Final answer:
An example of a high touch environment is a hotel check-in, where there is significant human interaction and personalized service. ATM, toll-free catalogue ordering, and online bill paying are low touch, as they minimize or eliminate the need for human contact.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of a "high touch" environment would be a hotel check-in. High touch environments are characterized by personal interaction and service, where employees are engaged in direct contact with customers. The concept of a high touch environment stands in contrast to 'low touch' environments where technology reduces or eliminates the need for human interaction.
Option (a), a hotel check-in, typically involves a receptionist or concierge who greets you, helps with your booking details, provides information about the hotel's facilities, and addresses any immediate requests or concerns. This makes it a clear example of a high touch service experience. In contrast, options (b) an ATM, (c) toll-free catalogue ordering, and (d) online bill paying all represent low touch environments because they are designed to provide services with minimal human interaction.
Illustrating the concept further, buying a used laptop computer at a garage sale is an example of a high touch transaction because it involves personal interaction, negotiation, and the ability to touch and see the product before purchase. Ordering flowers over the internet, on the other hand, is a low touch experience as it relies on online communication with no direct human contact. Lastly, the tertiary sector, which includes service jobs like a waitress taking an order, like at the Kahala Hilton Hotel in Hawaii, exemplifies a high touch environment due to the interpersonal nature of the service provided.