Abel Duarte Alonso

Factors driving consumer restaurant choice: an exploratory study from the Southeastern United States.

This study investigates the critical dimension of factors driving restaurant choice among 277 consumers, predominantly residents of the Southeastern United States. The food provided (quality, taste) was central to respondents decision to favor one restaurant over another, though prior positive experience, a clean production/service environment and hospitable service are additional factors that most strongly influenced restaurant choice. Interestingly, despite the rich variety of foods/produce and agricultural background of the region, the use of local food and produce in menu development is among the least considered factors. Several implications are drawn from the findings and directions for future studies are suggested.

Local community, volunteering and tourism development: the case of the Blackwood River Valley, Western Australia

Rural communities, especially those that strive to become tourist destinations face many challenges, including limited human and financial resources in developing their own tourism sector. The importance of local visitor centres in promoting the region can be invaluable assets in addressing those limitations. However, to what extent can efforts among a communitys residents also contribute towards the promotion of local tourism? The present study investigates this aspect of community involvement from the perspective of representatives (managers, staff) of an emerging rural tourism destination, the Blackwood River Valley in Western Australia. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted in four visitor centres. Volunteerism among local residents in various ways of tourism promotion emerged as a key finding in this study, as well as volunteer work providing support beyond involvement at visitor centres. Indeed, this aspect of community involvement was further illustrated in other forms of community involvement (e.g. helping host and cater for events). The findings, therefore, reinforce the notion that through volunteerism, local residents make direct and indirect participatory contributions that help strengthen the social aspect, or social fabric, of the community, while contributing to tourism development.

Investigating farmers' involvement in value-added activities: A preliminary study from Australia

Purpose – Multifunctional agriculture, including value-added agriculture, has drawn the attention of different stakeholders (government, farmers) interested in maximising the potential of farming operations and strengthening rural communities. This preliminary study aims to investigate value-added agriculture, including the extent to which food growers consider, or are involved in, this aspect of multifunctional agriculture, from the perspective of orchard operators located in different Australian states. Design/methodology/approach – Orchard operators were contacted through regional growers associations and by mail. A total of 80, the large majority of whom are small orchardists, participated in the study, completing a questionnaire designed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Findings – Overall, there is moderate interest among the participating orchard operators in adding value to food production. Respondents also indicate barriers in the form of added expenses, lack of time, knowledge,...

Website and Social Media Usage: Implications for the Further Development of Wine Tourism, Hospitality, and the Wine Sector

This study examines winery entrepreneurs usage of websites and social media. Italian, Spanish and “New World” wineries, the majority (84%) of them currently involved in wine tourism, were selected. The findings demonstrate that wineries are not fully exploiting the potential benefits of a website, and much less so that of social media. More importantly, facing increasing competition from other wine regions and tourist destinations, wineries may be foregoing opportunities to strengthen their regions destination image. Implications of the findings for wineries promotional, marketing, and other business development strategies designed to draw and “convert” visitors to their brand are discussed.

Tannat: the positioning of a wine grape as symbol and 'referent' of a nation's gastronomic heritage.

Cultural traditions, including local gastronomy (food and beverage), can be maintained and reinforced through iconic products representing the character of the region or country. The growing importance of wine, food and other forms of tourism in some rural areas can help build a new image – or strengthen an existing one – of a regions culinary heritage. This study examines the dimension represented by wine and food heritage in the context of Uruguays wine industry. Data were gathered from winery owners, managers, wine makers, and from representatives of Wines of Uruguay and the Routes of Wine. The importance of ‘Tannat’, a varietal grown locally for more than two centuries, is emphasised as the nations signature wine and symbol of its wine industry. Increasing awareness of the countrys culinary heritage has led to efforts to provide a gastronomic concept for consumers seeking local foods and unique gastronomic experiences. Respondents, therefore, perceive that the ‘marriage’ between Tannat and Uruguay traditional foods is helping in establishing a gastronomic image virtually unexploited before. These findings have important implications for the further development of Uruguays food and wine industry, heritage and tourism, as well as for that of other regions striving for ‘recognition’ of their gastronomic heritage.

