Investigating the Mediating Role of Experience and Brand Identity in the Impact of Social Media Marketing on Electronic Word of Mouth Advertising in the Hotel Industry

The purpose of this research is to investigate the mediating role of experience and brand identity in the impact of social media marketing on electronic word of mouth advertising in the hotel industry. This research is based on the objectives, of the type of applied research, and is based on data collection and research design in a descriptive-survey method. The statistical population of the research is the customers of the hotel industry in Tehran, which is assumed to be unlimited due to the uncertainty of the population due to the large number. According to Cochran's formula and unlimited population, a sample of 385 people should be selected. The data collection tool is a standard questionnaire. The validity of the content of these questionnaires has been confirmed by the supervisor and a number of other professors. By taking the questionnaires and the information obtained from the researched hypotheses, it was analyzed using SPSS and PLS4 software. The results show that social media marketing has a positive and significant effect on electronic word of mouth advertising, brand experience and brand identity. And brand experience and brand identity have a positive and significant effect on electronic word of mouth advertising. Also, experience and brand identity play a mediating role in the impact of social media marketing on electronic word of mouth advertising in the hotel industry.