Abstract
This study explores how accommodation can enhance travelers’ local experiences through product- service combinations. While prior research has focused on local immersion during sightseeing, little attention has been paid to how lodging environments support such experiences. To address this gap, in-depth interviews were conducted with millennial travelers (aged 20–39) who had repeatedly booked international accommodations. Using personal inventories and semi-structured interviews, the study identified products and moments that enriched emotional and cultural engagement. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes—Accommodation, Local Experiences, Products, and Emotion—highlighting how design elements in accommodations influence travelers’ emotional continuity. Findings suggest that standardized hotel environments may disrupt authentic local experiences, while products that support emotional recall (e.g., ambient local sounds, visual cues, personal archives) can strengthen travelers’ sense of place. The study proposes design implications for creating emotionally resonant and universally applicable product-service combinations in lodging settings.
Keywords
Travel experience; Local experience; Thematic analysis; Accommodation design
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.805
Citation
Choi, A., Kim, J.,and Lee, S.(2025) Valuing Local Experience at Short-term Stay: A Design Approach for the Young Generation, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.805
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 5 - Design Thinking
Valuing Local Experience at Short-term Stay: A Design Approach for the Young Generation
This study explores how accommodation can enhance travelers’ local experiences through product- service combinations. While prior research has focused on local immersion during sightseeing, little attention has been paid to how lodging environments support such experiences. To address this gap, in-depth interviews were conducted with millennial travelers (aged 20–39) who had repeatedly booked international accommodations. Using personal inventories and semi-structured interviews, the study identified products and moments that enriched emotional and cultural engagement. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes—Accommodation, Local Experiences, Products, and Emotion—highlighting how design elements in accommodations influence travelers’ emotional continuity. Findings suggest that standardized hotel environments may disrupt authentic local experiences, while products that support emotional recall (e.g., ambient local sounds, visual cues, personal archives) can strengthen travelers’ sense of place. The study proposes design implications for creating emotionally resonant and universally applicable product-service combinations in lodging settings.