Vieira, Maria Joao L. S.

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Critical Tourism Studies Proceedings
Volume 2017 Article 15
2017
Quality of Life of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs: A
Conceptual Model
Maria Joao L. S. Vieira
Edinburgh Napier University, 40128555@live.napier.ac.uk
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Recommended Citation
Vieira, Maria Joao L. S. (2017) "Quality of Life of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs: A Conceptual Model," Critical Tourism Studies Proceedings:
Vol. 2017 , Article 15.
Available at: http://digitalcommons.library.tru.ca/cts-proceedings/vol2017/iss1/15
  
Title: Quality of Life of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs: A Conceptual Model 
Author: Maria Joao Vieira 
Affiliation: Edinburgh Napier University  
Contact: 40128555@live.napier.ac.uk 
Session Type: Presentation 
 
Abstract: 
This presentation aims to explore how lifestyle entrepreneurs (LsEs) perceive quality of 
life (QoL) after engaging with a home-business that operates in the accommodation sector, and 
also to understand the impacts of that choice on their own QoL. A conceptual model of QoL for 
LsEs will be suggested based on 38 in-depth interviews with LsE owners of B&Bs in Portugal, 
conducted as part of an ongoing doctoral study. 
Interest in lifestyle entrepreneurs (LsEs) has been growing among academics (Marchant 
& Mottiar, 2011); still, despite the relevance, studies on the understanding of this complex 
concept are lacking, whether in regards to its “conceptualization” or “content of current research” 
(Carlsen et al., 2008, p. 260). Knowledge about the group is scarce and tends to be focused on 
the motivations to open small tourism businesses (Thomas et al., 2011), being relatively 
consensual that LsEs’ main motivation is not profit nor desire for growth (Shaw & Williams, 
1998; Ioannides & Petersen, 2003). This assumption, as obvious as it appears, does not do justice 
to the relevance this group of entrepreneurs has in the tourism and hospitality sector. Instead, the 
lack of understanding of LsEs’ goals, intentions, lifestyle, and perception of quality of life (QoL) 
allows the creation of discourses that tend to portray stereotypes. 
The label LsE has been used in the tourism literature to describe owners of small firms 
who intentionally choose a particular lifestyle over profit and business growth (Lashley & 
Rowson, 2010; Skokic & Morrison, 2011). LsEs want to have more control in their own lives and 
achieve a certain level of QoL and personal happiness (Lashley & Rowson, 2007; Lundberg & 
Fredman, 2012). The label LsE on its own suggests that the style of life is something of 
importance to this group of entrepreneurs. To describe the concept of entrepreneur(ship) with the 
term lifestyle makes the focus shift to lifestyle choices. The lifestyle label is then related to a 
desire to open a small business, taking into consideration aspects like family, style of life, and 
commercial concerns (Saxena, 2015); blending lifestyle and work as if they are one and the same 
(Holland & Martin, 2015); and an ambition of achieving a certain QoL, which may in turn be 
associated with the possibility of living a pleasant life guided by personal preferences and values 
(Ateljevic & Doorne, 2000). 
Taking into consideration the agreement that seems to exist in the literature regarding 
QoL as one of the main drivers for LsEs to engage in tourism related entrepreneurial ventures 
(Shaw & Williams, 2004; Getz & Petersen, 2005; Ateljevic, 2007), it becomes relevant to 
understand how this particular group perceives QoL and how they self-assess their own QoL. It 
becomes even more important in a society that is supporting the ideal of living a more healthy and 
fulfilling life (Rapley, 2003), and where QoL is a global desired result of service delivery for 
economic, social, and political reasons (Galloway et al., 2006). 
 
References: 
Ateljevic, I., & Doorne, S. (2000). “Staying within the fence”: Lifestyle entrepreneurship in  
tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 8(5), 378–392. 
Ateljevic, J. (2007). Small tourism firms and management practices in New Zealand: The centre  
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Vieira: Quality of Life of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs: A Conceptual Model
Published by Digital Commons @ TRU Library, 2017
  
stage macro region. Tourism Management, 28(1), 307–316. 
Carlsen, J., Morrison, A., & Weber, P. (2008). Lifestyle oriented small tourist firms. Tourism  
Recreation Research, 33(3), 255–263. 
Galloway, S., Bell, D., Hamilton, C., & Scullion, A. (2006). Quality of life and well-being:  
Measuring the benefits of culture and sport: Literature review and thinkpiece.
 Edinburgh. 
Getz, D., & Petersen, T. (2005). Growth and profit-oriented entrepreneurship among family  
business owners in the tourism and hospitality industry. International Journal of 
Hospitality Management, 24(2), 219–242. 
Holland, C., & Martin, E. (2015). Lifestyle migration and work choices. Hospitality & Society,  
5(1), 23–42. 
Ioannides, D., & Petersen, T. (2003). Tourism “non-entrepreneurship” in peripheral destinations:  
A case study of small and medium tourism enterprises on Bornholm, Denmark. Tourism 
Geographies, 5(4), 408–435. 
Lashley, C., & Rowson, B. (2007). Trials and tribulations of hotel ownership in Blackpool:  
Highlighting the skills gaps of owner-managers. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 7(2), 
122–130. 
Lashley, C., & Rowson, B. (2010). Lifestyle businesses: Insights into Blackpool’s hotel sector.  
International Journal of Hospitality Management, 29(3), 511–519. 
Lundberg, C., & Fredman, P. (2012). Success factors and constraints among nature-based  
tourism entrepreneurs. Current Issues in Tourism, 15(7), 649–671. 
Marchant, B., & Mottiar, Z. (2011). Understanding lifestyle entrepreneurs and digging beneath  
the issue of profits: Profiling surf tourism lifestyle entrepreneurs in Ireland. Tourism 
Planning & Development, 8(2), 171–183. 
Rapley, M. (2003). Quality of life research: A critical introduction. London: Sage.  
Saxena, G. (2015). Imagined relational capital: An analytical tool in considering small tourism  
firms’ sociality. Tourism Management, 49, 109–118. 
Shaw, G., & Williams, A. (2004). From lifestyle consumption to lifestyle production: Changing  
patterns of tourism entrepreneurship. In R. Thomas, ed., Small Firms in Tourism: 
International Perspectives (pp. 99–114). Oxford: Elsevier. 
Shaw, G., & Williams, A.M. (1998). Entrepreneurship, small business culture, and tourism  
development. In K. Debbage & D. Ioannides, eds., Economic Geography of Tourism (pp. 
235–255). London: Routledge. 
Skokic, V., & Morrison, A. (2011). Conceptions of tourism lifestyle entrepreneurship: Transition  
economy context. Tourism Planning & Development, 8(2), 157–169. 
Thomas, R., Shaw, G., & Page, S.J. (2011). Understanding small firms in tourism: A perspective  
on research trends and challenges. Tourism Management, 32(5), 963–976.
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Quality of Life of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs: A Conceptual Model

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