Abstract
The current study adopted cluster and discriminant analyses to investigate how differentially upscale restaurant customers view (a) the four dimensions of restaurant quality (price fairness, food quality, service quality, and physical environment), (b) the three dimensions of relational benefits (confidence benefits, social benefits, and special treatment benefits), and (c) revisit intentions and favorable reciprocal behaviors as proxies for customer reciprocity when customers perceive different levels (high vs. low) of relationship marketing investment (RMI). When customers perceived high RMI, they (high-RMI customers) evaluated all the aforementioned factors positively. By contrast, customers who experienced low RMI (low-RMI customers) rated the same factors negatively. High- and low-RMI customers were best distinguished by service quality, confidence benefits, and favorable reciprocal behaviors. Understanding the distinction between high- and low-RMI customers will shed light on how operators of upscale restaurants develop and reinforce perceived RMI to achieve favorable customer reciprocity.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 66-92 |
Number of pages | 27 |
Journal | Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2017 |
Keywords
- customer reciprocity
- relationship benefit
- relationship marketing investment
- restaurant quality
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education
- Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management