Page 44 - