Purpose
This study bridges the gap between sensory marketing and the use of the internet of things (IoT) in upscale hotels. This paper aims to investigate how stimulating guests’ senses through IoT devices influenced their emotions, affective experiences, eudaimonism (well-being), and ultimately, guest behavior. The authors examined the potential moderating effects of gender.
Design/methodology/approach
Research conducted comprised an exploratory study, which consisted of interviews with hotel managers (Study 1) and an online confirmatory survey (n = 357) among hotel guests (Study 2).
Findings
The results showed that while the senses of smell, hearing and sight had an impact on guests’ emotions, the senses of touch, hearing and sight impacted guests’ affective experiences. The senses of smell and taste influenced guests’ eudaimonism. The sense of smell had a greater effect on eudaimonism and behavioral intentions among women compared to men.
Research limitations/implications
This study concentrated on upscale hotels located in Europe. Further research may explore the generalizability of the findings (e.g. in other cultures, comparison between high-end and low-end hotels).
Practical implications
Managers of upscale hotels should apply congruent sensory stimuli from all five senses. Stimuli may be customized (“SoCoIoT” marketing). IoT in hotels may be useful in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, as voice commands help guests avoid touching surfaces.
Originality/value
IoT can be applied in creating customized multi-sensory hotel experiences. For example, hotels may offer unique and diverse ambiances in their rooms and suites to improve guest experiences.
This chapter examines the effects of the mobile-phone website colored contrasts and the affective states of the consumer (emotions and moods) and trust, respectively, on intention to revisit, buy on, and recommend the mobile website. For this purpose, a factorial plan 2x2 was developed, and a mobile website, with two different alternatives, was designed especially for the experiment: positive contrast (yellow text on green background) and negative contrast (green text on yellow background). The research was conducted on French consumers. Three-hundred twelve valid responses were collected through online and personal survey questionnaires. Data was analysed using the method of structural equations. The results show the significant effects of mobile website's color contrast on behavioral intentions. Perceived dominance and trust towards the website have positive effects on behavioral intentions, whereas mood has non-significant effects on behavioral intentions. Managerial implications are discussed.
This study examines the effects of the mobile-phone website colored contrasts and the affective states of the consumer (emotions and moods) and trust respectively on intention to revisit, buy on and recommend the mobile website. For this purpose, a factorial plan 2x2 was developed and a mobile website, with two different alternatives, was designed especially for the experiment: positive contrast (yellow text on green background) and negative contrast (green text on yellow background). The research was conducted on French consumers. 312 valid responses were collected through online and personal survey questionnaires. Data was analysed using the method of structural equations. The results show the significant effects of mobile website’s color contrast on behavioral intentions. Perceived dominance and trust towards the website have positive effects on behavioral intentions, whereas mood has non-significant effects on behavioral intentions. Managerial implications are discussed.
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