STRATEGIC INNOVATION: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON HOTEL FIRMS OPERATING IN ANTALYA REGION

Strategic innovation is an issue that is frequently debated by the recent studies. The contemporary organizations almost in all industries seek to increase their strategic innovation capabilities in order to possess a sustainable competitive advantage. Similarly, in the hospitality industry strategic innovation is an essential instrument of gaining competitive advantage in the marketplaces. In modern days of hospitality and tourism, satisfying consurmers with providing only accommodation and catering services is not sustainable since demand is becoming diversified and rivals are offering new services. Thus, strategic innovation may assist hotel firms in meeting new demand and expanding the range of services they offer. Therefore, the purposes of this paper are to measure the level of strategic innovation of hotel firms, and to reveal the obstacles to strategic innovation activities. The paper will also examine the importance of strategic innovation for hotel firms. To this end, a questionnaire was developed and employed to middle and top level executives of hotel firms operating in Antalya province. Results show that hotel firms primarily innovate to improve service quality and to satisfy guests. It was also found that the most important obstacle to innovation is cost of innovation activities