Networked Hospitality and Placemaking in the Sharing Economy

This article investigates the similarities and differences for tangible and intangible elements (factors and language use) contributing to placemaking in Airbnb English language reviews in Paris (59,057 reviews), Barcelona (19,291 reviews) and London (30,403 reviews). This paper contributes to provide new insights on the narrative construction of reputational capital which is connected to placemaking strategies. A combined quantitative approach using large scale text analysis enabled the analysis of review content and style. Patterns in the words usage were identified. Findings suggest that tangible and intangible elements work together in the discourse, contributing to the place-narrative built on the host’s reputational capital. The host-guest interaction is the main aspect of the reviews, followed by the importance of transport and local amenities. Cities have different profiles in the composition of the word clusters which indicates differences in the guests’ perceived experience. Keywords: Hospitality; Sharing economy; Placemaking; Airbnb, Narrative, Reputational capita

Motivation and experience in symbiotic events: an illustrative example grounded in culture and business events

This article explores the relation between motivation and experience in attendees at different types of events. There has been relatively little research into the experience dimensions of event attendees, or to what extent different motivations affect the experience, even in the events literature, motivation has been a central topic. Both academia and industry recognise event attendees’ motivations as an important factor that helps us to understand developments in a broader framework. However, further research in this area is needed to understand how motivations and experience are related and how this relationship develops in different types of events. We used the Event Experience Scale in a survey conducted at two different events. This paper concludes with some critical observations identifying similarities and differences in motivations and experience at two different types of events, suggesting new pathways for further research

Relacionalidade em rede: Cama e Café

__RESUMO__ A forma como anfitriões e hóspedes interagem entre si foram abordadas neste trabalho pela lente teórica da hospitalidade em rede. Para compreender como ambos, hóspedes e anfitriões, significam suas interações, se utilizou de análise temática a partir das avaliações elaboradas pelos hóspedes no tripadvisor. E, adicionalmente, aplicou-se entrevistas com os anfitriões da hospedaria Cama e Café Olinda, vinculada ao Airbnb. Os resultados indicam a constituição de uma relacionalidade baseada em princípios de pertencimento temporário; estabelecimento de critérios prévios para efetivar a relação; associação entre trabalho e lazer por parte dos anfitriões; a construção de espaço relacional; a tecnologia como uma condição para propiciador e manter as interações. __ABSTRACT__ The way hosts and guests interact with each other has been addressed in this work by the networked hospitality theoretical lens. To understand how both guests and hosts mean their interactions, we used thematic analysis from the assessments made by the guests on tripadvisor. In addition, interviews were conducted with the hosts of the Cama e Café Olinda, linked to Airbnb. The results indicate the constitution of a relationality based on principles of temporary belonging; establishing previous criteria to active the relation; association between work and leisure by the hosts; building relational space; technology as a condition to propitiate and maintain the interactions

Relacionalidade em rede: Cama e Café

__RESUMO__ A forma como anfitriões e hóspedes interagem entre si foram abordadas neste trabalho pela lente teórica da hospitalidade em rede. Para compreender como ambos, hóspedes e anfitriões, significam suas interações, se utilizou de análise temática a partir das avaliações elaboradas pelos hóspedes no tripadvisor. E, adicionalmente, aplicou-se entrevistas com os anfitriões da hospedaria Cama e Café Olinda, vinculada ao Airbnb. Os resultados indicam a constituição de uma relacionalidade baseada em princípios de pertencimento temporário; estabelecimento de critérios prévios para efetivar a relação; associação entre trabalho e lazer por parte dos anfitriões; a construção de espaço relacional; a tecnologia como uma condição para propiciador e manter as interações. __ABSTRACT__ The way hosts and guests interact with each other has been addressed in this work by the networked hospitality theoretical lens. To understand how both guests and hosts mean their interactions, we used thematic analysis from the assessments made by the guests on tripadvisor. In addition, interviews were conducted with the hosts of the Cama e Café Olinda, linked to Airbnb. The results indicate the constitution of a relationality based on principles of temporary belonging; establishing previous criteria to active the relation; association between work and leisure by the hosts; building relational space; technology as a condition to propitiate and maintain the interactions

