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Following an experiential marketing approach, this study addresses whether customer destination-based experiences (CDBE) affect tourists’ loyalty and emotions and if positive and negative emotions mediate this relationship. Hence, this study aims to verify the role positive and negative emotions play in the link between CDBE and tourists’ loyalty in a safe and joyful tourism destination in Europe.

A conceptual model was tested using data collected from tourists visiting the Algarve region, a mature seaside tourism destination in southern Portugal. The relationships implicit in the model were tested through the partial least squares structural equation modelling method.

The findings highlight that positive and negative tourist’s emotional responses mediate the relationship between CDBE and loyalty. Moreover, tourists’ experience and loyalty are influenced by their positive and negative emotions. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Leveraged on extant research gaps, this study contributes to deepening the existing tourism literature by discussing whether CDBE affect tourists’ loyalty and emotions and whether these positive and negative emotions mediate that relationship in the context of a highly appraised touristic destination in Europe.

With recent advances in artificial intelligence, the hospitality industry has introduced the concept of unmanned smart hotels staffed by service robots instead of human employees. Research is needed to understand consumers’ receptivity to such an innovation. This paper examines factors associated with consumers’ potential resistance to using automated service hotels via two sequential studies. Given that younger generations of consumers are typically early adopters of advanced technology and innovative services, our sampling approach focused on this consumer group.

Two studies were conducted. Study 1 proposed and empirically tested a theoretical model. Results revealed that attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control each positively influenced individuals’ intentions to use unmanned smart hotels. In Study 2, we further investigated aspects informing perceived security, a key variable in the use of unmanned smart hotels.

Findings showed how people’s beliefs about unmanned smart hotels and security control assurances led to perceived security. These perceptions were shaped by perceived physical risks, privacy concerns, website design and hotel reputation. Overall, this research provides theoretical and practical implications for various stakeholders associated with unmanned smart hotels.

Findings of this study suggested that managers of unmanned smart hotels should design user-friendly, secure processes and offer comprehensive support resources to enhance customer experience and usage.

The findings provide a holistic understanding of consumers’ receptivity to unmanned smart hotels.