Eatertainment and thematic restaurants in Medellin. An experiential construction for consumers from the creative and cultural industries/companies

Abstract

This article focuses on understanding the symbolic and meaningful constructions that people attribute to their experiences lived at thematic restaurants in the city of Medellin (Colombia), as these are a fundamental part of the eatertainment trend, which has emerged worldwide, outstanding unpublished consumption situations that fuse gastronomy and entertainment. To this end, studies, on consumer situations related to entertainment and food were investigated, and theoretical contributions on perception, experiences, restaurants, gastronomy, leisure, symbolic constructions and social interactions were reviewed. The epistemological parameters were based on phenomenology as an eclectic current that studies experiences, whose methodology used was qualitative, with collection techniques based on interviews with consumers and restaurant’s owners. On the other hand, results showed that people are attracted to new and creative restaurants, where they can find experiences that generate added value in terms of decoration, entertainment, gastronomy and service, which is what thematic restaurants offer, and that is low in the city. This information about local consumer behaviour is not only relevant to those living in the city or country, but to future foreign investors who want to develop a thematic restaurant proposal in Medellin.

Potenciando la creatividad en lo social Una perspectiva holística en medio de circunstancias complejas

“…La creatividad es característica humana expansiva, en cuanto que se adapta y actualiza permanentemente a lo largo de la vida y de la historia. Suele ser relacionada con la capacidad de imaginar, de hacer nuevas asociaciones, resolver situaciones con enfoques novedosos, dar soluciones útiles, etcétera, porque, como mencionan Cardona Sánchez et al (2020), "all those activities focused on the creation and distribution of goods and services that are based on knowledge and creativity" (2020, p. 80).…”