce adoption affects and contributes to gaining and sustaining competitive advantage in both US and Egyptian manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises. The key finding is that small and mediumsized enterprises can achieve growth in market share and sales that helps them to improve their position in the global market through higher levels of business-to-business e-commerce adoption. Implications of the study, its limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.

Sense of place is a multidimensional concept. It implies an emotional relationship between an individual and a setting. The current study aims to explore the predictors of place attachment, and measure the effect of place attachment and its predictors on tourist satisfaction, and how this satisfaction could affect tourist future revisits. Using structural equation modelling, this study provides evidence from two distinct places in Egypt: Bahariya Oasis/the White Desert and Fayoum. A questionnaire was used to collect data from repeat tourists to both places. The findings revealed that repeat tourists are place attached. This attachment is positively influencing tourist satisfaction and their intentional repeat visit. The findings of the study could be used to develop marketing strategies of destinations with sense of place dimensions. Tour operators and travel agents are requested to include sense of place dimensions in their tour packages. National authorities are invited to focus on sense of place dimensions in their destinations.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly in developing countries, are regarded as slow adopters of technology, especially e-commerce. Travel agents are a typical category of SMEs, experiencing changes in the travel market structure, caused by the use of e-commerce. E-Commerce adoption is a means of supporting agents' future survival and competitiveness at a time when many are facing the threat of disintermediation from the global travel market. The investigation of e-commerce adoption by SMEs in developing countries represents an emerging area of research, with only a limited number of studies undertaken to date. This research aims to examine the perceived benefits of an advanced level e-commerce adoption by Egyptian travel agents. Structural equation modeling is used to categorize a set of perceived benefit factors for e-commerce adoption, and establish a relationship with the level of adoption. Results indicate that marketing and competition benefits, essential benefits that support strategy and development, and business efficiency benefits all positively contribute to decisions that lead to an advanced level of e-commerce being adopted.

Current collaborative and rapid developments in tourism and information and communication technologies (ICTs) make it difficult to imagine that tourism existed before ICTs. Communication technology is one main reason for the existence of the Internet. Travel agents (TAs) are among service providers whom their Internet adoption could be the best marketing device for their business and a tool for their competitive advantages. The study explores the Internet adoption of the Egyptian TAs, patterns of usage and perceived benefits and barriers of e‐commerce adoption. It is found that the majority of TAs use the Internet to provide TA's information, find out about customers and competitors. Sales and revenue growth, increasing competitive advantages and marketing activities are the agents’ perceived benefits of adopting e‐commerce. Limited resources, unskilled labour, lack of readiness of public infrastructure and customers are among the main obstacles for not adopting the Internet technologies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.