What factors determining customer continuingly using food delivery apps during 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic period?

Food delivery apps (FDAs) as an emerging online-to-offline mobile technology, have been widely adopted by catering businesses and customers. Especially, as they have provided two-way beneficial catering delivery services in rescuing catering enterprises and satisfying customers’ technological and mental exceptions under the COVID-19 global pandemic condition. This study proposes a comprehensive model integrating UTAUT, ECM and TTF with the trust factor and examines 532 valid FDA users’ continuance intention of using FDAs during the COVID-19 pandemic period in China. The statistical results and discussions show that satisfaction is the most significant factor, and perceived task-technology fit, trust, performance expectancy, social influence and confirmation have direct or indirect positive impacts on users’ continuance usage intention of FDAs during the COVID-19 pandemic period. In addition, relevant researches and stakeholders should consider the specific characteristic of technology being associated with users’ technological and mental perceptions for better understanding and explaining users’ continuance intention.     

What drives visitor economy crowdfunding? The effect of digital storytelling on unified theory of acceptance and use of technology

Digital storytelling is a key factor used by fundraisers to attract investors to crowdfunding projects. Despite the important role of digital storytelling in consumer persuasion, research on the effect of digital storytelling on consumer behavior is scarce in the visitor economy crowdfunding sector. The objective of this work is to create and verify a theoretically integrated research framework including three-dimensions of digital storytelling as a reflective second order factor (perceived esthetics, narrative structure, and self-reference) and concepts of unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) (performance expectancy, social influence, effort expectancy, facilitating condition, and intention). Results reveal that digital storytelling has highly significant effects on facilitating condition, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence in descending order. Investors' intention to crowdfund is also significantly affected by facilitating condition, performance expectancy, social influence, and effort expectancy in descending order, offering significant theoretical and managerial implications in leisure and tourism.     

Let’s face it: Are customers ready for facial recognition technology at quick-service restaurants?

This study aims to provide an integrated model that examines the determinants of customer intention to use facial recognition systems (FRS) in quick-service restaurants (QSRs). An extended model built based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was tested via structural equation modeling (SEM) using data collected from a sample of 558 QSR customers. The results showed that perceived performance expectancy, social influence, and trust in the system significantly and positively affect customer intention to use FRS to access loyalty and payment accounts. Furthermore, customer hedonic motivation had a positive effect on the intention to use FRS for authorization to their loyalty accounts, but no effect on the intention to use this technology for payment account authorization. The developed model would be helpful to managers for making a decision of utilizing FRS in QSRs and promoting the technology among customers.     

You can't hold the tide with a broom: Cryptocurrency payments and tourism in South Korea and China

Cryptocurrencies are modifying the very nature of how travelers use and manage payment systems. Bearing in mind that cryptocurrencies in tourism and hospitality are solving the issue of isolation of money and liquidity, this study explored travelers' adoption of cryptocurrency payments in the South Korea and China context. The originality of the present study lies on introducing risk, security, and attitude variables into the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. We found that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and security are antecedents of attitude, while attitude, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions have significant effect on intention to use cryptocurrency payments in tourism. We also outline the significant moderating effect of age and gender on travelers' adoption of cryptocurrency payments. This study can help policy makers to understand the utility of cryptocurrency payments in tourism.     

Influence of the user’s psychological factors on the online purchase intention in rural tourism: Integrating innovativeness to the UTAUT framework

This study explores the process of adoption of new information technologies by the users of rural tourism services and, more concretely, the underlying psychological factors of individuals that explain their intentions to make bookings or reservations directly through the websites of the rural accommodations (online purchase intentions). Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), this study establishes a theoretical model that includes five explanatory variables of the online purchase intention: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and innovativeness. The empirical results obtained in a sample of 1083 tourists that had previously visited several websites of rural accommodations suggest that the online purchase intention is positively influenced by: 1) the levels of performance and effort expected with regard to the transaction; and 2) the level of innovativeness of users. In addition, the innovativeness construct has a moderating effect on the relationship between performance expectancy and online purchase intention.     

Tablets and Tablet Apps: What Do Hotel Customers Want?

This study aims to explore consumers’ preference whether to bring their own tablets or use those provided by hotels, their expectations of hotel tablet apps, and antecedents of their behavioral intention toward hotel tablet apps. This study applied an extended model of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology to understand consumers’ perceptions of tablet apps. By surveying 1,034 customers, this study found the respondents were more likely to utilize some tablet app features over others and revealed five key antecedents of customers’ behavioral intentions toward hotel tablet apps. The findings will help operators make informed decisions to maximize the benefits of tablet technology investments. The theoretical framework of this study provides a benchmark for other researchers to further investigate this field.     

