Digital personalities: an examination of the online identity of travel and tourism web sites

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify whether travel and tourism related web sites derive a certain personality type.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed the ten‐item personality inventory (TIPI) measure to assess personality dimensions of 188 tourism web sites including airlines, hotels, cruise lines, casinos, restaurants, and government funded travel web sites. Data analysis of 413 cases was conducted through mean comparisons and ANOVA.

Findings

Data identified web sites representing different segments of the hospitality and tourism industries do vary in relation to online personalities. More specifically, web sites for venues such as casinos were represented as extraverted while lodging web sites were deemed more conscientious.

Research limitations/implications

While this study aimed to identify web site personalities of businesses within the tourism segment, not all categories were represented. Furthermore, response choices were limited only 20 of the personality objectives from the TIPI personality scale were examined.

Practical implications

This study demonstrated different personality characteristics are represented through tourism web sites, indicating providers may need to focus their web presence in a manner which engages potential travellers based on such features.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the body of scholarly research related to TIPI and further demonstrates consumer awareness and preference for web sites which augment their personality.

Citation

Virginia Phelan, K., Mills, J.E., Douglas, A.C. and Brian Aday, J. (2013), "Digital personalities: an examination of the online identity of travel and tourism web sites", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, Vol. 4 No. 3, pp. 248-262. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-11-2012-0032