Spillover effect, positive emotions and savouring processes: Airbnb guests’ perspective

Abstract

The present study examines spillover from being at home versus away in terms of activities undertaken during on-site Airbnb experiences. This study also integrates the positive psychology concept of savouring by examining the positive emotions savoured by guests based on broaden-and-build theory as well as the savouring processes used when recalling their recent Airbnb experiences. The findings show that informants undertook similar activities while staying at an Airbnb and while at home. The most common positive emotion savoured by guests when remembering their Airbnb experiences was joy, with a homey feeling eliciting this emotion. Location, togetherness and a homey feeling were identified as the dominant factors that intensified informants’ savouring of their Airbnb experiences.