Pillars of sustainable food experiences in the luxury gastronomy sector: A qualitative exploration of Michelin-starred chefs’ motivations

The role of luxury gastronomy in culinary tourism: An ethnographic study of Michelin‐Starred restaurants in France

“…In this research, we investigated the role of luxury gastronomic res- Furthermore, the four forms of activities related to the promotion of destinations identified in this research enhanced the immersion of visitors within the local culture of the destination and encouraged them to revisit the destination because they search unique, authentic, as well as highly experiential and sensory food tourism experiences that are exclusively provided by luxury gastronomic restaurants (Batat, 2020;Batat & De Kerviler, 2020). In line with Batat's (2020) findings, Kiatkawsin and Han (2019) identified two further factors related to luxury restaurants: gastronomic involvement and knowledge, which can drive consumers' willingness to pay a price premium for a luxury gastronomic experience.…”

“…Examining the role of chefs in luxury gastronomy, which is a growing field of food tourism (Barrère, Bonnard, & Chossat, 2014), is an important area of research that can inform food tourism scholars about new techniques and marketing activities to promote destinations. For instance, chefs such as the French Alain Ducasse or the British Gordon Ramsey are nowadays attracting gastronomic travelers mainly interested in unique and creative luxury food experiences (Batat, 2020) by launching luxury gastronomic restaurants in various big cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, or New York (Barrère et al, 2014). Thus, luxury gastronomy is a booming market and an integral part of both cultural and food tourism activities attracting not only business travelers and elites but also many tourists who discovered luxury cuisine through culinary programs on television (Andrieu & Batat, 2019; Batat, 2020).…”

“…For instance, chefs such as the French Alain Ducasse or the British Gordon Ramsey are nowadays attracting gastronomic travelers mainly interested in unique and creative luxury food experiences (Batat, 2020) by launching luxury gastronomic restaurants in various big cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, or New York (Barrère et al, 2014). Thus, luxury gastronomy is a booming market and an integral part of both cultural and food tourism activities attracting not only business travelers and elites but also many tourists who discovered luxury cuisine through culinary programs on television (Andrieu & Batat, 2019; Batat, 2020). Then, they started to develop an interest in visiting destination according to the Michelin Guide ranking, which has increased tourist frequentation by 25% (Barrère, Bonnard, & Chossat, 2009), with its 14,000 Michelin‐starred restaurants in more than 30 countries (Michelin Guide, 2020).…”

“…We also examine the forms of initiatives led by luxury restaurants that contribute to enhancing the attractiveness of the destination, retaining, and attracting domestic and international tourists. Although it is acknowledged that food tourism plays a major role in promoting a destination by emphasizing its local food and identity, prior research does not provide insights about the types of local food (e.g., popular, regional, traditional, luxury gastronomy) and their impact on destination branding, attractiveness, and image (Batat, 2020; Peng, Chen, & Hung, 2019; Barrère et al, 2014, 2009). This gap in the literature needs to be addressed because examining the role of different types of food experiences, whether they are regional or luxury in developing the attractiveness of a destination, may help improve the image of the tourism destination and implement effective marketing strategy actions.…”

“…While luxury gastronomy is a growing food tourism field, which induces a real demand for gastronomic tourism (Barrère et al, 2009), most of the existing works only focus on tourism and gastronomy or food without considering the luxury gastronomy as a distinct field to explore. Indeed, luxury gastronomy is attracting further tourists thanks to television culinary shows featuring Michelin‐starred chefs and food magazines (Batat, 2020). These tourists are seeking cultural and innovative food experiences and beyond all, they are interested in living a unique experience through exploring the Michelin‐starred chefs' creative cuisine and culinary universe (Batat, 2020).…”