Training plans, manager’s characteristics and innovation in the accommodation industry.

This paper explores the effect of training plans and managerial characteristics on innovation activity in the hospitality sector. This sector is featured by being labor-intensive so the examination of employment and managers skills deserves attention in order to determine the level of quality and competitive advantage in the provision of services. The data in the paper comes from a questionnaire administered to hotel managers in a representative sample of hotels in the Balearic Islands, a leading tourist destination. Results suggest that training plans positively affect innovation-related decisions and the extent of their implementation; however, managers should have more than experience to manage the innovation change, specifically skills and capabilitiesInnovación; Hoteles; Formación;

Environmental management best practices: towards social innovation

This research investigates exploratory environmental initiatives in tourism companies in Mallorca over five years, with special consideration to those involving partnerships and synergies with other parties (including academic ones), in an exploration of Social Innovation (SI) approaches in the industry. The paper starts with an outline of the growing importance of sustainability within the hospitality industry and its inherent relation with SI. The study draws its empirical material from ten innovative practices on sustainability from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and a big hotel chain in Mallorca. The data were collected by means of questionnaires and interviews. All cases incorporated SI features (partnerships, synergies, circular processes, systemic approach), developing, therefore, towards an integrated system of SI policy and practice. The study indicates that embracing environmental principles alongside social and economic concerns can lead to a systemic approach and these commitments can be regarded as a more solid model of sustainability

Innovation activity in the hotel industry: evidence from Balearic Islands.

The paper provides empirical evidence on technological activity in the Spanish service sector, in particular for the tourist accommodation in the Balearics. The study wants to fulfil the lack of analyses in the field of tourism. Commonly, the study of innovation activity has been carried out from a manufacture perspective, for that reason the paper discusses the precise definition of innovation in accommodation services. The data refer to a large representative sample of hotels in Balearic Islands (Spain), providing a homogeneous set of information. The results show as higher-categories hotels are more innovative than lower-categories hotels; an aggregated measure of technological innovation presents a rate over the average for hotels that belong to a chain, and that for hotels under management contract. Half of innovative companies adjust the human capital skills and abilities. The hotel industry is a supplier-driven sector that innovates introducing R&D embodied technology rather than undertaking internal R&D activities.Services innovation; Hotel industry; Balearic Islands;

Training plans, manager’s characteristics and innovation in the accommodation industry

This paper explores the effect of training plans and managerial characteristics on innovation activity in the hospitality sector. This sector is featured by being labor-intensive so the examination of employment and managers skills deserves attention in order to determine the level of quality and competitive advantage in the provision of services. The data in the paper comes from a questionnaire administered to hotel managers in a representative sample of hotels in the Balearic Islands, a leading tourist destination. Results suggest that training plans positively affect innovation-related decisions and the extent of their implementation; however, managers should have more than experience to manage the innovation change, specifically skills and capabilitiesFinancial support provided by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, through the SEJ2007-67895-C04-03/ECON projectEn prens

Innovation activity in the hotel industry

This paper provides evidence for different innovation activities in the hotel industry. In particular, we explore the influence of a variety of firm and market characteristics on radical and incremental innovations. We consider the learning of new attributes (radical) and the addition of characteristics to existing attributes (incremental) to represent two different paces or degrees of managing the innovation process in this specific industry. The database used in the empirical study shares the major features of new approaches about innovation in services. A questionnaire administered to a representative sample of hotel managers in the Balearic Islands provides the data for the discrete regression models used to represent the innovation in these hotels. Our main conclusion is that radical and incremental innovations appear to be interrelated. Furthermore, the main determinants of innovation are the form of hotel management, the hotel market strategy, and the size and location of the hotel.Publicad

Innovation activity in the hotel industry: evidence from Balearic Islands

The paper provides empirical evidence on technological activity in the Spanish service sector, in particular for the tourist accommodation in the Balearics. The study wants to fulfil the lack of analyses in the field of tourism. Commonly, the study of innovation activity has been carried out from a manufacture perspective, for that reason the paper discusses the precise definition of innovation in accommodation services. The data refer to a large representative sample of hotels in Balearic Islands (Spain), providing a homogeneous set of information. The results show as higher-categories hotels are more innovative than lower-categories hotels; an aggregated measure of technological innovation presents a rate over the average for hotels that belong to a chain, and that for hotels under management contract. Half of innovative companies adjust the human capital skills and abilities. The hotel industry is a supplier-driven sector that innovates introducing R&D embodied technology rather than undertaking internal R&D activities.Publicad

Access to EU public financial support and commercialization of innovations: evidence from hospitality industries in Spain and Croatia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of public financial support to innovations provided through EU funds on success of innovation process in hospitality industries of two leading tourism countries in Europe, Spain and Croatia during 2012-2014 period. The paper investigates whether innovation push channels improve ability of firms to increase share of turnover generated from new products and services. We distinguish between commercialization of innovations which are new to the market and those that are new to the firm but have already been known to other competitors. Methodology – The study relies on data from the most recent round of Community Innovation Survey, a confidential dataset compiled by Eurostat on innovation activities of firms in EU member states. Treatment analysis is applied to assess whether EU funded public support creates additionality effects or it leads to quiet life behaviour. The model used also introduces number of firm specific characteristics such as previous innovation experience, pattern of innovation development, licensing behaviour, firm size, ownership and the quality of organizational human capital. Findings – Results of investigation point to the positive impact of EU funds in Spain when it comes to share of sales coming from radical innovations and positive in both countries when it comes to share of sales from innovations which are new to the firm but have been known to the market as well as unchanged or marginally modified products. This signals that in both countries firms exploit EU funds to apply solutions proven successful by others but do not engage in disruptive innovations required for stronger market differentiation and generation of above average returns. The ability to access EU funds for innovations is positively related to firm size and the quality of organizational human capital. Moreover, firms that are part of foreign owned groups have higher chances of accessing EU funds for innovations. Contribution – In development of innovations firms are often constrained with lack of knowledge, skills and financial resources. Public support is essential in such circumstances for firms that are interested in pursuit of innovations. There is longstanding discussion, however, whether public funds are efficient in facilitating innovation and this debate has particularly been pronounced at EU level. Our study thus provides direct inputs for formulation of future innovation policies that can help to improve performance of firms in hospitality industries

Innovation in tourism: Re-conceptualising and measuring the absorptive capacity of the hotel sector

Recent reviews of research on innovation in tourism have highlighted a number of weaknesses in the literature. Among these is the limited theorising and empirical investigation of innovative practices by tourism organisations. This paper responds to these concerns by examining one important dimension of innovation within commercial tourism organisations, namely their ability to acquire, assimilate and utilise external knowledge (absorptive capacity) for competitive advantage. The topic is pertinent because there is evidence to suggest that tourism organisations are particularly dependent on external sources of knowledge when compared with businesses in other sectors. Following a discussion of the conceptual antecedents of absorptive capacity and its dimensions, a validated instrument for its measurement is developed and used to measure the absorptive capacity of the British hotel sector. The results suggest that current conceptions of absorptive capacity have limitations when applied to tourism enterprises. Absorptive capacity is re-conceptualised to overcome these deficiencies. The research and policy implications of the findings are discussed. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd