Jiyeon Jeon, Eojina Kim, Xi Wang and Liang(Rebecca) Tang
The hygiene factor is always imperative when customers consider a certain restaurant, and the information contained in customer reviews can be an efficient approach to gauge a…
Abstract
Purpose
The hygiene factor is always imperative when customers consider a certain restaurant, and the information contained in customer reviews can be an efficient approach to gauge a restaurant's hygiene during gaps in the official inspection. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether information obtained from online reviews could predict the upcoming hygiene rating, specifically, evaluating the impact of both qualitative and quantitative content of reviews on the restaurant hygiene rating.
Design/methodology/approach
The quantitative research method with big data analytic techniques was applied in this study. In total, 127,656 pieces of data collected from 1,710 restaurants in four major cities in the USA were used in the analysis. Both quantitative factors (i.e. reviewer's numerical rating, days to review, readability, useful/funny/cool) and qualitative factors (i.e. eight emotional dimensions of textual reviews) were analyzed from the online customer reviews and considered in predicting the restaurant's hygiene rating.
Findings
Six out of eight emotional dimensions including anger, disgust, fear, sadness, surprise and trust were identified as having significant influences on the restaurant hygiene ratings. While three quantitative variables including days to review, readability and usefulness were identified with significant impacts on the dependent variable of restaurant hygiene rating.
Originality/value
This study opens an avenue for innovative research that establishes a connection between customers' reviews and restaurants' inspection systems. The results allow restaurants to predict an impending hygiene inspection rating upon dynamic assessment of review content and aid in adjusting hygiene measures accordingly.
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Tao Wang, Yi Luo and Liang Rebecca Tang
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumer motivations to boutique hotels in Xiamen, China with the push-pull theory.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumer motivations to boutique hotels in Xiamen, China with the push-pull theory.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey for this study was conducted in boutique hotels in Xiamen, China.
Findings
The results indicated identified “uniqueness-seeking,” “interpersonal experience,” and “social networking” as the primary push motivations and “decoration & theme” and “site value” as the primary pull motivations.
Originality/value
The study is anticipated to provide the industry practitioners in boutique hotels marketing strategies such as positioning, packaging, and advertising.
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Ling Guan, Yi Luo and Liang Rebecca Tang
The purpose of this paper is to identify push and pull factors that motivate decision makers to choose wedding banquet venues, and to explore the relationships between the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify push and pull factors that motivate decision makers to choose wedding banquet venues, and to explore the relationships between the motivational factors and demographic information.
Design/methodology/approach
The initial questionnaire was pre-tested involving a sample of six graduate students in a hospitality management program of a major university in the Midwestern USA. The wordings were changed based on their feedback. The final survey was consisted of three sections: push motivations, pull motivations, and demographic information. In the first section, 13 push motivation statements were employed to investigate decision makers' reasons for selecting a wedding banquet venue.
Findings
The four push factors identified included “seeking relaxation and knowledge,” “fulfilling prestige,” “escaping from daily routine,” and “social networking.” The six pull factors were composed of “budget,” “atmosphere,” “facilities,” “wedding services,” “transportation,” and “service and quality.”
Originality/value
The study helps event industry practitioners understand consumers’ motivations of choosing wedding venues and predict consumers’ behavior. It further suggests marketing strategies to effectively communicate with existing and potential consumers.
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Aikaterini Manthiou, Seonjeong (Ally) Lee, Liang (Rebecca) Tang and Lanlung Chiang
A desirable experiential environment is an essential source of competitive advantage in the festival industry. Understanding festival attendees' experience is imperative for…
Abstract
Purpose
A desirable experiential environment is an essential source of competitive advantage in the festival industry. Understanding festival attendees' experience is imperative for festival organizers because attendees' experience is a predictor of their future behavior. With the experience economy concept of Pine and Gilmore (1998), the study identified four underlying dimensions of festival attendees' experience (education, entertainment, esthetics, and escapism) and examined the impacts of these experience dimensions on festival attendees' vividity of memory and loyalty.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from online surveys completed by 338 attendees of VEISHEA festival. This study employed confirmatory factor analysis, regression analysis, and structural equation modeling to achieve its goals.
Findings
Experience has a positive effect on vivid memory, which consequently influences loyalty. Each dimension of experience economy significantly influences vividity of memory. However loyalty is affected only by the entertainment and esthetics dimensions.
Practical implications
Festival marketers are advised to design activities that provide memorable experiential products and services for attendees based on the four dimensions of the experience economy.
