Abstract
Online reviews are an integral part of e-commerce. This study examines the information quality-related antecedents of the persuasiveness of guesthouse online reviews and its effect on word of mouth (WoM) among guest house customers in Gauteng South Africa. Data used in the analysis was collected from 306 travellers who had engaged with online reviews of guest houses posted on independent review websites. Structural Equation Modelling using SmartPLS was used to test the posited hypothesis. The results show that perceived persuasiveness on online requests is positively influenced by information quality dimensions of currency and pertinence. Perceived persuasiveness has a significant direct impact on WoM and a mediating effect on the influence of review currency and pertinence respectively on WoM. The study contributes to understanding how specific information quality dimensions influence the perceived persuasiveness of online reviews and offers valuable insights for enhancing WoM in the hospitality sector.