Search

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of web interactivity and brand experience on the perceived brand value of guest houses, and ultimately, affective commitment toward guest houses. A questionnaire was used to collect data from guest house customers, yielding a total of 300 responses suitable for analysis. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The results revealed that web interactive elements of social interactivity, active control and synchronicity positively influence brand awareness, however, both social interactivity and active control influence brand image. Results also confirmed that brand awareness influences brand image. Brand experience and brand image also had an influence on perceived brand value, with the latter influencing affective commitment. Guesthouses owners are recommended to have websites that allow two-way communication. Websites should also have embedded features such as effective navigation tools which allow for active control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study scrutinizes the influence of sport sponsorship on brand equity in South Africa. It examines the impact and contribution of brand awareness, brand image, brand loyalty and perceived quality resulting from sports sponsorship. The objective was also to understand the influence of sponsorship fit between event and sponsor on brand awareness and brand image. To date, extant research has been conducted in the developed world, mainly in the United States, Europe and Asia. Investigations of sports sponsorship in Africa are sparse. Marshaling the sports sponsorship and brand equity literature, the results show that sponsorship has a major role to play in building brand awareness and brand image. An important and unexpected finding is that the perceived appropriate fit between the sponsor and the sport event has a negative influence on brand awareness and brand image. The implications and recommendations are then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of country branding, while controversial, has gained broad acceptance and is actively practiced at the national and regional levels. A number of new research studies are indicative of the growing interest and importance of the topic. This article focuses on practical opportunities for South Africa to become more adept at using marketing communications to promote itself to critical international audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]