Abstract
This study aims to investigate the differential effects of determinants of satisfaction on subsequent electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) behavior in the sharing economy with peer-to-peer accommodations and timeshares. Data were collected from consumers who stayed at either a timeshare or peer-to-peer accommodation within the previous year (N = 785). Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationship between the determinants and eWOM through satisfaction, followed by multiple-group comparison to examine the moderating effect of accommodation type. The results indicated that amenities, economic benefits, and trust demonstrated an indirect effect on eWOM behavior through satisfaction, but community belonging affected eWOM behavior directly. Multiple-group SEM revealed that accommodation type moderated the indirect effects of community belonging, economic benefits, and trust on eWOM behavior, such that the indirect effect was significant only for timeshare accommodations. This study contributes to the sharing economy literature by filling the gap of lodging research beyond Airbnb and including timeshares. The findings highlight competitive differences that influence eWOM between peer-to-peer accommodations and timeshares that otherwise offer similar home-like accommodations. The study revealed a newly found direct relationship between community belonging and eWOM.
Highlights
Academic Editor: Marion JoppeIn recent years, the sharing economy has emerged as a notable phenomenon of the lodging industry that elicits unique consumer behaviors and themes (e.g., [1,2,3])
This study examined the differential effects of five known determinants of satisfaction on subsequent electronic word-of-mouth behavior for the users of two types of sharing economy lodging products: timeshare stays and P2P accommodations
Our results from the combined timeshare/P2P sample provide confirmation of previous studies that amenities, community belonging, economic benefits, trust, and vacation counselor/host each have a positive effect on satisfaction and revealed an unexpected direct effect of community belonging on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) behavior
Summary
Academic Editor: Marion JoppeIn recent years, the sharing economy has emerged as a notable phenomenon of the lodging industry that elicits unique consumer behaviors and themes (e.g., [1,2,3]). Timeshares are considered as an important part of the sharing economy [3,5,6] and a 10.5 billion USD industry, with 9.9 million U.S households owning a timeshare [7]. Timeshare stays can be considered an important part of the sharing economy for several reasons. The concept of timeshare stays began in Europe in 1964 with consumers sharing ownership of a vacation home in the Swiss Alps for use during different periods of time [8]. Prior studies consider timeshare stays as part of the sharing economy due to the nature of providing short-term access to the accommodations [6]. Dredge and Gyimóthy [6] described the sharing economy in terms of temporary access to goods where timeshares and temporary office space in hotels were
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