This document discusses a research study analyzing factors that influence knowledge generation in virtual communities of tourism professionals using online social networks. The study aims to determine if these communities are generating knowledge and how online media affects this. It will analyze the impact of user satisfaction, participation intention, and cooperative learning on knowledge generation. An internet survey of tourism professionals will collect data, which will be analyzed using structural equation modeling to validate an integrated model combining existing frameworks. The expected results are that user satisfaction, connective learning, and participation/loyalty will positively influence knowledge generation in these virtual communities.