Originality/value
The study is a pioneer in the evaluation of vividity of memory to the festival context.
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Juhee Kang, Liang (Rebecca) Tang and Ann Marie Fiore
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of members’ active participation in customer–brand relationships, considering brand trust and brand commitment in an online…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of members’ active participation in customer–brand relationships, considering brand trust and brand commitment in an online community context. It also investigates the moderating effect of monetary sales promotions in building and maintaining customer–brand relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on an online survey sent to Facebook users who have been engaging with restaurants’ brand pages on Facebook. The empirical data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling.
Findings
Results revealed that members who actively participated in activities on restaurant, Facebook fan pages were likely to feel that the brands were trustworthy and developed commitment toward the brands. The moderating effect of monetary sales promotions between active participation and brand trust was supported. In particular, active participation was more likely to generate brand trust for members who had less interest in monetary sales promotions on restaurant Facebook fan pages.
Practical implications
This study provides practical implications for restaurant marketers on the applications of Facebook as a branding tool. Marketers are advised to identify active members who can contribute to the maintenance of the community by encouraging active communication and engaging in marketing activities. As active participants are critical to the success of a restaurant Facebook page, marketers are encouraged to develop marketing strategies that can generate members’ interest and increase participation in a marketing campaign.
Originality/value
Although Facebook has been widely used to improve customer–brand relationships in the food service industry, research on the effect of an online community scares. The study proposes a conceptual model to examine the role of active participation in customer–brand relationships and the role of monetary promotions in enhancing customer–brand relationships. Management and marketing strategies for practitioners in the food service industry are suggested.
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Antony King Fung Wong, Mehmet Ali Koseoglu and Seongseop (Sam) Kim
This study aims to examine the current state of the research activities of scholars in the hospitality and tourism field by analyzing the first 20 years of the new millennium.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the current state of the research activities of scholars in the hospitality and tourism field by analyzing the first 20 years of the new millennium.
Design/methodology/approach
Longitudinal analyses using 14,229 journal articles as data source were realized by adopting BibExcel, Gephi and VOSviewer network analysis software packages.
Findings
This study provides a comprehensive overview of the hospitality and tourism research based on authorship and social network analysis, with patterns of prolific authors compared over four distinct periods.
Research limitations/implications
The hospitality and tourism academic society is clearly illustrated by tracing academic publication activities across 20 years in the new millennium. In addition, this study provides a guide for scholars to search for multidisciplinary collaboration opportunities. Government agencies and non-governmental organisations can also benefit from this study by identifying appropriate review panel members when making decisions about hospitality- and tourism-related proposals.
Originality/value
To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to use bibliometric analysis in assessing research published in leading hospitality and tourism journals across the four breakout periods in the new millennium.
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Roger Hosein, Rebecca Gookool, George Saridakis and Sandra Sookram
The phenomenon of growth spillover occurs because of domestic shocks, global shocks and shocks to a foreign country or region, and these are transmitted through specific channels…
Abstract
Purpose
The phenomenon of growth spillover occurs because of domestic shocks, global shocks and shocks to a foreign country or region, and these are transmitted through specific channels. This study investigates the strength of the economic linkages between Caribbean Community (CARICOM) economies and its main traditional partners, including the European Union (EU-27), and emerging trading partners, such as China, with a view to determining the presence and extent of spillover growth which results from the interdependence among these economies. The paper hypothesizes that the presence of these spillovers can be leveraged to chart the future for the region's integration in the global sphere.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the existing theoretical and empirical literature, a structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) model was developed and employed to examine the strength of the economic linkages between CARICOM economies and its main trading partners, such as the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK) and the EU-27, alongside some of the non-traditional partners such as China. This method has been widely used by institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, to profile economic linkages between economies. To this end, the methodology was formulated based on the IMF Spillover Reports which were produced from 2011 to 2015.
Findings
The model suggests that positive spillovers are likely to occur from continued deepened integration with the US, EU-27 and the UK, as traditional trade partners, but that opportunities also exist from a deliberate deepening of relations with non-traditional trade partners, for example, China. This becomes even more apparent when CARICOM is separated into categories consisting of more developed countries (MDCs) and less developed countries (LDCs). In addition, from the perspective of any trading partner, such as those in the EU-27, this research is relevant and timely as it contributes to the landscape of literature, which can be utilized for the purpose of negotiating parameters of trade and integration arrangements.
Research limitations/implications
This study adds to the literature on evaluating the direction for deepened integration of CARICOM economies, both with selected traditional and non-traditional trade partners as the region pilots recovery in a post-pandemic global space.
