Ana Brochado and Fernando Brochado
The concept of camping has changed over time, with new niche markets appealing to sustainable tourists. Glamping – short for “glamorous camping” – offers a way to experience the…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of camping has changed over time, with new niche markets appealing to sustainable tourists. Glamping – short for “glamorous camping” – offers a way to experience the positive aspects of camping while minimising the negatives. This paper aims to present the empirical findings of an exploratory study that examined tourists’ Web-reviews to identify the expressive dimensions that describe these travellers’ experience.
Design/methodology/approach
A content analysis of Web reviews provided by tourists on glamping booking websites produced a battery of concepts used to assess glamping experiences from the guests’ perspective. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used.
Findings
The analysis identified 11 themes: experience, hotel, learn, host, camping, nature, food, ingredients, different, eco and yoga. The results reveal that, when quality of experience is evaluated through user-generated content, two attributes appear to be involved – functional elements offered by service providers and consumers’ emotional elements.
Originality/value
Web-reviews clearly offer important information to managers in the glamping sector. The present study’s analysis revealed that different market segments (i.e. couples, visitors with families or friends and those travelling alone) share certain aspects of glamping experiences.
研究目的
随着新兴市场吸引可持续旅游者的目光, 露营概念正在与日改变。Glamping – “豪华露营”的简称 – 指减少负面不便的同时体验露营之美。本论文旨在通过分析网上游客评论以确定豪华露营体验的描述型维度。
研究设计/方法/途径
本论文采用豪华露营预定网站的游客评论为样本, 进行文本分析, 以探究豪华露营用户体验。本论文采用定量和定性分析相结合的方式进行研究。
研究结果
文本分析结果确立了11个主题:体验、酒店、学习、主人公、露营、自然、食物、原料、区别、生态和瑜伽。此结果表明, 当豪华露营体验的质量在用户生成内容中评价时, 牵扯其两项特点:服务提供者的功能要素和顾客感知要素。
研究原创性/价值
网站评论向豪华露营的管理者们提供重要信息。本论文分析结果表明每个市场细分(即单独旅行、夫妻旅行、或者家庭旅行、朋友旅行等)对于豪华露营体验有着不同的兴趣点。
关键词
用户生成内容 文本分析, 体验, 豪华露营, 可持续性旅游
纸张类型
研究论文
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Ana Brochado, Mike Troilo, Helena Rodrigues and Fernando Oliveira-Brochado
The purpose of this study sought to identify the main themes linked with wine hotel experiences, based on tourists’ narratives shared online, and to investigate whether these…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study sought to identify the main themes linked with wine hotel experiences, based on tourists’ narratives shared online, and to investigate whether these narratives vary according to traveler type.
Design/methodology/approach
Content analysis was carried out on 4,114 online reviews of 52 wine hotels located in 27 wine regions across 11 nations in both the Old and New World.
Findings
The analysis of these web reviews revealed that narratives can be grouped under 11 themes organized into 7 main dimensions as follows: wine, lodging (i.e. hotel, area and room), food service (i.e. restaurant and breakfast), scenery (i.e. views and vineyards), staff, transportation and recommendation. The main narratives vary according to traveler type.
Practical implications
Improving the present understanding of wine tourists’ experiences should help wine hotel managers find new approaches to enhancing visitors’ satisfaction. As the dimensions of wine tourism experiences shared online vary according to traveler type, wine managers can design their offer to target families, couples, friends, solo and corporate clients.
Originality/value
Prior research has identified the need for market segmentation in the wine tourism industry. This research addresses this need by specifying the wine tourism experience according to traveler type. The breadth of the data, and the method of using travelers’ own testimony as opposed to more common surveying are additional contributions for both academics and managers.
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Ana Brochado, Paulo Rita, Cristina Oliveira and Fernando Oliveira
This paper aims to identify the main themes shared in online reviews by airline travellers, as well as which of these themes were linked with higher and lower value for money…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the main themes shared in online reviews by airline travellers, as well as which of these themes were linked with higher and lower value for money ratings.
Design/methodology/approach
The research used mixed content analyses (i.e. quantitative and qualitative) to examine 1,200 reviews of six airline companies shared by airline travellers in a social media platform.
Findings
The analyses revealed nine themes in descriptions of airline travel experiences. These are the core services during “flights”, “airport” operations, crew and ground “staff”, ticket “classes”, “seats”, inflight “services”, “entertainment”, overall experiences of “airlines” and post-purchase recommendations of with which companies to “fly”. Low value for money ratings are linked with the “airport” and “flights” themes.
Originality/value
The results offer useful insights into airline travellers’ overall experiences based on social media information and facilitate the identification of the main themes linked with different value for money ratings.
