Hotel and Tourism Management

Measuring hotel financial performance: A bibliometric review

Alma Arnejo — 2025-12-12

Purpose – This article presents a comprehensive review of hotel performance financial measurement achieved through bibliometric analysis. Methodology – Leveraging a successful sample of 982 articles from the Scopus database, this paper utilizes Bibliometrix and VOSviewer as suitable tools and selected techniques to pinpoint hot topics, core authors, top journals, and theoretical shifts in the literature. Findings – The results indicate a focus on revenue management, pricing, and forecasting. Big data and machine learning trends have begun to signify a shift in the way performance is evaluated in the hospitality industry. With the maturity of the field, gaps persist – especially in the limited access to hotel data and the lack of standardized financial metrics. Implications – This bibliometric review charts the field’s intellectual structure using performance analysis and science-mapping indicators, and identifies underexplored topics such as the link between profitability and pricing power, elasticity, ESG, and governance in the hotel industry. Anchored in the bibliometric evidence of this study, future researchers may explore new forecasting methods against profit-based metrics and adopt a wider range of empirical approaches.

Topic modeling in hospitality and tourism research: Application areas, business insights, and managerial implications

Olivera Grljević — 2025-12-12

Purpose – Topic modeling (TM) explores customer experience and behaviors from large volumes of textual data, such as online reviews uncovering (dis)satisfaction cues often overlooked by hospitality managers. Despite its potential, TM application in hospitality research is limited compared to other social science methods. This paper aims to investigate the scope of TM research in the hospitality domain and contribute to the understanding of the areas where it can be effectively applied, the purposes it can serve, and the types of problems it can address. Methodology – The research methodology is rooted in the systematic literature review – 40 relevant papers were collected and analysed to identify the areas of hospitality where TM is mostly applied, business insights derived from TM application, and commonly utilised TM approaches. Findings – TM research in hospitality is conducted in five research areas: accommodation and lodging, food and beverages, attractions and events, nature-based tourism, and travel services. Researchers apply TM to gain nine different business insights, such as dissatisfaction drivers, segment-based preferences, sentiments, preference changes over time, service quality perception, or underexplored areas. Implications – TM-based research provides actionable recommendations for the enhancement of managerial practices within the hospitality industry, such as promotion and destination management, service improvements, and reduction of overtourism.

Understanding sport events organisational elements and impacts from the organiser and residents’ perspective

Ana Chersulich Tomino — 2025-12-12

Purpose – Sustainable sport tourism events require careful planning that considers all stakeholders’ needs to enhance benefits and reduce negative impacts. This study, based on data from 670 respondents in Poreč and Zagreb (Croatia, Europe), hosts of major triathlon and skiing events in 2022 and 2024, examines the relationship between event impacts and organisational elements from the perspectives of organisers and residents. Methodology – Exploratory factor analyses was used to identify the dimensions of the impact of events and organizational elements. T-tests were used to analyse differences between the perception of two groups of stakeholders, and Pearson’s correlations were used to identify links between the impact of events and organizational elements. Findings – Six dimensions of impact and three dimensions of organizational elements were identified, with event organizers and residents having different perceptions of these dimensions. There is a strong positive correlation between all three organizational elements and sociocultural, economic and reputational impacts, while environmental and safety principles, along with legacy planning, were mostly associated with organizational costs. Implications – Understanding these differing perceptions and their relationship to specific impacts can help organisers and policymakers develop more effective strategies to achieve sustainable outcomes.

The impact of sustainable practices on competitiveness in the hospitality industry

Jitka Vávrová — 2025-12-12

Purpose – This study investigates the impact of sustainability practices on the competitiveness of hospitality establishments in the Czech Republic, measured through customer ratings. Methodology – Data were collected from 429 accommodation facilities using stratified random sampling. The sample included hotels, guesthouses, and apartments. Chi-square tests examined relationships between categorical variables, and one-way ANOVA assessed differences in means across groups. Regression analysis was then employed to evaluate the influence of sustainability on customer ratings, with multiple regression identifying specific sustainability practices affecting customer satisfaction. Findings – Overall sustainability levels did not significantly differ between facility types, though certain practices varied by operational characteristics. Underused practices – such as electric car charging stations and the use of 100% renewable electricity – represent potential for improvement. A weak but positive correlation was found between overall sustainability and customer ratings, with waste management practices showing the strongest association. Implications – This study shows that sustainability contributes modestly but positively to customer satisfaction, extending previous research by including a broader range of lodging facilities. Hospitality managers should focus on high-impact practices, particularly in waste management, to enhance the guest experience. Sustainability should be seen as a complementary element of service quality, supporting environmental goals and competitiveness.