Leisure and innovation: exploring boundaries

Innovation has been widely debated in various fields. However, except for leisure innovation in ageing and digital leisure, scant research has been done on the relationship between leisure and innovation. This article presents an overview of the field by mapping out the areas of innovation and leisure, suggesting also a taxonomy for innovations in leisure. Considering both supply and demand perspectives, a roadmap for future leisure and innovation research condensed into 10 priority areas is proposed

Bidding for Success? Impacts of the European Capital of Culture Bid

The increasingly multifaceted nature of event impacts makes them even more attractive as a potential solution to a range of urban and regional problems. As a result, competition to stage major cultural and sporting events is intensifying, and the cost of bidding is also rising. Given that such bidding processes only produce one winner, this means that a growing number of disappointed cities have to justify the costs of bidding for major events. In this context, we analyse the bidding process for the European Capital of Culture in the Netherlands (2018) and its impacts on local social structures. In particular the article focuses on the less tangible, non-economic effects of bidding for events, establishing a framework based on network formation, public support for the bidding process and social cohesion. The conclusions point to the key role of sociality and networking for events, which should therefore be developed throughout the bidding process for successful impacts, either the event is won or not

The Gammaherpesvirus m2 Protein Manipulates the Fyn/Vav Pathway through a Multidocking Mechanism of Assembly

To establish latent infections in B-cells, gammaherpesviruses express proteins in the infected B-cells of the host that spuriously activate signalling pathways located downstream of the B-cell receptor. One such protein is M2, a murine gammaherpesvirus 68-encoded molecule that activates the Vav1/Rac1 pathway via the formation of trimolecular complexes with Scr family members. Previous reports have shown that the formation of this heteromolecular complex involves interactions between a proline rich region of M2 and the Vav1 and Fyn SH3 domains. Here, we show that the optimal association of these proteins requires a second structural motif encompassing two tyrosine residues (Tyr120 and 129). These residues are inducibly phosphorylated by Fyn in non-hematopoietic cells and constitutively phosphorylated in B-cells. We also demonstrate that the phosphorylation of Tyr120 creates specific docking sites for the SH2 domains of both Vav1 and Fyn, a condition sine qua non for the optimal association of these two signalling proteins in vivo. Interestingly, signaling experiments indicate that the expression of M2 in B-cells promotes the tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav1 and additional signaling proteins, a biological process that requires the integrity of both the M2 phosphotyrosine and proline rich region motifs. By infecting mice with viruses mutated in the m2 locus, we show that the integrity of each of these two M2 docking motifs is essential for the early steps of murine gammaherpesvirus-68 latency. Taken together, these results indicate that the M2 phosphotyrosine motif and the previously described M2 proline rich region work in a concerted manner to manipulate the signaling machinery of the host B-cell

Dystopian dark tourism: affective experiences in Dismaland

In dark tourism affects are generated in a relational manner by the tourists and the locations visited by them. Exploring affective meanings of Banksy’s Dismaland via socio-spatial theories of emotion and affect is a way to contribute to the understanding of dystopian tourism. The dystopian touristic experience of Dismaland evolves from the interaction of a dystopian atmosphere, a displacement strategy and productive negative intensities. Whilst the affects produced vary according to the artist’s intentions, through innovative and politicised forms of dystopian dark tourism, Banksy creates atmospheres where productive negative intensities are able to be developed. In spite of the shades of dystopia and darkness in the artist’s work, a hopeful form of tourism could be generated. The implications are that affect in the dark tourism context has different layers of meaning where the materialising dystopian experiences, as simulacra, range from pure attraction to social change. Dismaland’s dark tourism experience reveals the role that political and ethical matters play in socio-affective encounters as exemplified by the commodification of the tourism industry, the Mediterranean refugee crisis and the glorified/sorrowful death of Diana, princess of Wales