Cultural essentialism and tailored hotel service for Chinese: the moderating role of satisfaction

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand Chinese consumers’ responses to ethnically tailored hotel services from the theoretical perspective of cultural essentialism.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collection was conducted through an online survey with Chinese respondents. Hierarchical moderated regression was performed to analyze the data.

Findings

The results show a positive relationship between cultural essentialism and consumer responses to hotel services that are tailored to their culture. Furthermore, the findings show that prior service satisfaction does not only positively influence the consumer responses, but also amplifies the link between cultural essentialism and the consumer responses.

Practical implications

Hoteliers are recommended to consider the cultural essentialism of Chinese consumers when adaptive services are introduced. Hotel services that are tailored to Chinese culture is a viable strategy if most Chinese customers are cultural essentialists.

Originality/value

This study adds knowledge to the hospitality scholarship by introducing cultural essentialism and demonstrating its role in influencing consumer preferences for familiarity as opposed to exotic hotel services. Furthermore, the moderating role of service satisfaction extends the consumer behavior literature.

Citation

Fong, L.H.N., He, H., Chao, M.M., Leandro, G. and King, D. (2019), "Cultural essentialism and tailored hotel service for Chinese: the moderating role of satisfaction", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 31 No. 9, pp. 3610-3626. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-11-2018-0910