Relational energy and co-creation: effects on hospitality stakeholders’ wellbeing

Drawing from service-dominant logic and conservation of resources theory, the aim of this study was to examine the integration of relational energy as a complementary operant resource. US respondents (n = 720) participated in a scenario-based online survey depicting value co-creation at a destination resort as customers (N = 360) and front-line employees (N = 360). PROCESS Model and MANOVA results showed that in value co-creation, relational energy had direct and mediated effects on actors' subjective wellbeing and perceptions of company competitive service advantage (PSCA). Positive appraisal of co-created value served a mediating role for actors' wellbeing and PSCA. Generations served as a full moderator from relational energy to wellbeing, and partial moderator from co-created value (CCV) to wellbeing. No moderation effect of generations was found between CCV and PCSA, but partial moderation from relational energy to PSCA. This study is the first to identify relational energy as a resource necessary for successful co-creation that improves actors' wellbeing.