Cutler and Carmichael’s (2010) framework of visitor experience differs from what have been proposed by Clawson and Knetsch (1963), Yuan (2009) and Knutson et al. (2010). A key strength of Cutler and Carmichael’s (2010) framework is that it acknowledges the complexity of visitor experience as multi-phased, multi-influential, and multi-outcome, and thus formulate them into a single conceptual model. In addition, Cutler and Carmichael (2010) consider two realms shaping the visitor experience: the influential and the personal. The influential realm includes factors outside the individual and consists of physical aspects, and product /service aspects. The personal realm involves elements embedded within each individual visitor such as, knowledge, memories, perceptions, emotions, and self-identity(Cutler & Carmichael, 2010). The outcomes of experience relate to overall evaluations of a trip, indicated by visitor satisfaction or dissatisfaction. The overall evaluation can influence and is influenced by individual elements and by the experience itself (Cutler & Carmichael, 2010).
Several common characteristics are evident from the frameworks that were noted above. First, Yuan’s (2009) framework is similar to Cutler and Carmichael’s (2010) in acknowledging the presence of external factors that shape the experience. Both studies incorporate aspects associated with product/service and physical/environment factors as determinants of the quality of experience outcomes. In the context of the travel dining experience, including these factors is essential since dining involves visitors in the tangible realm including the food, how it is served (i.e. service aspect), and the physical surrounding. Consequently, such factors will visitor evaluations of the quality of their dining experience.