Competitive Intelligence and Sustainable Competitive Advantage in the Hotel Industry

Abstract

Competitive intelligence (CI) is a business tool within strategic management, and it is gaining significance as a process that enables companies to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. This study explores the current state of CI in the Spanish hotel industry. For this purpose, a path model has been developed which empirically investigates the relationship between CI use and its backgrounds. The results obtained suggest that environmental and organizational characteristics affect CI effort, and in turn, CI effort affects CI use. This study provides theoretical and practical implications to help managers develop sustainable competitive advantages through the potential that CI offers within the hotel industry.