Sleeping with Strangers: Redefining experiences in a CouchSurfing world
(2011)Department of Service Studies
- Abstract
- This thesis seeks to examine the relationship between authenticity and co-creation in regards to tourism experiences. In order to explore the relationship between the two phenomena, the visitor/host interaction facilitated through CouchSurfing, an international online hospitality network, is used. This thesis focuses on the analyses of tourist experiences, drawing from narratives provided by interviewees. A sample of CouchSurfers were asked to share and elaborate on their opinions, and beliefs about CouchSurfing. From my findings I determined that authentic experiences are intimate, and most often involve interaction with local people. Authenticity and intimacy work concurrently with each other, meaning that when intimacy is experienced... (More)
- This thesis seeks to examine the relationship between authenticity and co-creation in regards to tourism experiences. In order to explore the relationship between the two phenomena, the visitor/host interaction facilitated through CouchSurfing, an international online hospitality network, is used. This thesis focuses on the analyses of tourist experiences, drawing from narratives provided by interviewees. A sample of CouchSurfers were asked to share and elaborate on their opinions, and beliefs about CouchSurfing. From my findings I determined that authentic experiences are intimate, and most often involve interaction with local people. Authenticity and intimacy work concurrently with each other, meaning that when intimacy is experienced between host/guest, the experience feels more authentic and vice versa. It has been concluded that Co-creation helps make an experience authentic. Tourists and locals are linked through emotions and connections that arise from interaction together. Intimacy allows for meaningful co-creation, and meaningful co-creation way to authentic experiences. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/1978049
- author
- Holwick, Katherine
- supervisor
- organization
- year
- 2011
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- authenticity, intimacy, co-creation, tourism experiences, couchsurfing
- language
- English
- id
- 1978049
- date added to LUP
- 2011-06-15 00:00:00
- date last changed
- 2018-10-18 10:15:49
@misc{1978049,
abstract = {{This thesis seeks to examine the relationship between authenticity and co-creation in regards to tourism experiences. In order to explore the relationship between the two phenomena, the visitor/host interaction facilitated through CouchSurfing, an international online hospitality network, is used. This thesis focuses on the analyses of tourist experiences, drawing from narratives provided by interviewees. A sample of CouchSurfers were asked to share and elaborate on their opinions, and beliefs about CouchSurfing. From my findings I determined that authentic experiences are intimate, and most often involve interaction with local people. Authenticity and intimacy work concurrently with each other, meaning that when intimacy is experienced between host/guest, the experience feels more authentic and vice versa. It has been concluded that Co-creation helps make an experience authentic. Tourists and locals are linked through emotions and connections that arise from interaction together. Intimacy allows for meaningful co-creation, and meaningful co-creation way to authentic experiences.}},
author = {{Holwick, Katherine}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Sleeping with Strangers: Redefining experiences in a CouchSurfing world}},
year = {{2011}},
}