Climate Change in the Wine Sector of an Ultra-Peripheral European Region: A Case Study

This study examines climate change from the perspective of small winery operators in an ultra-peripheral European region. Most respondents in this study refer to changes in the last decades, including warm weather patterns that are pushing harvests earlier in the year. Such changes are having an impact on the final wine product, as alcohol volume has increased in some wines. Despite these new challenges, given growers” limitations of land space and resources, only the fewest growers are implementing strategies to minimize such impacts. Implications of the findings and future research avenues concerning climate change in the region are discussed.

Food heritage down under: olive growers as Mediterranean ‘food ambassadors’

Among those individuals who migrate to other countries or regions, some take with them valuable aspects of their culture and traditions. Within these elements, migrants food heritage often becomes an integral part of their lives, accompanying them in their journey. Food heritage also evokes images, memories and pride, or motivates habitual consumption, while in other cases, it can become a lifestyle or even a source of income. By focusing on the cases of five different olive groves, whose owners are of Mediterranean background, this study examines the extent to which food culture and heritage are decisive factors in their involvement with olive growing in Australia. Through semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted among these olive growers, information about their motivations and level of involvement in an extension of olive growing (‘olive-based agritourism’) was also gathered. The overall findings illustrate that based on their passion for olive growing, these ‘food ambassadors’ are contributing to increased knowledge, consumption, and to the preservation of a food culture. However, this process is not without its challenges, particularly as cheaper olive oils threaten the further development of their olive growing business. Implications of the findings for olive growing, olive-based agritourism, hospitality, and consumers are discussed.

The links between reasons for game attendance of a new professional sports league and revenue management: an exploratory study

Professional sport teams and leagues rely heavily on gate receipts and season ticket revenue. Additionally, live game day attendance is seen to be an important means for fans to connect with their club and consume the game-day leisure experience. For sports marketers, the determinants of game day attendance are of interest; however, so too are the barriers and constraints to attend. The present study examines these two important elements impacting on live game day attendances from the perspective of 1,935 fans of one A-League organisation (Australian professional football/soccer league). The importance of leisure, experience, the games atmosphere, or attending games with significant others are notable reasons for attendance. In contrast, game day fixtures, location and timing were identified as preventing attendance, especially for the family market. The study discusses the implications of these findings, particularly for the sport organisations revenue management, as well as avenues for future research.

Small rural family wineries as contributors to social capital and socioeconomic development

In adopting social capital and role theory, this study investigates ways in which small family wineries operating in a niche wine market are involved with their surrounding community. Through predominantly in-depth telephone interviews, data were collected from wine owners and managers and representatives from two wine regulatory councils and one wine association. Some of the tenets of social capital and role theory are clearly identified in wineries’ initiatives that are contributing to social capital and socioeconomic development in various ways. Wineries are predominantly fulfilling the role of providers through employment; as sponsors, organizing or donating at local events; as guardians, helping preserve the local and historical patrimony, as well as the landscape; finally, as promoters of tourism and the region. Given the significance of small businesses for many economies and sectors, including the wine sector, these findings have very important implications. In addition, avenues for future investigation are proposed.

The "ideal" football experience in the context of a recently established professional league

Abstract nIn the highly competitive professional sports industry, managers of a newly established competition face many challenges, including “converting” or gaining the allegiance of new groups of consumers (fans, spectators) to their colors. One critical aspect in the converting process relates to the “ideal” game-day experience as perceived by would-be consumers. Gaining knowledge about this area could be critical to professional sport marketers in enhancing the perceived quality of sport events. This study examines the ideal football experience among 1,412 fans of an Australian A-League football (soccer) club. The importance of a lively atmosphere, that of high turnouts of spectators and the opportunity to watch quality and attacking football are highlighted in most comments, even relegating the game’s final score (winning) to a more marginal level of importance. Some of the implications of the findings for professional football marketers and avenues for future research are presented and discussed.