The challenges of spatial disruption - accommodation providers' hosting experience in post-earthquake Christchurch

Abstract

Christchurch serves as an important gateway to the South Island of New Zealand and has traditionally provided a wide range of accommodation, transport and other visitor services. In February 2011 a 6.2 magnitude earthquake extensively damaged the city’s Central Business District (CBD) forcing the indefinite closure of many of tourist attractions and the loss of a significant proportion of central city accommodation. Accommodation providers have traditionally offered independent tourists service beyond the provision of rooms, including local information provision and pastoral care, but what of the earthquake-struck city? In order to better understand and improve the post-earthquake tourist experience, this research explored the accommodation hosting experience via semi-structured interviews with accommodation providers. A sample of accommodation providers was selected to represent five accommodation types (hotel, motel, backpackers, B&B’s and Holiday Parks) and Christchurch’s primary post-earthquake accommodation clusters. The results of the research extend our understanding of the host-guest hospitality relationship and the challenges presented to this by spatial disruption to the geographies of the host-guest encounter, and will inform industry with regard to improving and enhancing the information services available to hosts and ultimately improve and enhance the Christchurch visitor experience.