Júlio Mendes’s research while affiliated with University of Algarve and other places

A satisfação dos colaboradores é uma questão que tem vindo a merecer grande atenção entre académicos e profissionais. A importância deste assunto é salientada pelos resultados a que chegaram alguns estudos que encontraram uma relação positive entre a satisfação dos colaboradores e a performance do negócio, assim como pelo desenvolvimento e melhoramento de alguns conceitos de gestão. A indústria turística envolve uma amálgama de serviços e produtos e a interacção entre colaboradores e turistas faz parte da própria experiência turística. Num estudo realizado na região do Algarve (Portugal), um questionário foi aplicado a uma amostra representativa de 5/77 colaboradores, de organizações privadas e públicas, com 25 ou mais colaboradores. O inquérito foi dividido em cinco partes. Os resultados foram analisados com recurso a um programa informático estatístico e permitiram à equipa de investigação apresentar sugestões e recomendações com o intuito de aumentar a satisfação dos colaboradores de organizações de um destino turístico, muito dependente desta indústria. Acredita-se que o maior contributo desta investigação relacionase com o facto da análise ter sido realizada de forma agregada, incluindo organizações directa e indirectamente ligadas ao turismo, já que os turistas consomem não só serviços de alojamento e viagem mas também outros serviços como de comércio, segurança e saúde.

Purpose. The post-COVID challenges led to rethinking the Portuguese tourism policy within the context of reinforcing the goals of sustainability . Despite the high complexity of perspectives on tourism planning, this paper aims at discussing the importance of tourism planning and management to achieve sustainable tourism development.Method. The paper is a literature review on tourism planning and management. Simultaneously, categorial content analysis is conducted with regard to Portuguese tourism challenges and planning tools.Findings. Tourism is a strategic sector for the Portuguese sustainable development as recognised in a set of planning tools, such as “Tourism Strategy 2027” [TP 2017], “The Reactivate Tourism. Build the Future Action Plan” [TP 2021a], and the “+ Sustainable Tourism Plan: 2020-23 - More than a challenge, it is the way” [TP 2021b]. Sustainability, inclusiveness, cohesion, participation, dialogue, integration, conservation, preservation, innovation and responsibility are keywords in this process.Research limitations and conclusions. The discussion about Portuguese tourism planning can be deepened considering other methodological tools, such as interviews with tourism planning stakeholders, in order to evaluate its effectiveness as well as future planning trends in a post-COVID-19 pandemic and within the volatile context of the war in Ukraine.Originality. The number of publications associated with Portuguese tourism planning is limited, thus highlighting the need for more studies.Type of paper. A case study.

Purpose Hotels offer high-quality guest experiences to positively impact their emotions, satisfaction, perceived value, word-of-mouth (WOM) and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). This study aims to investigate the impacts of the quality perceived by hotel guests on their positive emotions, negative emotions, perceived value and satisfaction; verify the impacts of the price on perceived value and satisfaction; examine the impacts of satisfaction on WOM and eWOM; and test the moderating effect of hotel guests’ behavioural engagement on social networking sites (HGBE-SNS) on the relationship between satisfaction and eWOM. Design/methodology/approach This survey included 371 guests who assessed their experiences at three Brazilian hotels. Structural equation modelling tested the hypothetical model supported by the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory (Mehrabian and Russell, 1974). Findings The quality perceived by hotel guests (stimulus) positively impacts perceived value, positive emotions and satisfaction and negatively affects negative emotions (organism). Price (stimulus) negatively impacts perceived value but does not affect satisfaction. Perceived value positively impacts satisfaction. Satisfaction positively impacts WOM and eWOM (responses). The HGBE-SNS moderates the relationship between satisfaction and eWOM. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first that simultaneously demonstrates the relationships between perceived quality, price, perceived value, positive and negative emotions, satisfaction, WOM, eWOM and HGBE-SNS. Hotels must offer their guests high-quality services to positively impact’ perceived value, positive emotions, satisfaction and WOM. Low prices boost the perceived value but do not directly increase guest satisfaction. Satisfied hotel guests share their experiences via WOM, but high HGBE-SNS is crucial to boost eWOM.