Practical implications
Policymakers can use the results of this study to leverage economic spillovers as a basis for determining which trade partners offer the most significant growth benefits as the region recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and it will also assist in steering regional integration. This result also implies that over time, the comparative advantage structure of CARICOM member countries' export profile should change to reflect the import profile of its trade partners. To this end, this study can be used to inform and better position the respective trade and industrial development policies of countries in the Caribbean region as they attempt to deepen integration regionally and internationally. From the perspective of the partner, traditional trading relationships such as those which exist with European countries, such as the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, can be more deliberately utilized given the geographic benefits on offer with deepened relationships with economies in the Caribbean. Further, this research can also be a point of departure for future research.
Originality/value
This study is among the few empirical works that examine spillover effects as a strategy for rebuilding economic growth in the post-COVID 19 era. This study adds to the literature on evaluating the direction for deepened integration of CARICOM economies, both with selected traditional and non-traditional trade partners as the region navigates recovery in a post-pandemic global space.
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Liang Ding, Gianluca Antonucci and Michelina Venditti
This study aims to explore the impact of artificial intelligence-powered personalised recommendations (AI-PPRs) on user engagement, browsing behaviour and purchase intentions on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of artificial intelligence-powered personalised recommendations (AI-PPRs) on user engagement, browsing behaviour and purchase intentions on TikTok (Douyin in China), focusing on how these recommendations affect user satisfaction and purchase intention, while also addressing potential privacy concerns. In addition, the research investigates the influence of AI-recommended product presentation, timing and placement, as well as social factors such as key opinion leaders’ (KOLs) influence on consumer decision-making.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the expectancy-value theory and the stimulus-organism-response model, this research used a qualitative methodology through interviews with Douyin users to explore their experiences and perceptions of AI-PPRs.
Findings
The findings indicate that Douyin’s proactive “push” mechanism of AI-PPRs enhances user engagement by effortlessly integrating product discovery into the entertainment experience. Content-driven AI-PPRs align with user preferences, decrease search time and increase satisfaction and purchase intentions through engaging short videos and live streaming. However, privacy concerns emerge when personalisation is perceived as excessively intrusive, leading to negative emotions and avoidance behaviours. Recommendation timing and cultural context significantly influence receptiveness, with inappropriate timing (e.g. during holidays) causing negative reactions. Technical challenges, such as network issues during live streaming, negatively impact user experience and engagement. Content quality is crucial, and poor or irrelevant content leads to negative perceptions and disengagement. While KOLs face scepticism due to perceived commercialisation, endorsements from trusted figures and authentic influencers are better received. Innovative payment methods, like “Douyin Monthly Payment”, enhance financial flexibility and promote customer loyalty. This study highlights the need to balance personalisation with privacy, emphasising the importance of content quality and authenticity in influencer marketing. For businesses using AI-PPRs, maintaining this balance is essential for preserving trust and sustaining consumer engagement and loyalty.
Originality/value
This study contributes valuable insights to the field by unravelling the intricate dynamics between AI-PPRs, user preferences and social influences. The findings provide practical implications for companies aiming to optimise personalised recommendation algorithms and enhance user engagement, thereby facilitating business growth in the dynamic short video e-commerce market.
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Xiaoqing Chen, Xinwang Liu and Zaiwu Gong
The purpose of this paper is to combine the uncertain methods of type-2 fuzzy sets and data envelopment analysis (DEA) evaluation model together. A new type-2 fuzzy DEA efficiency…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to combine the uncertain methods of type-2 fuzzy sets and data envelopment analysis (DEA) evaluation model together. A new type-2 fuzzy DEA efficiency assessment method is established. Then the proposed procedure is applied to the poverty alleviation problem.
Design/methodology/approach
The research method is the DEA model, which is an effective method for efficiency assessment of social–economic systems. Considering the existence of the same efficiency values that cannot be ranked in the proposed DEA model, the balance index is introduced to solve the ranking problem of decision-making units effectively.
Findings
The results show that the proposed method can not only measure the efficiency of the existence of uncertain information but also deal with the ranking of multiple efficient decision-making units.
Originality/value
This paper selects type-2 fuzzy DEA model to express a lot of uncertain information in efficiency evaluation problems. We use the parameter decomposition method of type-2 fuzzy programming or the type-2 expectation values indirectly. The balance index is proposed to further distinguish the multiple effective decision-making units. Furthermore, this paper selects rural poverty alleviation in Hainan Province as a case study to verify the feasibility of the method. The relative efficiency values in different years are calculated and analyzed.