Affinity in Adversity: Examining Brand Love and Online Customer Engagement in the Restaurant Industry

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18089/tms.20240404

Keywords:

Brand Love, Negative Review, Social Media, UGC., Restaurant Brands, Negative Reviews, Customer engagement

Abstract

Previous studies have investigated brand love in restaurants but have not considered the dynamics of online reviews about restaurant brands. To fill this gap, this study aims to understand how consumers with a high level of love towards restaurant brands defend them in the face of negative reviews on social media. This research, carried out in a Brazilian context, adopts a qualitative approach, analysing 3,979 customer reviews sourced from Instagram through sentiment and categorical content analysis. From the dimensions of brand love, the results showed that customers who love restaurant brands react to negative reviews about them on social media, expressing their positive emotional connection with the companies and acting as their defenders. The study shows that for the restaurant segment, it is relevant to have consumers who love the brand once they help mitigate the effects generated by negative comments online. Furthermore, the research highlights how brand love manifests in restaurant brands' digital context. 

Author Biographies

  • José William de Queiroz Barbosa, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

    José William de Queiroz Barbosa is a PhD candidate and holds a Master's degree in Tourism from the Postgraduate Programme in Tourism (PPGTUR) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), and is a CAPES scholarship holder. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and has experience and research interests in topics related to consumer behaviour in tourism, collaborative consumption in tourism, branding in tourism and brand love. He is a research member of the Brands and Marketing Research Group (GPMAR/UFRN) and a researcher in the Traveling Research Group: Studies in Marketing, Sales and Consumption of Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Services (DHT/UFPE).

  • Maria Carolina Cavalcante Dias, University of São Paulo

    Maria Carolina Cavalcante Dias is a PhD candidate in the Postgraduate Programme in Administration at the School of Economics, Administration and Accounting (FEA/USP), in the Marketing research line at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. She holds a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). Her research focuses on (i) Marketing, (ii) Brand Building, Management and Measurement, (iii) Management and Experience in Services. She has professional experience in the Retail and Services sectors, and teaching experience in the areas of Marketing and Management.

  • Lissa Valéria Fernandes Ferreira, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

    Lissa Valéria Fernandes Ferreira has a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Barcelona (2005) and a Post-Doctorate in Strategic Communication from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She has a Master's degree in Political Communication and Strategy from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (2005) and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Potiguar University (1990). She is an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and a permanent member of the Stricto Sensu Postgraduate Programme in Tourism (PPGTUR/UFRN). She is the Coordinator of the Brands and Marketing Research Group (GPMAR/CNPq) and has experience in the areas of Sustainable Tourism and Strategic Marketing, working on the following topics: Quality Management, Consumer Behaviour and Brand Management.

References

Ahluwalia, R., Burnkrant, R. E., & Unnava, H. R. (2000). Consumer response to negative publicity: the moderating role of commitment. Journal of Marketing Research, 37(2), 203-214. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkr.37.2.203.18734

Ahmad, F., & Guzmán, F. (2023). Perceived injustice and brand love: the effectiveness of sympathetic vs empathetic responses to address consumer complaints of unjust specific service encounters. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 32(6), 849-862. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-06-2022-4035

Algharabat, R. S. (2017). Linking social media marketing activities with brand love: The mediating role of self-expressive brands. Kybernetes, 46(10), 1801-1819. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-04-2017-0130

Algharabat, R. et al. (2020). Investigating the antecedents of customer brand engagement and consumer-based brand equity in social media. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 53, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.01.016

Alshreef, M. A., Hassan, T. H., Helal, M. Y., Saleh, M. I., Tatiana, P., Alrefae, W. M., ... & Elsayed, M. A. (2023). Analysing the Influence of eWOM on Customer Perception of Value and Brand Love in Hospitality Enterprise. Sustainability, 15(9), 7286. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097286

Anbumathi, R., Dorai, S., & Palaniappan, U. (2023). Evaluating the role of technology and non-technology factors influencing brand love in Online Food Delivery services. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 71, 103181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103181

Appel, G., Grewal, L., Hadi, R., & Stephen, A. T. (2019). The future of social media in marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 48(1), 79-95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-019-00695-1

