Purpose
This paper aims to empirically investigate how event innovation may induce desirable corporate branding.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey yielded 280 complete responses from tourists who had attended an event in Macau. Structural equation modeling was used to test the innovation-corporate loyalty framework through perceived event value and corporate image, with a multi-group comparison to examine differences between first-time and repeat customers.
Findings
The results indicate that innovation is not only the key to value enhancement of the event but also an efficacious instrument of branding the parent company and building corporate loyalty; only product-related innovation has a significant impact on event value; both functional and emotional values induce a more favorable corporate image; and event-induced corporate branding is more effective in securing repeat business than attracting new clientele.
Practical implications
The findings help hospitality operators and event planners to leverage innovative events for corporate branding and cater to different customer segments by providing distinct marketing strategies.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding event management and corporate branding and sheds light on future research to explore the initiative and benefit of pushing forward event innovation.
Planned events have been acknowledged to improve the image of a place. Although there are ample studies examining the destination image and tourist behaviors, this research focuses on the mediating effects of different destination images on the linkage between travel-specific event value and destination loyalty. In addition, this study seeks to advance the literature by addressing the mixed findings of event-induced destination image by examining the moderating effect of travel satisfaction. Moderated mediating effects of cognitive and affective destination images as well as the moderated indirect effect of event value are also tested. From a broader theoretical perspective, this study aims to advance the importance of event-induced destination image and the loyalty formation process by demonstrating the boundary condition of a trip based on tourist satisfaction.
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