Competitiveness and Sustainability in Tourism Industry: The Albergo Diffuso Case Study

Abstract

The objective of the analysis developed in this paper is to verify whether the sustainability of the hotel ospitality model contributes to the competitiveness of tourist destinations. The research question is: does the model of "albergo diffuso" satisfy the requirement for a social, economic and environmental sustainability? The research method adopted consisted in a survey with the submission of a questionnaire to a number of alberghi diffusi operating worldwide, that is 130 units of analysis. The submission period went from October to December 2016. Through the questionnaire submitted to the interviewees it has been possible to analyze the motivation for the business start-up as well as the characteristics of the entrepreneur, the managerial systems and the governance style. The results will be analyzed through the application of the Weaver model (2014; 2017) which is considered essential to evaluate the contribution of the albergo diffuso to tourism sustainability. The implementation of the Weaver matrix to evaluate the contribution of the albergo diffuso to the sustainability of a tourist destination is the original element of the paper. The paper discusses the implications of sustainability with particular regards to the "albergo diffuso". Therefore, it would be suitable to expand the analysis to additional models of tourist hospitality present in the international tourism scenario.

The Brand Value in a New Concept of Hotel: The Albergo Diffuso Sextantio Case

“…It is also adopted the rating coined by Droli (2013): he creates an analytical model that help select the most attractive and competitive rural hamlets where a business for hospitality duffused could be successfully set up. In order to obtain the goals of the study, this research adopts a case study methodology (Einsenhardt, 1989;Yin, 1994Yin, , 2009, as the best method to study this field of research in agreement with other researchers in this vein (Paniccia et al, 2007;Paniccia et al, 2010;Vallone & Veglio, 2014;Presenza et al, 2019;Valeri & Paoloni, 2017). However, the lack of an established theoretical model of AD and the exploratory nature of this research also suggest the use of a qualitative approach.…”

Co-Evolutionary Prospects in Tourism

“…This entails the ability of an enterprise to establish long-lasting relationships with the environmental framework, by engaging all actors of the territorial system through shared goals, motivations, knowledge and deadlines in order to create value in the co-evolution process (Cafferata, 2014). Within the Italian tourist scenario, the albergo diffuso can be considered as the Made in Italy response to the co-evolutionary process triggered between the tourist destination and the territory, identifying a new role for the small accommodating business in the local economic and social system (Valeri & Paoloni, 2017). It is about small businesses managed by self-employed, handymen, entrepreneurs, who need to be encouraged because, although in many different ways, they succeeded to integrate with the territory.…”