Bagherzadeh, R., Rawal, M., Wei, S., & Torres, J. L. S. (2020). The journey from customer participation in service failure to co-creation in service recovery. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 54, 102058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102058

Bairrada, C. M., Coelho, A., & Lizanets, V. (2019). The impact of brand personality on consumer behavior: the role of brand love. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 23(1), 30-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMM-07-2018-0091

Ballester, E., Rubio, N., & Ruiz, C. (2023). Emojis and users’ brand engagement in Instagram. The case of eco-friendly restaurants. Journal of Tourism and Services, 14(27), 64-88. https://doi.org/10.29036/jots.v14i27.514

Batra, R., Ahuvia, A., & Bagozzi, R. P. (2012). Brand love. Journal of Marketing, 76(2), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1509/jm.09.0339

Bilal, M., Akram, U., Zhang, Y., Cai, S., & Wang, Z. (2022). Love Is Blind! Exploring the Impact of Brand Love on eWOM in Chinese Hospitality Industry. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.916206

Bilgihan, A., Seo, S., & Choi, J. (2018). Identifying restaurant satisfiers and dissatisfiers: Suggestions from online reviews. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 27(5), 601-625. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2018.1396275

Camarões. (2022). História. Retrieved from https://camaroes.com.br/historia/

Chang, K.-C. (2013). How reputation creates loyalty in the restaurant sector. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 25(4), 536–557. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596111311322916

Chen, W. K., Riantama, D., & Chen, L. S. (2021). Using a text mining approach to hear voices of customers from social media toward the fast-food restaurant industry. Sustainability, 13(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010268

Cho, S. B., Jang, Y. J., & Kim, W. G. (2016). The moderating role of severity of service failure in the relationship among regret/disappointment, dissatisfaction, and behavioral intention. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, 18(1), 69-85. https://doi.org/10.1080/1528008X.2016.1169470

Choi, Y., Kroff, M. W., & Kim, J. (2021). Developing brand advocacy through brand activities on Facebook. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 38(3), 328-338. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCM-10-2019-3460

Çakar, K., & Aykol, Ş. (2021). Case study as a research method in hospitality and tourism research: A systematic literature review (1974–2020). Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 62(1), 21-31. https://doi.org/10.1177/1938965520971281

Du, S., Bhattacharya, C. B., & Sen, S. (2007). Reaping relational rewards from corporate social responsibility: The role of competitive positioning. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 24(3), 224–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijresmar.2007.01.001

Duan, W., Yu, Y., Cao, Q., & Levy, S. (2016). Exploring the impact of social media on hotel service performance: A sentimental analysis approach. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 57(3), 282-296. https://doi.org/10.1177/1938965515620483

Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532-550. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1989.4308385

Fernandes, T., & Fernandes, F. (2017). Sharing dissatisfaction online: analysing the nature and predictors of hotel guests negative reviews. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 27(2), 127-150. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2017.1337540

Gan, Q., Ferns, B. H., Yu, Y., & Jin, L. (2016). A text mining and multidimensional sentiment analysis of online restaurant reviews. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, 18(4), 465-492. https://doi.org/10.1080/1528008X.2016.1250243

Gaspar, R., Pedro, C., Panagiotopoulos, P., & Seibt, B. (2016). Beyond positive or negative: Qualitative sentiment analysis of social media reactions to unexpected stressful events. Computers in Human Behavior, 56, 179-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.11.040

Gustafsson, J. (2017). Single case studies vs. multiple case studies: A comparative study. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1064378/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Hwang, Y., & Mattila, A. S. (2020). The impact of customer compassion on face-to-face and online complaints. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 29(7), 848-868. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2020.1711546

Ismail, T. A. T., Zahari, M. S. M., Hanafiah, M. H., & Balasubramanian, K. (2022). Customer brand personality, dining experience, and satisfaction at luxury hotel restaurants. Journal of Tourism and Services, 13(24), 26-42. https://doi.org/10.29036/jots.v13i24.278

Jang, Y. J., Cho, S-B., & Kim, W. G. (2013). Effect of Restaurant Patrons' Regret and Disappointment on Dissatisfaction and Behavioral Intention. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 30(5), 431-444. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2013.803388

