Delving into the Role of Celebrity Chefs and Gourmets in Culinary Destination Marketing

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the role of celebrity chefs and gourmets in culinary destination marketing based on the perceptions of celebrity chefs and gourmets. Drawing on qualitative data collected through 20 semi-structured interviews with celebrity chefs and gourmets in Turkey, the findings highlight the role of these celebrities in culinary destination marketing. This role is shaped through three key interconnected dimensions; namely, provocativeness, credibility, and supportiveness. The study is among the first attempts to explore, in an integrated manner, the role of celebrity chefs and gourmets from a destination marketing perspective. The study makes several theoretical contributions and proposes practical implications for practitioners in both destinations and firm levels.