Risk and safety in tourism: How trust in information sources shapes travel risk tolerance across national contexts?

Boriša Lečić — 2025-12-12

Purpose – This study investigates how perceived risk dimensions (physical, financial, psychological, social, and temporal) and trust in traditional media, social media, and official sources influence travel risk tolerance among domestic tourists in Serbia, Hungary, and Kazakhstan. It explores cross-national differences and the role of institutional and informational factors in tourist behavior under uncertainty. Methodology – A quantitative approach was applied with 1,332 respondents, using validated instruments and structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses ensured construct validity, while multigroup analysis (MGA) assessed structural differences across countries. Findings – General risk tolerance and trust in social media are key predictors in Serbia and Kazakhstan, whereas trust in traditional media and government sources dominates in Hungary. Psychological and physical risks notably affect tourists in Hungary and Kazakhstan, but less so in Serbia, reflecting cultural and institutional variations in risk management. Implications – The study extends tourism risk perception models by integrating trust dimensions and highlights the need for culturally tailored crisis communication. It offers practical guidance for destination managers and policymakers to design effective, source-specific communication strategies that align with national patterns of trust and resilience.

eWOM as a key factor in consumer intent to visit a destination: The moderating role of trust

Julija Vidosavljević — 2025-12-12

Purpose – Considering the intangible nature of tourism services prior to consumption, effective communication and experience exchange with other users are of critical importance. The rise in digital media usage, with the credibility of WOM communication, has led to the increasing role and significance of e-WOM in tourism. The purpose of the paper is to uncover the broader impact of e‑WOM on tourists’ decision‑making by exploring its effects on destination image and tourists’ attitudes. This study aims to examine how e-WOM, through destination image and attitude, influences the intent to visit a destination. The study also explores the moderating role of trust. Methodology – The methodology involves conducting reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and both simple and moderation regression analyses. Findings – The findings show that e-WOM positively influences tourists’ trust and attitudes, and that both trust and attitudes positively affect their intention to visit a destination. Implications – The implications of this research highlight the importance of effectively managing e-WOM, encouraging positive reviews, and addressing negative feedback in order to shape tourists’ attitudes. It highlights the importance of maintaining a strong destination image through targeted promotions and emotional connections. Trust-building through transparency and authentic communication is crucial for attracting visitors.

Key attributes of tourism sector entrepreneurs in Southeast Europe

Bojan Leković — 2025-12-12

Purpose – This study examines attributes of tourism sector entrepreneurs, identifying characteristics of individuals belonging to this entrepreneurial group in Southeast Europe. Methodology – The research is based on the GEM database from 2020, which includes Croatia, Greece and Slovenia. Binary logistic regression was performed using the SPSS software package. Findings – The findings reveal that younger individuals and those with higher incomes are more likely to engage in entrepreneurial activity within the tourism sector. Opportunity perception and entrepreneurial proactivity have the same effect, whereas necessity-driven motives are negatively related to entrepreneurial activity in the tourism sector. Entrepreneurs with lower growth expectations or those oriented toward internationalization, particularly those with higher export income, are more likely to be involved in tourism. Conversely, the use of new technologies and innovative procedures is negatively associated with entrepreneurial activity in this sector. Implications – These findings have important implications for the creation of policies that can encourage the development of tourism as a strategic sector, including targeted training of entrepreneurs and support programs that would encourage investment and innovation in tourism.

Feast for the eyes: How demographics and psychographics shape Food Porn appeal in culinary tourism

Sunita Boro — 2025-12-12

Purpose – This study aims to understand how culinary tourism in Assam is contributing to boost its tourist influx following Covid-19. Methodology – The study here is descriptive in its approach and utilises both primary and secondary sources of data. The research adopts an empirical approach, surveying 398 tourists visiting the state using a structured questionnaire. Findings – Mean score analysis shows that these tourists do not initially consider food as a primary factor of when choosing a travel destination. A regression model was developed to assess the impact of psychographic variables on consumer responses to food imagery. Beliefs showed the highest impact, meaning that tourists who actively explore local food during travel are particularly responsive to the state’s food-related experiences. The role of demographics is also evident as the influence caused by food imagery varies significantly gender, age group, income, and education. Implications – The study highlights how tourists’ values and experiences regarding local food and community help creating an inclination towards experiencing the local culture, which can lead to a heightened – influence of Food Porn and increased tourist influx.