John, L. K., Emrich, O., Gupta, S., & Norton, M. I. (2016). Does “liking” lead to loving? The impact of joining a brand's social network on marketing outcomes. Journal of Marketing Research, 54(1), 144-155. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmr.14.0237

Junaid, M. et al. (2020a). Brand love: the emotional bridge between tourists’ perceived value and well-being. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 25(12), 1329-1342. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2020.1853577

Junaid, M. et al. (2020b). An investigation of the diners’ brand love in the value co-creation process. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 172-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.08.008

Kamran, S., & Attiq, M. (2011). Value recovery with customer dissatisfaction: A study of restaurant services in Pakistan. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 11(3), 169-180. https://doi.org/10.1177/1467358411415088

Keller, K. L. (2001). Building customer-based brand equity: A blueprint for creating strong brands. Marketing Science Institute (Working paper series), 3-31.

Keller, E. (2007). Unleashing the power of word of mouth: Creating brand advocacy to drive growth. Journal of Advertising Research, 47(4), 448-452. https://doi.org/10.2501/S0021849907070468

Kennedy, E., & Guzmán, F. (2021). No matter what you do, I still love you: an examination of consumer reaction to brand transgressions. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 30(4), 594-608. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-07-2019-2450

Khan, A., Mohammad, A. S., & Muhammad, S. (2021). An integrated model of brand experience and brand love for halal brands: survey of halal fast food consumers in Malaysia. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 12(8), 1492-1520. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-11-2019-0236

Kim, W. G., Li, J. J., & Brymer, R. A. (2016). The impact of social media reviews on restaurant performance: The moderating role of excellence certificate. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 55, 41-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2016.03.001

Kim, B., & Velthuis, O. (2021). From reactivity to reputation management: online consumer review systems in the restaurant industry. Journal of Cultural Economy, 14(6), 675-693. https://doi.org/10.1080/17530350.2021.1895280

Lamberton, C., & Stephen, A. T. (2016). A thematic exploration of digital, social media, and mobile marketing: Research evolution from 2000 to 2015 and an agenda for future inquiry. Journal of Marketing, 80(6), 146-172. https://doi.org/10.1509/jm.15.0415

Langley, A. (1999). Strategies for theorising from process data. Academy of Management Review, 24(4), 691-710. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1999.2553248

Li, Z. (2019). From power to punishment: consumer empowerment and online complaining behaviors. Internet Research, 29(6), 1324-1343. https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-05-2018-0232

Lu, W., & Stepchenkova, S. (2015). User-generated content as a research mode in tourism and hospitality applications: Topics, methods, and software. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 24(2), 119-154. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2014.907758

Mariotto, F. L., Zanni, P. P., & Moraes, G. H. S. (2014). What is the use of a single-case study in management research?. Revista de Administração de Empresas, 54, 358-369. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-759020140402

Matute, J., Palau-Saumell, R., & Occhiocupo, N. (2019). Understanding customer brand engagement in user-initiated online brand communities: antecedents and consequences. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 30(3), 360-376. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-04-2019-2329

Melancon, J. P., & Dalakas, V. (2018). Consumer social voice in the age of social media: Segmentation profiles and relationship marketing strategies. Business Horizons, 61(1), 157-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2017.09.015

Meyer-Waarden, L., & Sabadie, W. (2023). Relationship quality matters: How restaurant businesses can optimise complaint management. Tourism Management, 96, 104709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2022.104709

Milan, G. S., Eberle, L., De Toni, D., & Fortes, V. M. M. (2021). A formação da lealdade à marca de um refrigerante. ReMark-Revista Brasileira de Marketing, 20(1), 148-174. https://doi.org/10.5585/remark.v19i1.15695

Miller, B. (2008). Using a modular system approach to international franchising: Analysing the case study of a Poland-based restaurant operator. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 49(4), 458-462. https://doi.org/10.1177/1938965508326541

Nagar, K., & Kour, P. (2018). Measuring Young Consumers’ Response to Brand Scandals: A Brand Love Perspective. FIIB Business Review, 7(4), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2319714518806712

Nebreda, L. P., Martín, F. D., & González, A. B. (2020). Changes and evolution in the intellectual structure of consumer dissatisfaction. Journal of Consumer Behavior, 20(1), 160-172. https://doi.org/10.1002/cb.1864