This study explores the sensory experience at heritage sites from the visitors' perspective. A qualitative and exploratory approach was used, considering two data collection methods: semi-structured interviews and in situ focus groups. This empirical study was conducted in the Algarve region, a southern Portugal's sea and sun destination. The data was compiled and analyzed through a thematic content with QSR NVivo 12. The findings suggest that managers should explore and understand tangible, intangible (or immaterial) elements that influence visitors' experiences, attitudes, and behaviours toward the physical environment. In this sense, managers must converge efforts to highlight the sensory cues intrinsic to each site. Furthermore, considering the scarce research addressing sensory experiences in heritage contexts, this study contributes to the literature by exploring the role of the sensory dimension of experiencing a monument that is one of the main attractions in a seasonal mass tourism destination. A framework is presented, which can help managers to design sensory experiences in a built heritage context and assist researchers in future studies. In addition to that, this research also provides some practical implications for management and depicts several leads to future research.

Purpose Hotels provide high-quality guest experiences to generate perceived value for money (PVM), positively influencing word-of-mouth (WOM) and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) communication. This study aims to (1) verify the impacts of the perceived quality by the guests about their experiences in hotels on their PVM; (2) inspect the influence of guests' perception of hotel prices on PVM; (3) examine the impacts of guest PVM on their hotel experiences on WOM and eWOM and (4) investigate the consequences of the hotel guests' behavioural engagement on social networking sites (HGBE-SNS) on eWOM. Design/methodology/approach This quantitative and descriptive study consists of a survey with 371 guests who evaluated their experiences at three hotels in Brazil. PLS-SEM tested the hypothetical model that resorted to the stimulus-organism-response theory (S-O-R), proposed by Mehrabian and Russell (1974). Cluster Analysis compared the PVM, WOM and eWOM of groups of hotel guests with different levels of social media engagement. Findings Perceived quality by hotel guests positively impacts PVM. Perceived price negatively influences PVM. PVM had a positive and robust impact on WOM. PVM impacts and explains weakly eWOM. In contrast, HGBE-SNS affects and better explains eWOM than PVM. Originality/value This unprecedented investigation concomitantly exhibits the relationships between perceived quality, price, PVM, WOM, eWOM and HGBE-SNS. Hotels must offer high perceived quality experiences to influence PVM and WOM positively. PVM is unable to stimulate eWOM strongly. HGBE-SNS is pivotal for guests to share their hotel experiences through eWOM. This study suggests marketing strategies for hospitality companies to amplify customer engagement on SNS.

Purpose Many restaurants offer high-quality service to their customers, hoping to provide memorable experiences that influence their loyalty and electronic word of mouth (eWOM). However, consumers' memorable experiences do not always imply positive eWOM. This study aims to (1) verify the direct impacts of the perceived quality by consumers of casual dining restaurants on positive emotions, negative emotions and memorable experiences; (2) investigate the impacts of memorable experiences on the propensity to loyalty and eWOM; (3) test the moderating effect of consumer behavioural engagement on social networking sites (CBE-SNS) on the relationship between memorable experiences and eWOM. Design/methodology/approach This survey included 475 university students in Brazil. Participants answered an electronic form about their experiences in casual dining restaurants. Structural equation modelling tested the hypothetical model based on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory (Mehrabian and Russell, 1974). Findings The quality perceived by restaurant consumers (stimulus) positively impacts their memorable experiences and positive emotions and negatively affects their negative emotions (organism). Memorable experiences positively impact the propensity to loyalty (response). The CBE-SNS moderates the intensity of the relationship between memorable experiences (organism) and eWOM (response). Originality/value This study is the first that demonstrates the relationships between perceived quality, positive and negative emotions, memorable experiences, the propensity to loyalty and CBE-SNS and e-WOM in restaurants. Casual dining restaurants must offer their customers services with high perceived quality, positively impacting their emotions and their memorable experiences. Finally, restaurants must create strategies and actions to increase the CBE-SNS to encourage them to share their memorable experiences through eWOM.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the hedonic experience and its formation at heritage attractions. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative and exploratory approach was applied, using data from 21 semi-structured interviews and three in-situ focus groups. Findings Findings highlight that senses, imagery and emotions are stimulated by the physical landscape and by triggers of memorable experiences. Research limitations/implications To further explore this topic, a broader range of heritage attractions and perspectives from the diverse stakeholders involved in the management and consumption of these sites is needed. Originality/value Given the scarcity of research dedicated to the hedonic experience at heritage sites, this study provides a contribution by exploring the visitor’s perspective and points out relevant insights. As the hedonic feelings of pleasure, comfort and related affective responses impact the quality of memorable experiences, relevant implications for theory and practice are discussed.