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Ana Brochado and Fernando Oliveira
This paper aims to examine the main determinants of brand equity in the context of brands defined by their region of origin, as is the case for Portuguese green wine.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the main determinants of brand equity in the context of brands defined by their region of origin, as is the case for Portuguese green wine.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a sample of wine consumers in Portugal through personal interviews (N = 200). Structural equation modelling was then applied to study the causal relationships between brand equity and its dimensions (i.e. brand loyalty, brand awareness, perceived quality and brand association) for top-of-mind green wine brands, based on Aaker’s conceptual Framework (Aaker, 1991).
Findings
The study’s results reveal that brand loyalty is the most influential dimension of brand equity for Portuguese green wine and that the links between brand equity and both brand association and perceived quality are significant. These findings can help Portuguese wineries to prioritise – and allocate resources across – brand equity dimensions.
Originality/value
Although the literature identifies dimensions of brand equity in other industries, the literature on the wine market is still sparse. This study, therefore, contributes to expanding this body of knowledge.
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The purpose of this study is to investigate university students’ perception of service quality and satisfaction in a developing country to guide quality improvement.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate university students’ perception of service quality and satisfaction in a developing country to guide quality improvement.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a quantitative survey design. A new instrument has been developed to measure student perceived service quality. Data was collected from 182 undergraduate students enrolled in a five-year BEd course at the one University of Education in Myanmar.
Findings
A significant gender difference was found only in one of the service quality dimensions, hostel facilities. There was a significant difference in student satisfaction in the year of study. Apart from cafeteria and hostel facilities, students’ perceived-level of service quality was significantly different. All service quality dimensions were significantly correlated with student satisfaction. Significant relationships were found among intention to leave the university, trust in management and overall satisfaction with the university.
Research limitations/implications
This study uses data collected from undergraduate students studying at the one University of Education in Myanmar.
Practical implications
The study adds on to the service quality literature on higher education in developing countries, specifically in Myanmar. The students’ perceived service quality dimensions resulting from this study can be applied by universities to evaluate their performance.
Originality/value
The research findings presented in this paper fill the gap in the existing literature by providing empirical knowledge on service quality measurement and student satisfaction in the higher education context. The study is among the first studies of students’ perception of service quality and satisfaction in Myanmar.
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Hugues Seraphin and Shem Wambugu Maingi
Drive, power and consciousness are the corner stones for the long-term sustainability of any industry. In the luxury yachting industry, the objective of this study is to evidence…
Abstract
Purpose
Drive, power and consciousness are the corner stones for the long-term sustainability of any industry. In the luxury yachting industry, the objective of this study is to evidence through the case of sunreed yachting that environmental innovation in the yachting industry has been key to sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
As a case study central to this paper, Sunreef has reconciled key luxury sustainability indicators to improve its brand image. This article adopted a case study approach to provide a systematic documentary analysis of online materials. It is also supported by a critical review of recent literature.
Findings
Beyond reconciling the three core components of any long-term sustainable strategy, the paper provides evidence that luxury yachting can operate without impacting negatively on the environment and local population, providing it is fully aware of the challenges faced by the planet in terms of sustainability, and that everyone has a role to play in achieving sustainability (consciousness) and also a willingness (driver) to invest in research and development (power).
Originality/value
This paper addresses the sustainability challenge in the luxury yachting industry. The case of Sunreef Yachts Eco has shown that green communication and innovations are able to reverse the unsustainable ecological trends in the yachting industry. This paper argues that “green activism” is the key encapsulating all the approaches by Sunreef, linking “consciousness”, “power” and “drivers” in sustainability yachting.
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Junaid Rehman, Muhammad Kashif and Thangaraja Arumugam
The desire to spectate at traditional events and festivals in different countries is dying. From a marketing perspective, researchers and practitioners need to understand why…
Abstract
Purpose
The desire to spectate at traditional events and festivals in different countries is dying. From a marketing perspective, researchers and practitioners need to understand why people spectate at these conventional events and festivals. Data-driven marketing approaches can help event and festival marketing policymakers in attracting potential spectators. Drawing on attachment theory, the current study fills this void and explores fans' motivation and intentions to follow Kushti (i.e. traditional wrestling) events while developing a new event attachment scale (EAS).
Design/methodology/approach
Three comprehensive studies were conducted. First, an exploratory study where 12 retired wrestlers, considered hardcore fans of Kushti were interviewed. The collected data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Second, a pilot study (n = 204) was performed leading to a main survey (n = 365). The survey data was analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis techniques.
Findings
Results revealed five types of attachments (i.e., ground attachment, game attachment, emotional attachment, cultural attachment and player attachment). An important intervention is the unique elements within each of these attachments, which may motivate fans to follow traditional gaming events. The new scale offers excellent psychometric properties.
