Understanding How Residents’ Emotional Solidarity with Airbnb Visitors Influences Perceptions of Their Impact on a Community: The Moderating Role of Prior Experience Staying at an Airbnb

Abstract

A theoretical model was formulated based on cognitive-appraisal and bottom-up spillover theories and tested with structural equation modeling across two groups of residents—with and without prior experience staying at an Airbnb (as a guest). Results indicated that residents with prior experience staying at an Airbnb had significantly higher levels of emotional solidarity with visitors to their neighborhood, more positive emotions toward Airbnb hosts, and perceived that Airbnb visitors impacted community well-being and personal quality of life more positively, compared with residents without prior experience staying at an Airbnb. Moreover, the relationship between emotional solidarity and perceived community well-being was significantly stronger for residents with prior experience staying at Airbnb in addition to the significantly weaker relationship between negative emotions and community well-being. These results point to the importance of prior experience staying at Airbnb (as a guest) as a moderator in the formation of residents’ emotions and perceptions related to Airbnb hosts and visitors in their neighborhood.