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Academic ResearchFebruary 12, 2026International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management

Reviving legends through holographic AI event experiences: Consumer acceptance and value insights

This study explores how consumers perceive holographic AI concerts, focusing on factors like ethicality, nostalgia, and uniqueness. It finds that ethical concerns and nostalgic feelings strongly influence emotional and social values, which in turn affect attendance intentions and willingness to pay. The research highlights the importance of transparent ethical practices and nostalgia-driven marketing to enhance engagement and revenue in hospitality events using holographic AI technology.

Authors

Seden Dogan, AJ Aluri, Muhittin Cavusoglu

Article content

What the paper studied

The research examined how consumers perceive holographic AI concerts, specifically looking at how perceived uniqueness, nostalgia, and ethicality influence emotional and social values. These value perceptions were then linked to consumers' intentions to attend such events and their willingness to pay a premium price. The study used theories of self-determination and consumption value to build a conceptual model and collected data from 308 participants to test it.

Key findings

  • Perceived ethicality was the strongest factor influencing both emotional and social values associated with holographic AI concerts.
  • Nostalgia also had a significant positive effect on emotional and social values.
  • Perceived uniqueness contributed positively but had a weaker impact compared to ethicality and nostalgia.
  • Emotional value strongly predicted consumers' intention to attend holographic AI events.
  • Interestingly, emotional value negatively affected willingness to pay a premium, indicating complex emotional dynamics at play.

Why it matters for hospitality

Holographic AI concerts represent a growing trend in the events and entertainment industry, which is closely linked to hospitality marketing and management. Understanding what drives consumer acceptance and value perception is crucial for event organizers and hospitality professionals aiming to leverage this technology. Ethical concerns around using holograms of deceased celebrities are paramount, as they affect consumer trust and engagement. Nostalgia can be a powerful tool to connect with audiences emotionally, enhancing the overall guest experience. These insights help hospitality businesses design better event experiences that resonate with consumers and can improve revenue streams.

Practical takeaways

  • Emphasize ethical transparency: Clearly communicate consent and ethical safeguards when using holographic representations, especially of deceased figures, to build consumer trust.
  • Leverage nostalgia: Incorporate archival content, storytelling, and era-specific visuals to evoke emotional connections and enhance social value.
  • Highlight uniqueness but balance expectations: While uniqueness adds value, it is less influential than ethicality and nostalgia, so focus marketing efforts accordingly.
  • Understand emotional dynamics: Emotional engagement drives attendance but may not always translate to willingness to pay more; consider pricing strategies carefully.
  • Use holographic AI events as brand differentiators: Reviving legends through holography can create status-enhancing experiences that boost cultural capital and distinguish hospitality brands in a competitive market.

By applying these insights, hospitality professionals can better navigate the emerging landscape of AI-driven event experiences, improving guest engagement and optimizing revenue opportunities.

Tags

holographic AIeventsconsumer behaviorethicalitynostalgiahospitality marketingrevenue management

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