To determine how the positioning of new hotels is affected by the distribution of similar incumbent competitors, this paper investigates geographic location, price, size, and services. With data on all 240 hotels operating in the city of Madrid between 1936 and 1998, a model of geographic and product location at the time of the hotels' foundings is estimated based on the above mentioned variables. These are simultaneously determined and contingent upon the changing socioeconomic and urban circumstances of the city. The findings suggest that agglomeration occurs only among differentiated establishments. In the balance between agglomeration and differentiation strategies, particularly significant is the trade-off between price and geographic dimensions. Keywords: hotels, location, Madrid. Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Résumé: Emplacement des hôtels dans les villes touristiques: Madrid 1936-1998. Pour déterminer comment le positionnement des nouveaux hôtels est affecté par la distribution des concurrents similaires et déjà établis, cet article examine situation géographique, prix, grandeur et services. Avec des données sur tous les 240 hôtels en opération à Madrid entre 1936 et 1998, on calcule un modèle de la situation géographique et des services au moment de la fondation des hôtels, en se basant sur les variables surmentionnées. Celles-ci dépendent au même temps des circonstances urbaines et socioéconomiques changeantes de la ville. Les résultats suggèrent que l'agglomération a lieu seulement parmi les établissements différen-ciés. Dans l'équilibre entre les stratégies d'agglomération et de différentiation, le compromis entre prix et situation est particulièrement significatif. Mots-clés: hôtels, situation, Madrid. Ó

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This article analyses the connection between the use of advanced human resource management (HRM) practices, individually and as a system, with manufacturing flexibility. The results show a positive relationship between the implementation of advanced HRM practices and manufacturing flexibility. While most of the advanced HRM practices analysed show higher levels of implementation in flexible firms, no differences are observed in training efforts. Flexible firms are more prone to implement systems of advanced HRM practices.

This paper measures two descriptors of tourism namely, its scale and agglomeration level and subsequently evaluates both descriptors according to their direct and joint impacts on the host communities' quality of life. The key constructs for this research are the following: (1) a tourism evaluation function that incorporates the scale and agglomeration of tourism, which is constructed for each one of the 50 Spanish provinces; and (2) a measure of the host communities' quality of life that comprises 12 objective partial indicators and an overall indicator that integrates them all. Results show the existence of carrying capacity frontiers or maximum thresholds that tourist destinations can sustain without damaging the economic, socio cultural, or environmental systems of the communities they belong.

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PurposeThis paper aims to identify the work‐based competences associated with better career prospects in the Spanish labour market.Design/methodology/approachThe relationship between employee‐based competencies and employment prospects is investigated through the lens of the competence‐based approach. The partial least squares (PLS) methodology is applied on a sample of over 5,000 Spanish employees.FindingsThe analysis establishes that skill, motivation, participation in decision‐making and the performance of non‐routine and complex tasks are associated with more favourable career prospects. Finally, it has also been found that human capital dimensions valued by firms vary with occupation, as clear differences have been observed between white‐ and blue‐collar occupations. In particular, social skills and motivation appear to be more relevant for blue‐collar workers than for white‐collar workers.Originality/valueFor the first time, this paper analyses employees' career prospects using work‐based competences as predictors. Additionally, the analysis is based within a very uncertain labour market, Spain, where high unemployment and an extensive use of temporary contracts seriously hinder workers' career prospects.

Purpose The aim of this paper is twofold. First, clustering patterns of urban hotels are explored, and, second, clustering effects on performance for upscale urban hotels are estimated. Design/methodology/approach Local indicators of spatial association (LISA) were computed using geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Clustering for the entire population of hotels in Madrid was explored visualizing LISA statistics. Then, a system generalized method of moments regression was applied to test a set of hypotheses about the performance effects of LISA statistics for a sample of upscale urban hotels. Findings Two significantly distinct types of clusters are identified: dense “cold spots” or clusters containing many low-priced hotels and quiet “hot spots” or clusters only containing a few high-priced hotels. And, estimates confirmed two important results: evidence of adverse selection when clustering and evidence of positive location economies for upscale hotels. Practical implications This study has a number of relevant implications for making better hotel location decisions. Specifically, the paper shows the applicability of GIS to find statistically significant clustering in the data. In the hotel sector, knowing exactly where hotel clustering occurs and of what type is of vital importance. Originality/value This paper’s novel application of LISA based on GIS techniques for hotel clustering sheds light on the effects of clustering on performance to convey the subtle nuances of the relationship for upscale urban hotels.

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