This paper intends to capture alumni’s assessments and perceptions about decisive dimensions of their commitment towards their alma mater. Their academic experience and current situation are highlighted. Moreover, their perception about the role of Higher Education Institution (HEI) in this commitment-relationship is likewise valuable to get their involvement. The study took place at a Portuguese university. Three focus groups, with 21 participants, were conducted to get consistent information permitting further developments. Data were analysed through NVivo software.The study gives insights revealing dimensions such as the relationships with teachers, extracurricular activities and initiation as decisive in their academic experience. Recommending and sharing their experience, underline evidence of what they are willing to give back. Moreover, their consciousness of bearing a mission to contribute to HEI’s development was expressed through strong positive feelings, such as the sense of belonging, and pride at being part of the university, defined in their statements. But they all demand an effective ability of the university to communicate with them. Overall conclusions offer a scenario of alumni’s commitment, giving HEI’s management valuable clues to improvement, but its responsibility in this commitment-relationship was also stressed. Moreover, results also provide contributions to literature enabling other HEIs to replicate the study or simply use the results for their own development. Since the study occurred in a relatively weak alumni culture context, revealing the importance in promoting debate as a means to engage alumni in HEI’s efforts for success, it presents insights for further developments in similar higher education environments.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) need to understand their alumni when drawing strategic relationship programmes. This paper aims to identify clusters of alumni based on their commitment relationship and to analyse factors influencing their intention to collaborate with the HEI. The study took place at a Portuguese university, considering a dataset of 1075 of alumni asserting intention to collaborate. First, a cluster analysis was conducted to identify patterns of commitment relationship. Secondly, a logistic regression was run to identify determinants of intention to collaborate. Both techniques revealed the decisive role of HEI commitment in the process. Relationship advantages and positive feelings towards the HEI were also pointed out as important. Alumni asserted recommendations, further training, sharing experiences and giving help as ways to collaborate with HEI. Regression results suggest that sociodemographic variables such as gender, marital status and volunteering are significantly associated with a probability to collaborate. Results also show that affiliation in sororities/fraternities and participation in extracurricular activities are significantly associated with that collaborative intention. The findings provide clues to support strategic relationship programmes based on consistent marketing campaigns, while bringing value to the literature in the European context, where alumni culture requires real insights to evolve.

This study explores the demand-side perspective on the factors influencing the willingness to pay (WTP) premium price for fish with a low allergenic potential (FWLAP). A survey to assess consumers’ behavior and preferences for fish products was implemented in a representative sample of the Portuguese general population (n = 640). The contingent valuation method was applied to elicit consumers’ WTP. Results indicated that only half of the consumers were willing to pay higher prices for FWLAP. Econometric results suggested that WTP for FWLAP is explained by the presence of fish-allergy pathologies in the household, and the fish unique characteristics and quality.