Clustering, innovation and hotel competitiveness: evidence from the Colombia destination
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
ISSN: 0959-6119
Article publication date: 13 November 2017
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the relationship between clustering and hotel competitiveness in emerging economy destinations by analyzing potential mediation of the management innovations implemented.
Design/methodology/approach
This empirical study is based on hotel-level information from a survey including 131 hotels in 2014. Colombia was chosen as a representative of Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa (CIVETS) emerging destinations. The relationships were analyzed by structural modeling and partial least squares.
Findings
Clustering has a positive direct impact on hotel competitiveness and innovation, and there is a positive effect of innovation on competitiveness. Therefore, the link between clustering and competitiveness is partially mediated through implementation of management innovations.
Practical implications
Hotels should actively participate in agglomerated destinations and build relationships with established firms by clustering. Interaction with related firms and implementation of management innovations will lead to increased levels of economic competitiveness. Public policymakers should foster collaborative strategic networking in the hospitality industry of emerging economy destinations.
Originality/value
This paper focused on separating the direct and indirect effects of clustering on hotel competitiveness. Implementation of management innovations was considered as an outcome derived from clustering in emerging tourist destinations, using the example of Colombia. Clustering stimulates and eases management innovations within the location, and that combination reinforces the role that cooperating while competing plays in hotel competitiveness for destinations with lagging innovation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This article has been funded by the Funds for Special Actions of Research of the Universitat de València (UV-INV-AE16-488900). The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge the insightful comments provided by the reviewers and the encouraging support of the editor, Prof Fevzi Okumus. The usual disclaimer applies.
Citation
Rodríguez-Victoria, O.E., Puig, F. and González-Loureiro, M. (2017), "Clustering, innovation and hotel competitiveness: evidence from the Colombia destination", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 29 No. 11, pp. 2785-2806. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-03-2016-0172
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited