INNOVATIONS AND HOTEL PERFORMANCE IN THE AFTERMATH ANNOUNCEMENT OF QATAR HOSTING FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP

This article explores innovation processes in tourism within the context of Qatar Hotel sector. A theoretical framework, drawing on the existing literature, is developed to analyze innovation- performance relationships. Using the partial least squares-structural equation modeling technique for a sample of all the three- to five-star hotels in Qatar over 6 months between 2016 and 2017, the relationship between four innovations types and five types of performances are examined. The results show the existence of an innovativeness path beginning from organizational innovation leading to an improvement of the hotels' financial performance. Most specifically, organizational innovation is a key driver of innovative performance, while operational performance is the main driver of financial performance. Our research provides a better understanding of the innovation types driving hotels performance in the developing world, which may differ from the world developed countries. The findings of this study should inform policy discussions and the development of strategies to enhance innovation capacity among tourism enterprises.