Innovations in the Hospitality Sector

This study focused on the types, implementation and location of innovation in the hospitality sector. In this project, we first worked on the identification of innovation in hospitality sector, compatible with international scientific and policy frameworks. In the second stage we collected detailed data for Swedish hospitality sector by surveying a broad reference group. This did not only enable us to analyze innovation in Swedish hospitality sector, but also provided other researchers that are in need for this kind of data with the missing key for their empirical research. At the third and final stage of the project, we quantitatively analyzed the innovative efforts in the Swedish hospitality sector and the returns to these efforts.

Project manager

Özge Öner

Project participants

Mikaela Backman, Internationella Handelshögskolan Jönköping

Johan Klaesson, Internationella Handelshögskolan Jönköping och IFN

The three major issues addressed were (1) WHAT? What type of innovations takes place in the hospitality sector? What are the differences between innovations in the hospitality sector compared to other industries in Sweden? (2) HOW? How are these innovations implemented by actors of different types and sizes in the Swedish hospitality sector? How do firm characteristics influence innovation activities in the hospitality sector? How do features in the economic environment influence innovation activities in the hospitality sector? (3) WHERE? Is there a geographical pattern for innovative firms and establishments in the Swedish hospitality sector?

The project was funded by BFUF - the R&D Fund of the Swedish Tourism & Hospitality Industry.