Reducing perceived health risk to attract hotel customers in the COVID-19 pandemic era: Focused on technology innovation for social distancing and cleanliness

As an essential risk-reduction strategy, technology innovation is likely to play a key role in the hotel industry’s recovery from the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. However, its impact on customer decision-making behavior is unknown. Focusing on technology innovation for reducing guest interaction with employees and enhancing cleanliness, the purpose of this research was to examine the impact of expected interaction and expected cleanliness on perceived health risk and hotel booking intention. Three experimental studies were conducted using online consumer samples. The studies found that low levels of expected interaction through technology-mediated systems lead to low levels of perceived health risk. Perceived health risk mediates the relationship between expected interaction and hotel booking intention. In addition, high levels of expected cleanliness through advanced cleaning technologies moderate the impacts of expected interaction on perceived health risk. Importantly, the proposed perceived risk mechanism was effective in post-pandemic scenarios. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

Understanding travel tracking mobile application usage: An integration of self determination theory and UTAUT2

By integrating the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan 1985) and a modified version of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) framework (Venkatesh et al., 2012), this study aimed to investigate factors affecting travelers' intention to share their travel-related information on travel tracking mobile applications (TTMA). The proposed model was tested via structural equation modeling by using data collected from 305 mobile app users. The results revealed that effort expectancy, hedonic motivation, social benefits, self-image had a positive impact; and location privacy concern had a negative impact on users' intention to post travel-related information on TTMAs. The findings of the current study contribute to the literature in the context of technology acceptance in general, and TTMA acceptance in the travel and tourism industries in particular. The study results also provide practical implications, especially for entrepreneurs and tourism-related technology companies.     

Destination Image and Behavior Intention of Travelers to Thailand: the Moderating Effect of Perceived Risk

This study examined the influence of destination image and overall satisfaction toward behavioral intention of travelers to Thailand. The results found that destination image dimensions of quality of hotels and restaurants and cultural and natural attractions significantly influenced overall satisfaction. In addition, overall satisfaction had a positive effect on behavioral intention. This study further investigated the moderating effect of perceived risk on the relationship between overall satisfaction and behavioral intention. Travelers with low perceived risk of these natural disasters had a tendency for greater positive destination image, overall satisfaction, and behavioral intention than travelers with high perceived risk.     

The Effects of Consumers' Perceived Risk and Benefit on Attitude and Behavioral Intention: A Study of Street Food

This study examined dimensions of consumer risk/benefit perception toward street food and tested their effects on attitude toward street food and behavioral intention. Exploratory factor analysis tested a five risk and two benefit factor model. A conceptual model was tested using structural equation modeling. This study found that perceived risks negatively affected consumer attitude toward street food, and perceived benefits positively affected attitude. In turn, risk perception negatively affected behavioral intention. The study found that attitude toward street food fully mediated the relationship between benefit perception and behavioral intention and partially mediated the relationship between risk perception and behavioral intention.     

The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2: understanding mobile device use at festivals

ABSTRACT

This research advances understanding of mobile device use in a leisure context by applying and expanding the Unified Theory of the Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) to festival settings. Through on-site surveys at three festivals the UTAUT2 model and an adapted version for mobile device use at a festival were examined using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Results reveal that the modified UTAUT2 demonstrates good fit, and the main factors affecting device use at festivals are performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, habit and age. The findings suggest that the festival context plays an important role in understanding use and should be included in future research. By knowing factors that affect use, practitioners can design experiences where technology enhances the festival and does not interfere with attendees’ experiences.     

Developing and validating a mobile catering app success model

This study develops and validates a mobile catering app success model based on the e-commerce system success model and marketing literature. Specifically, a research model which describes the relationships among system quality, information quality, service quality, product quality, perceived price, perceived promotions, perceived value, user satisfaction, intention to reuse, and eWOM is examined. Data collected from an online survey are analyzed against the research model using PLS-SEM. The results indicate that product quality, perceived price, perceived promotions, and eWOM can be added to the e-commerce system success model to form a mobile catering app success model. Additionally, the findings show that perceived value influences eWOM more strongly than does user satisfaction while user satisfaction affects intention to reuse more strongly than does perceived value. The findings of this study provide several important theoretical and practical implications for developing a successful mobile catering app.     

Travel app users’ continued use intentions: it’s a matter of value and trust

This study examines the factors that influence the continued use intention of mobile apps designed for travel-related purposes. Interviews with 22 individuals provided data for developing a conceptual model of travel app continued use intention. The model draws on the expectation confirmation model framework, as well as interviews, to illustrate the relationship between functional value, hedonic value, satisfaction, and trust, and to discuss the link between moderators of familiarity, travel purposes, travel app types, and technology proficiency as predictors on continued use. The study’s results establish an in-depth understanding of continued use for travel apps.     

The Effect of Service Climate on Perceived Service Value and Behavioral Intentions: The Mediating Role of Service Quality

The purpose of the current study is to assess the influence of employees’ perceived service climate on customers’ perceived service value and behavioral intention. Furthermore, the paper investigates the extent to which service quality mediates the relationship among employees’ perceived service climate, customers’ perceived service value, and behavioral intention. Data were collected from convenience samples of 400 customers and 375 hotel employees. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that: (1) employees’ perceived service climate has a positive and significant influence on service quality, customers’ perceived service value, and behavioral intention and (2) service quality has a positive and significant influence on customers’ perceived service value and behavioral intention. Additionally, this study revealed that the indirect effect of employees’ perceived service climate on customers’ perceived service value and behavioral intention through service quality is more than the direct effect of employees’ perceived service climate, customers’ perceived service value, and behavioral intention.     

Understanding repurchase intention of Airbnb consumers: perceived authenticity,electronic word-of-mouth,and price sensitivity

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to extend the research on consumer repurchase intention, perceived value, and perceived risk into the realm of the peer-to-peer economy, specifically in the context of Airbnb. A total of 395 surveys were collected in Canada and the United States. The results showed that perceived risk negatively impacts Airbnb consumers’ perceived value and repurchase intention while perceived value positively enhances their repurchase intention. Interestingly, price sensitivity was found not to reduce customers’ perceived risk but can improve their perceived value and positively influences them to repurchase the Airbnb products. Perceived authenticity was found to have a significant effect in reducing Airbnb consumers’ perceived risk and positively influencing their perceived value. Electronic word-of-mouth has a positive effect on repurchase intention as well as perceived value whereas it negatively affects perceived risk. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed and future study directions are offered.     

Tourists' intention to visit heritage hotels at George Town World Heritage Site

George Town, Penang, has always been one of the most popular destinations among Malaysian and international tourists. In 2008, George Town was accorded a listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). With the listing, increasing tourist arrivals and intentions to visit heritage hotels have been very promising in recent years, prompting the emergence of the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings into heritage hotels. In line with this development, this study examines the effects of perceived price, experience quality, prior knowledge, perceived authenticity, and social influence on tourists’ intention to visit heritage hotels at the George Town WHS, Penang, with perceived value as a mediator. The findings indicate that perceived price, experience quality, prior knowledge, perceived authenticity, social influence and perceived value exert positive and significant effects on tourists’ intention to visit heritage hotels. The study also determines the mediating effect of perceived value on the relationships between independent variables and the intention to visit heritage hotels. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the attributes that affect tourists’ intention to visit heritage hotels at the George Town WHS and helps the owners and operators of heritage hotels to formulate future strategies in designing and promoting their services.     

Destination image as a mediator between perceived risks and revisit intention: A case of post-disaster Japan

Despite the significance of perceived travel risk and destination image, relatively few studies address the effect of perceived travel risks on the formation of destination image, and the mediating role of destination image. This study draws new insights by examining (1) the effects of perceived risks on destination image, and (2) the mediating role of destination image between perceived risks and revisit intention of repeat tourists to a risky destination. With perceived risk and destination image being empirically distinctive constructs, findings revealed that perceived socio-psychological and financial risks influenced both cognitive and affective destination images. Perceived physical risk did not have a significant influence on destination image, although it directly affected revisit intention. Additionally, destination image significantly mediated the relationships between two risks, namely, perceived socio-psychological and financial risks, and revisit intention. Several managerial implications concerning the management of risk perceptions and the promotion of risky destinations are discussed in this study.     

A netnographic examination of travelers' online discussions of risks

This research explores online discussions of risk by applying a netnographic approach, which in previous tourism studies has been used to probe travelers' online narratives in general, rather than examining a particular dimension. In the present study, blogs about risk and safety issues were analyzed with the intention of scrutinizing risk categories discussed online and exploring the contingency of risk dimension for cities of different risk levels. Helsinki (Finland), Madrid (Spain), and Cape Town (South Africa) were chosen to represent low-, medium-, and high-risk cities, respectively. Findings from our analysis of the TripAdvisor's forum for risk prove the applicability of the taxonomy of risk categories previously identified in offline contexts and that perceived risk dimensions are destination specific. Insight into risk dimensions that tourists discuss online enable destination marketers to take action, eliminate factors that cause risk perception, refine destination marketing communication, and build strong brands.     

How risky are services? An empirical investigation on the antecedents and consequences of perceived risk for hotel service

Previous research does not systematically investigate the antecedents and consequences of perceived risk for services in emerging markets. The present research aims to fill this void in the literature and examines the determinants and consequences of consumer risk perceptions for an experience service, hotel service. The present research models the antecedents at both the firm (company reputation and perceived price) and individual consumer (risk aversion and face consciousness) levels, and the consequences comprise word-of-mouth communication and switching intention. Though perceived risk is a multidimensional construct, past research tends to operationalize risk narrowly as either performance or financial risk. The author overcomes this limitation by studying perceived risk at the component level, and examines psychological, social, performance and financial risks separately. The results of a survey on Chinese consumers who have purchased hotel service recently indicate that both firm-level and individual-level antecedents directly influence perceived risk. While psychological and social risks positively affect word-of-mouth, they do not have significant influence on switching intention. In addition, performance risk increases switching intention but decreases word of mouth. The author discussed the theoretical and managerial implications, and suggested future research directions.