Gamification in Airbnb: Benefits and Risks

Authors

  • Marianna Sigala Business School University of South Australia
  • Martina Toni Department of Business Studies University of Roma Tre
  • Maria Francesca Renzi Department of Business Studies University of Roma Tre
  • Laura Di Pietro Department of Business Studies University of Roma Tre
  • Roberta Guglielmetti Mugion Department of Business Studies University of Roma Tre

Keywords:

Gamification, Funware, P2P platforms, tourism, mechanics, impacts SIDS

Abstract

Gamification has been studied in various contexts, but not in P2P platforms. Research has also overemphasised the benefits of gamification ignoring its boundaries and counterproductive impacts. This study addresses these gaps by using Airbnb as a case study for investigating the application and (negative and positive) impacts of gamification on hosts’ motivation and behaviour. Secondary data were used for examining the funware design of Airbnb, while gamification theory is reviewed for designing a qualitative study with Airbnb hosts for investigating their perceptions and reactions to the Airbnb funware design.

Author Biographies

Marianna Sigala, Business School University of South Australia

Marianna Sigala is Professor at the University of South Australia and Director of the Centre for Tourism & Leisure Management. She is an international authority in the field of technological advances and applications in tourism with numerous awarded publications, research projects, keynote presentations in international conferences. In 2016, she has been awarded the prestigious EuroCHRIE Presidents’ Award for her lifetime contributions and achievements to tourism and hospitality education.

Martina Toni, Department of Business Studies University of Roma Tre

Martina Toni is a Research Fellow at the Department of Business Studies (University of Roma Tre). A key element of her research focuses on analysing the consequences of innovative consumption patterns from the users’ perspective, highlighting also motivations and antecedents of collaborative consumption phenomenon and its consequences in terms of behaviours and well-being. Her expertise is related to the adoption and integration of qualitative and quantitative methods for collecting and analysing data.

Maria Francesca Renzi, Department of Business Studies University of Roma Tre

Maria Francesca Renzi is a full professor in Quality management at the Department of Business Studies of Roma Tre University. 

The research interests can be traced to the following scientific areas: Quality Management and optimization of internal performance; Customer satisfaction management; Corporate social responsibility; Sustainability and innovation. The scientific research activities carried out in these areas are characterized by theoretical and empirical contributions in different contexts of both the public and private sectors.

Laura Di Pietro, Department of Business Studies University of Roma Tre

Laura Di Pietro is an Assistant Professor. She is a PhD in Commodity Science and Quality Management. She teaches “Corporate social responsibility and Business Ethics”. She is interested in Quality Management and Operations Excellence, Service Innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility topics, applied in several contexts (e.g., cultural heritage & tourism, healthcare, public administration, transport, etc.).

Roberta Guglielmetti Mugion, Department of Business Studies University of Roma Tre

Roberta Guglielmetti Mugion is an Assistant Professor. She is a PhD in Commodity Science. She is interested in quality management and sustainability applied in the private and public sector, quality of the food sector, quality and innovation, corporate social responsibility and cultural heritage management. In particular, she focuses on citizens’ satisfaction.

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Published

2019-01-30

How to Cite

Sigala, M., Toni, M., Renzi, M. F., Di Pietro, L. and Mugion, R. G. (2019) “Gamification in Airbnb: Benefits and Risks”, e-Review of Tourism Research, 16(2/3). Available at: https://ertr-ojs-tamu.tdl.org/ertr/article/view/315 (Accessed: 28 March 2024).

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Articles