Understanding food experience in sharing-economy platforms: insights from Eatwith and Withlocals

ABSTRACT

This study aims to identify and determine the dimensions of food experience using user-generated content on two sharing-economy websites as well as to offer insights into factors affecting food tourists’ evaluation of travel experiences at a culinary destination, Istanbul. For this purpose, conventional content analysis is conducted on 459 food-experience reviews on sharing-economy websites, namely, EatWith and WithLocals. Results reveal 26 items and four themes, that is, knowledge, authenticity, local hospitality, and social interaction. Theoretical and managerial implications as well as limitations are discussed, and suggestions for further research are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Food experience
• user-generated content
• meal sharing economy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ozan Atsız

Ozan Atsız holds a PhD degree and Master's degree in Tourism Management (Turkey). Currently, he is research assistant in the Faculty of Tourism at Yozgat Bozok University. His research interests include destination marketing, heritage experience, food tourism and length of stay of tourists.

Ibrahim Cifci

Ibrahim Cifci is an assistant professor in the Department of Tourism Management at Istanbul University, Turkey. He obtained his Ph.D. and Master's degree in Tourism Management (Turkey). He specializes in tourism studies. His research interests include molecular gastronomy, sustainable tourism, and management in tourism.

Rob Law

Rob Law is a Professor at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research interests are information management, modeling and forecasting, artificial intelligence and technology applications. He has received many research related awards and honors, as well as millions of USD external and internal research grants. Prof. Law serves in different roles for 140+ research journals, and is a chair/committee member of more than 130 international conferences.