The role of wellbeing in the relationship among restaurant customers' perceived experience quality, satisfaction and behavioral intentions

Gastronomy is a phenomenon that has become increasingly important in recent years, both in the context of tourism and in the context of intangible cultural heritage. Restaurants are one of the important attraction factors in promoting and presenting the gastronomic values, richness and diversity of destinations. Restaurants try to establish long-term relationships with customers by offering an unforgettable gastronomic experience rather than a conventional dining experience. From this point of view, the main purpose of this thesis is to examine the relationship between restaurant consumers' perceived restaurant experience quality and satisfaction, their perceived positive psychological well-being and their behavioral intentions for the future. In the context of this main purpose, there are three sub-objectives. The first aim is to reveal the effect of restaurant experience quality perceived by consumers on satisfaction in sub-dimensions; the second aim is to reveal the effect of perceived satisfaction on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being; The third aim is to reveal the effect of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being on behavioral intention. In terms of its purpose, the thesis is in the category of hypothesis-testing studies. The sample of the research consists of customers over the age of 18 who live in Denizli and have consumed at least once in first class restaurants. Convenience sampling method was used to reach the sample. Questionnaire method was used as data collection tool and questionnaires were collected between 20 June and 20 July 2022. A total of 392 questionnaires were analyzed. As a result of the analysis it was concluded that the statistically significant restaurant experience factors that affect the restaurant satisfaction were the immersion experience and the learning experience. It was concluded that the perceived experience satisfaction of the participants also significantly affected their hedonic) and eudaimonic well-being. According to another finding, both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being positively and significantly affected the behavioral intentions of the participants. As a result, satisfaction with the restaurant experience could increase individuals' positive behavioral intentions by creating short-term hedonic outputs in consumers as well as long-term well-being that can provide spiritual satisfaction.