Marketing Transformative Event Experiences: Archetypes for Positive Change

Celuch, Krzysztof; Neuhofer, Barbara; Rihova, Ivana

Abstract

Transformative experiences are increasingly the focus of festival and event designers. In business event contexts, attendees often redefine their mindset, attitudes, and practices following a transformative event experience. Current research primarily examines the factors that trigger transformation and highlights the principles of intentional design for change. However, there is much less focus on the marketing of transformative events. Using a two-step method that involves free-hand image drawing and sentence completion conducted both pre- and postevent, this study explores how transformation is represented in the symbols and words associated with brand archetypes in transformative events. The analysis reveals dominant associations with three of the eight brand archetypes: Sage, Explorer, and Magician. Implications for research and event marketing practice are provided. Using archetype association narratives and transformative imagery represents a novel approach to marketing the unique nature of transformative events.

Citation

Celuch, K., Neuhofer, B., & Rihova, I. (in press). Marketing Transformative Event Experiences: Archetypes for Positive Change. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, https://doi.org/10.1177/10963480251328384

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 12, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Mar 11, 2025
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 7, 2025
• Journal: Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research
• Print ISSN: 1096-3480
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-7554
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10963480251328384
• Keywords: Transformative events; event design; brand archetypes; marketing; visual methods
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/4233439