How COVID-19 Accelerates Business Model Innovation and Digital Technological Transformation in the Hospitality Industry: A Focus on Restaurants in Baden–Wuerttemberg

Abstract

The gastronomy sector was one of the industries most fundamentally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and the subsequent disruption of demand. Entrepreneurs were challenged to secure their survival. This study aims to analyze how COVID-19 has accelerated digital technologies in the hospitality industry. The study assumes that due to lockdowns successful restaurants in Baden–Wuerttemberg have developed new digital business models. Data for the quantitative study were collected through a survey among randomly selected restaurants carried out between December 2020 and February 2021. A cluster analysis is used to identify different types of restaurants concerning their propensity to innovate and their success. Results of the study show that the level of digitization is one important factor regarding the range of entrepreneurial success.