Nyamekye, M.B., Adam, D.R., Boateng, H., & Kosiba, J.P. (2023). Place attachment and brand loyalty: the moderating role of customer experience in the restaurant setting. International Hospitality Review, 37(1), 48-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/IHR-02-2021-0013

Palazon, M., Delgado-Ballester, E., & Sicilia, M. (2019). Fostering brand love in Facebook brand pages. Online Information Review, 43(5), 710-727. https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-05-2017-0175

Paruthi, M., Kaur, H., Islam, J. U., Rasool, A., & Thomas, G. (2023). Engaging consumers via online brand communities to achieve brand love and positive recommendations. Spanish Journal of Marketing-ESIC, 27(2), 138-157. https://doi.org/10.1108/SJME-07-2022-0160

Perez-Aranda, J., Arán, M. V., & Molinillo, S. (2018). A proposal for measuring hotels’ managerial responses to User-Generated-Content Reviews. Tourism & Management Studies, 14, 7-16. https://www.tmstudies.net/index.php/ectms/article/view/995

Polat, A. S., & Çetinsöz, B. C. (2021). The mediating role of brand love in the relationship between consumer-based brand equity and brand loyalty: A research on starbucks. Journal of Tourism and Services, 12(22), 150-167. https://doi.org/10.29036/jots.v12i22.252

Premordia, I., & Gál, T. (2021). Negative Online Customer Reviews In Restaurant Dining Experience: What Are The Determining Factors Of Service Failure Affecting Behavioral Intentions? Network Intelligence Studies, 17(1), 69-83.

Ro, H. (2015). Customer dissatisfaction responses to restaurant service failures: Insights into noncomplainers from a relational perspective. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 24(4), 435-456. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2014.910481

Rodríguez-López, M. E., Alcántara-Pilar, J. M., & del Barrio-García, S. (2023). Individual cultural values as determinants of the attitudinal process in the restaurant: a different perspective for understanding brand equity formation. Tourism & Management Studies, 19(1), 49-57. https://www.tmstudies.net/index.php/ectms/article/view/2065

Roy, S. K., Singh, G., Japutra, A., & Javed, M. (2021). Circle the wagons: measuring the strength of consumers’ brand defense. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2021.1999305

Salomão, M. T., & Santos, M. A. (2022). O impacto do marketing experiencial na intenção de revisitar a marca: uma comparação entre grandes e pequenas redes de restaurantes fast-food. REMark-Revista Brasileira de Marketing, 21(3), 730. https://doi.org/10.5585/remark.v21i3.21331

Santos, M. L. B. (2022). The “so-called” UGC: an updated definition of user-generated content in the age of social media. Online Information Review, 46(1), 95-113. https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-06-2020-0258

Saura, J. R., Palacios-Marqués, D., & Ribeiro-Soriano, D. (2023). Exploring the boundaries of open innovation: Evidence from social media mining. Technovation, 119, 102447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2021.102447

Sawaftah, D., Aljarah, A., & Lahuerta-Otero, E. (2021). Power brand defense up, my friend! stimulating brand defense through digital content marketing. Sustainability, 13(18), 10266. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810266

Shen, Y., Huang, S., Choi, H. S. C., & Morrison, A. M. (2021). Does brand love matter to casual restaurants? A multi-group path analysis. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2021.1867282

Shin, H., & Larson, L. R. (2020). The bright and dark sides of humorous response to online customer complaint. European Journal of Marketing, 54(8), 2013-2047. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-08-2018-0522

Silva, F. F., Dias, M. C. C., Ferreira, L. V. F., & Marques Júnior, S. (2017). Lovemarks: Un análisis de la marca de restaurantes a partir del modelo de Kevin Roberts. Estudios y Perspectivas en Turismo, 26(4), 905-924. https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=180752919008

Skinner, H., Chatzopoulou, E., & Gorton, M. (2020). Perceptions of localness and authenticity regarding restaurant choice in tourism settings. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 37(2), 155-168. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2020.1722785

Song, H., Bae, S.Y., & Han, H. (2019). Emotional comprehension of a name-brand coffee shop: focus on lovemarks theory. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31(3), 1046-1065. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-07-2017-0436

