Developing a customer loyalty model for guest houses in China : a congruity-based perspective

Abstract

Purpose: Although the number of guest houses in China is increasing rapidly, many of them are not performing well in developing customer loyalty. Self-congruity and functional congruity represent two cost-effective but inadequately researched ways for guest houses to maintain customers. In view of the lack of empirical research explaining the post-purchase behavior of guest house customers, the purpose of this study is to develop a congruity-based customer loyalty model for this specialized type of accommodation. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a review of relevant literature, a robust conceptual framework of customer loyalty comprising satisfaction, self-congruity, functional congruity, perceived value and attractiveness of alternates was constructed. By means of an online panel survey, 828 valid questionnaires were obtained from customers who had stayed in a Chinese guest house within the previous year. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the conceptual model and the hypothesized relationships among the constructs. Findings: Significant relationships were found between the two congruity constructs in guest houses, which both led to positive customer post-purchase behaviors. The authors found that self-congruity, functional congruity and the attractiveness of alternates did not affect customer loyalty directly; rather, they influenced loyalty indirectly through customer satisfaction. Originality/value: This study developed a unique, congruity-based model of customer loyalty in the context of guest houses. It enhances the body of knowledge regarding congruity in the field of tourism and hospitality, and it discusses relevant implications of the findings for tourism marketing researchers and for owner-managers of guest houses. 研究目的 : 虽然民宿增长迅速, 多数民宿在顾客忠诚上表现较差。自我一致性和功能一致性作为民宿维持顾客的有效手段, 在学术上研究较少。鉴于学界缺乏对民宿顾客购后行为的实证研究, 本研究试图构建一 个基于一致性的民宿顾客忠诚模型。 研究方法 : 在文献综述基础上, 我们构建了一个基于一致性的顾客忠诚模型。用在线样本库的方法调查了过去一年有过民宿住宿体验的顾客, 最终收集了828份有效问卷。 研究结果 : 研究发现, 两个一致性表现对顾客的购后行为存在显著影响。同时, 本研究显示, 自我一致性, 功能一致性和替代者吸引力并不直接影响顾客忠诚, 而是通过影响顾客满意影响忠诚。 研究价值 : 基于一致性的新视角, 民宿顾客忠诚模型被重塑。本研究可以加深对接待业自我一致性研究的理解, 并为旅游营销研究提供启示。论文最后还讨论了研究结果对民宿研究和管理者的启示。