Practical implications
Event and festival marketers should consider the role of tradition while marketing such events. The retired wrestlers can be used as influences/reference points to attract visitors to spectate at Kushti events. Furthermore, facilities such as smooth roads, approachable grounds and excellent service operations during these events can help policymakers to attract more spectators.
Originality/value
The study is unique in contextualizing Kushti and presenting a unique scale to measure fans' motivations and intentions to follow traditional gaming events.
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The purpose of this paper is to review the service quality (SQ) literature in order to understand issues involved in its conceptualization and operationalization.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the service quality (SQ) literature in order to understand issues involved in its conceptualization and operationalization.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses systematic literature review method. The unit of analysis is peer-reviewed journal articles published during 1984 to 2017.
Findings
Findings suggest manufacturing, banking, information technology, higher education, healthcare are the top sectors contributing to the SQ literature. More than 60 models of the SQ have been identified. Service-driven capabilities may be structured along adaptation with strategic drivers and imperatives, learning and alignment, and problem structuring. In doing so the SQ literature is evolving across overlapping phases of conceptualization, expansion, re-conceptualization and integration.
Research limitations/implications
The paper contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a unified synthesis of more than 814 articles published in the last three decades.
Practical implications
Insights from the paper will help practitioners in understanding customers’ expectations and accordingly configuring effective service delivery systems, setting standards and communicating value to end-customers. This in turn helps them in developing service-based competencies and achievement of competitive advantage.
Social implications
Insights from the paper may help in conceptualizing and delivering SQ-driven public services.
Originality/value
The paper synthesizes and presents various facets of the SQ as a unified body of knowledge.
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Aikaterini Manthiou, Van Ha Luong, Kafia Ayadi and Phil Klaus
The experience of leaving the real world and entering a virtual service environment makes many individuals happy. This study heeds the call by multiple researchers to…
Abstract
Purpose
The experience of leaving the real world and entering a virtual service environment makes many individuals happy. This study heeds the call by multiple researchers to conceptualize, interpret and illustrate the impact of the perceived service experience in the metaverse in a holistic way. In particular, this study aims to understand how the consumption of experiences is perceived in a metaversal space.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyze mega virtual live events with famous artists broadcast in virtual worlds. The authors take a big data approach and include two studies to gain insight into the online public audience’s perceptions and experiences in the metaverse. In the first study, the authors analyze text from YouTube with Leximancer. In the second study, the authors go one step further to refine the conceptual model from Study 1. The authors scrutinize additional Facebook comments using seeded Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA).
Findings
The findings reveal that the meta service experience (MEX) encompasses four dimensions: immersion, metascape, immediacy and hedonism.
Originality/value
This research provides important guidance not only for consumer behavior scholars but also for service marketers and event planners. The study proposes research opportunities to advance service experience research in the metaverse.
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Ahmet Usakli and Kemal Gurkan Kucukergin
The purpose of this study is to review the use of partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in the field of hospitality and tourism and thereby to assess…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to review the use of partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in the field of hospitality and tourism and thereby to assess whether the PLS-SEM-based papers followed the recommended application guidelines and to investigate whether a comparison of journal types (hospitality vs tourism) and journal qualities (top-tier vs other leading) reveal significant differences in PLS-SEM use.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 206 PLS-SEM based papers published between 2000 and April 2017 in the 19 SSCI-indexed hospitality and tourism journals were critically analyzed using a wide range of guidelines for the following aspects of PLS-SEM: the rationale of using the method, the data characteristics, the model characteristics, the model assessment and reporting the technical issues.
Findings
The results reveal that some aspects of PLS-SEM are correctly applied by researchers, but there are still some misapplications, especially regarding data characteristics, formative measurement model evaluation and structural model assessment. Furthermore, few significant differences were found on the use of PLS-SEM between the two fields (hospitality and tourism) and between the journal tiers (top-tier and other leading).
Practical implications
To enhance the quality of research in hospitality and tourism, the present study provides recommendations for improving the future use of PLS-SEM.
Originality/value
The present study fills a sizeable gap in hospitality and tourism literature and extends the previous assessments on the use of PLS-SEM by providing a wider perspective on the issue (i.e. includes both hospitality and tourism journals rather than the previous reviews that focus on either tourism or hospitality), using a larger sample size of 206 empirical studies, investigating the issue over a longer time period (from 2000 to April, 2017, including the in-press articles), extending the scope of criteria (guidelines) used in the review and comparing the PLS-SEM use between the two allied fields (hospitality and tourism) and between the journal tiers (top-tier and other leading).