Conceptualizing home-sharing lodging experience and its impact on destination image perception: A mixed method approach

Utilizing a two-step mixed method approach, this study firstly identifies salient dimensions of home-sharing stay experience based on the premises of the intimacy theory through a qualitative analysis and then empirically examines the mechanism through which home-sharing stay experience impacts tourism experience and destination image perceptions. Six salient dimensions of home-sharing stay experience (i.e., space presence, social presence, knowledge sharing, activity sharing, host interaction, and guest interaction) are identified through the qualitative research. Utilizing the instrument developed to measure salient dimensions of home-sharing stay experience holistically, this study finds that space presence, social presence, and knowledge sharing positively contribute to tourists' authentic tourism experience. Findings further indicate that knowledge sharing, activity sharing, and host interaction are positively related to tourists' cultural experience. Tourists' cultural and authentic tourism experiences are found to be positively related to their cognitive and affective perceptions of destination image.