01768nas a2200229   4500000000100000000000100001000000100002008004100003653001800044653003200062653002700094653002400121653002000145653002000165100001800185245006100203856014100264300001200405490000600417520109500423022002001518       2016                            d10aCastle hotels10aDestination competitiveness10aDestination experience10ahistorical heritage10aPerceived image10aRegional impact1 aZ.E. Horváth00aAssessing the regional impact based on destination image  uhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85010866431&doi=10.15196%2fRS06109&partnerID=40&md5=ae6092a1814cf523799a5fc2e397eed3  a164-1920 v63 aThe region of Northern Hungary is historically rich in tangible and intangible heritage destinations such as fortresses, castles, and cultural routes. Former castles of the aristocracy, converted to four- and five-star hotels, are among the favourite tourist destinations in the region. Destination stakeholders of these attractions have a prime interest in designing and delivering a complex and memorable tourism experience that will attract more visitors and return visits. The responsibility of regional and local destination management lies in finding an appropriate mix of attractions and corresponding experiences, attracting visitors/guests and creating repeat patterns of return. The research, involving a sample of 360 castle hotel guests, and using Partial Least Squares structural equation path modelling, reveals significant correlation between historical interest, motivation, and perceived image, predicting guests  perception of the entire region. Visitation patterns, together with geographical embeddedness, can be further explored to increase destination competitiveness.  a20639538 (ISSN)