This article develops a framework for conceptualizing and managing destination and event image congruence. Building on the foundations of Roth and Romeo's (1992) Roth, M. S. and Romeo, J. B. 1992. Matching product and country image perceptions: A framework for managing country-of-origin effects. Journal of International Business Studies, 23: 477–497. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar] product–country image fit matrix, a framework for categorizing the interactions between destination and event image is presented that can be applied to leverage positive, relevant associations and rebalance less positive associations of both types of images. The usefulness of the matrix is shown through an in-depth case study of the image-rebalancing program of the FIFA 2006 host country Germany. This case and others demonstrate the suitability of the framework for managing, and more importantly leveraging, image congruence in this context. Implications for managers and researchers derived from applying the framework are also discussed.

Purpose: – The purpose of this study was threefold: to identify which attributes of the host university city are important to students; to assess students' satisfaction with the key attributes of their host university city; and to determine the drivers of students' overall satisfaction with their host university city. Design/methodology/approach: – A two stage, mixed methods research design was selected for this study. Focus groups comprised the first stage and a survey of 159 full time university students attending the university of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, comprised the second stage. Findings: – The survey findings indicate that students at the university of Otago perceive accommodation, socialising and sense of community, safety and cultural scene as the most important attributes of their host university city. Alternatively, the results of the regression analysis which assessed the relative strength of city attributes in explaining their overall satisfaction with Dunedin, demonstrated that shopping and dining, appeal and vibrancy, socialising and sense of community and public transport were the key drivers of their overall satisfaction with the city. Research limitations/implications: – Students' overall satisfaction with the city is relatively positive and they are most satisfied with socialising and sense of community, community assets, and the city's natural environment. Overall, students' expectations of the city's attributes were reached and exceeded. However, their satisfaction with accommodation, the attribute that they ranked as the most important, was unmet. This shortfall in expectations has the potential to negatively impact the university's image and encourage students to transfer somewhere else for further study if their most important need is not addressed. Practical implications: – As an important city stakeholder for university cities, students' perceptions and satisfaction with their host city need to be given priority. University administrators in collaboration with city place managers should put effort into maintaining the city attributes which are important to students and which drive their satisfaction with the city experience, since they represent a large proportion of residents in university host cities. The consequences of their inattention to students' needs could be harmful in the long-term. Originality/value: – Tertiary student perceptions and satisfaction with their host cities have been largely ignored. This study addresses this gap by identifying which attributes of cities are important to students, gauging students' perception of their host city according to these attributes, and identifying the city attributes driving their satisfaction with their host city.

Purpose: – This study aimed to investigate consumers' understanding of country of origin (CoO) information and its relative importance in the context of their everyday food purchase decisions. Design/methodology/approach: – A cross-sectional intercept survey of 402 consumers in two cities in New Zealand was conducted. Respondents were asked to describe what they had considered when selecting a food item in their trolley. This was followed by questions to assess respondents' knowledge of CoO and their use and understanding of common CoO labels. Findings: – Price (42 per cent), taste (40 per cent), health (18 per cent), and quality (18 per cent) were the most important factors that respondents mentioned. Only 3.5 per cent of respondents mentioned CoO as one of the factors influencing their decision. Of respondents 61 per cent, when prompted, stated that they knew the CoO of the food product selected. Of these respondents, 90 per cent were correct. Of respondents 62 per cent stated that they look at CoO labels when making food purchase decisions. Yet, only one third of respondents correctly understood the difference between the “Made in” and “Product of” labels. Research limitations/implications: – The findings suggest that consumers that do access CoO labels are misinterpreting this information which may form the basis of their assumptions about the source of origin of the brands and food products they routinely purchase. Practical implications: – Mandatory CoO labelling policies may add costs and reinforce misconceptions that consumers already hold about the meaning of these labels. Originality/value: – This study contributes to understanding of the extent to which consumers are competent in their knowledge and understanding of these informational labels.