Sparks, B., Bowen, J., & Klag, S. (2003). Restaurants and the tourist market. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 15(1), 6-13. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596110310458936

Stevens, J. L., Spaid, B. I., Breazeale, M., & Jones, C. L. E. (2018). Timeliness, transparency, and trust: A framework for managing online customer complaints. Business Horizons, 61(3), 375-384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2018.01.007

Sudhagar, D. P. (2018). Triggers for customer dissatisfaction and the impact on online reviews and rating-an exploratory study on Indian fine dining restaurant. International Journal of Knowledge Management in Tourism and Hospitality, 2(1), 104-116. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJKMTH.2018.099259

Tan, J.Y., Chan, L.Y., Tan, S.C., Wong, E.Y., & Chaichi, K. (2023). Generating competitiveness through trending marketing strategies, case of gen z consumers in the restaurant industry. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 10(4), 471–496. https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v10i4.4597

TripAdvisor. (2022). Camarões Restaurante. Retrieved from https://www.tripadvisor.com.br/Restaurant_Review-g303518-d1065305-Reviews-Camaroes_Restaurante-Natal_State_of_Rio_Grande_do_Norte.html

Trivedi, J., & Sama, R. (2020). Determinants of consumer loyalty towards celebrity‐owned restaurants: The mediating role of brand love. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 20(3), 748-761. https://doi.org/10.1002/cb.1903

Uthaisar, S., Eves, A., & Wang, X. L. (2023). Tourists’ Online Information Search Behavior: Combined User-Generated and Marketer-Generated Content in Restaurant Decision Making. Journal of Travel Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875231195314

Vernuccio, M., Pagani, M., Barbarossa, C., & Pastore, A. (2015). Antecedents of brand love in online network-based communities. A social identity perspective. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 24(7), 706-719. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-12-2014-0772

Voorveld, H. A. (2019). Brand communication in social media: A research agenda. Journal of Advertising, 48(1), 14-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913367.2019.1588808

Vu, H. Q., Li, G., Law, R., & Zhang, Y. (2017). Exploring tourist dining preferences based on restaurant reviews. Journal of Travel Research, 58(1), 149-167. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287517744672

Wallace, E., Buil, I., & Chernatony, L. (2014). Consumer engagement with self-expressive brands: Brand love and WOM outcomes. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 23(1), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-06-2013-0326

Wallace, E., Torres, P., Augusto, M., & Stefuryn, M. (2021). Do brand relationships on social media motivate young consumers’ value co-creation and willingness to pay? The role of brand love. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 31(2), 189-205. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-06-2020-2937

Wilk, V., Soutar, G. N., & Harrigan, P. (2020). Online brand advocacy (OBA): The development of a multiple item scale. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 29(4), 415-429. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-10-2018-2090

Wilk, V., Soutar, G. N., & Harrigan, P. (2021). Online brand advocacy and brand loyalty: a reciprocal relationship?. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 33(10), 1977-1993. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJML-05-2020-0303

Yin, R. K. (2001). Case study research: Design and methods. (3a ed.). Applied Social Research Methods Series, 5. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.

Zhang, Y., Zhang, J., & Sakulsinlapakorn, K. (2020). Love becomes hate? Or love is blind? Moderating effects of brand love upon consumers’ retaliation towards brand failure. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 30(3), 415-432. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-07-2019-2470

Zhu, Y., Wang, Y., Song, B., Feng, Q., Lin, H., & Tang, J. (2023). The interactive effects of extrinsic and intrinsic motivations on service recovery performance in the hospitality industry: the mediating role of self-efficacy. Tourism & Management Studies, 19(3), 7-22. https://www.tmstudies.net/index.php/ectms/article/view/1916

Downloads

Published

03.09.2024

Issue

Section

Business/Management: Research Papers

How to Cite

Barbosa, J. W. de Q., Dias, M. C. C., & Ferreira, L. V. F. (2024). Affinity in Adversity: Examining Brand Love and Online Customer Engagement in the Restaurant Industry. Tourism & Management Studies, 20(4), 47-62. https://doi.org/10.18089/tms.20240404

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 > >>