Wellness spa hotel experience: evidence from spa hotel guests in Serbia
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to develop and test a model of the wellness spa hotel experience. The model proposes that experiencescape dimensions (sensory, functional, social, natural and hospitality culture) are important antecedents of guest satisfaction with a wellness spa hotel experience. The study also tests the relationship between satisfaction, wellness-induced well-being, experience co-creation and word-of-mouth (WOM).
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected in the post-pandemic period, during September–November 2022 from 567 domestic guests who had stayed in a wellness spa hotel in Serbia.
Findings
Besides the social experience scape dimension, all other dimensions of experiencescape (sensory, functional, natural and hospitality culture) were found to be positive drivers of guest satisfaction with a wellness spa hotel experience. The relationship between satisfaction, wellness-induced well-being, experience co-creation and WOM was also supported.
Originality/value
This study emphasises the role of experiencescape in concurrence with the antecedents in cultivating guest satisfaction with a wellness spa hotel experience, which further influences wellness-induced well-being, experience co-creation and WOM.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research is supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia by the Decision on the scientific research funding for teaching staff at the accredited higher education institutions in 2024 (No. 451-03-65/2024-03/200375 of February 5, 2024.
Citation
Dimitrovski, D., Marinković, V., Djordjevic, A. and Sthapit, E. (2024), "Wellness spa hotel experience: evidence from spa hotel guests in Serbia", Tourism Review, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-11-2023-0770
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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