Abstract (150 Words)

With much of tourism and information technology (IT) research focused on pre-trip planning and information search, this study treats vacations as multi-phase experiences in order examine how IT is influencing the way vacations are experienced before, during, and after the vacation travel event. The longitudinal panel methodology and vacation diaries employed in this study facilitated in situ data collection across time and situations. While very few panelists indicated they would not bring any IT on vacation, 40% of vacation diarists did not access the Internet while on vacation. Results suggest those who use the Internet and other forms of information technology on vacations are just as satisfied with their vacations as those who take IT with them but don’t bother to use it. Findings show some differentiation among levels of technology adopters in terms of vacation IT behavior, specifically related to wireless technology.

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Information Technology and Vacation Planning, Behavior, and Satisfaction: A Longitudinal Panel Study

With much of tourism and information technology (IT) research focused on pre-trip planning and information search, this study treats vacations as multi-phase experiences in order examine how IT is influencing the way vacations are experienced before, during, and after the vacation travel event. The longitudinal panel methodology and vacation diaries employed in this study facilitated in situ data collection across time and situations. While very few panelists indicated they would not bring any IT on vacation, 40% of vacation diarists did not access the Internet while on vacation. Results suggest those who use the Internet and other forms of information technology on vacations are just as satisfied with their vacations as those who take IT with them but don’t bother to use it. Findings show some differentiation among levels of technology adopters in terms of vacation IT behavior, specifically related to wireless technology.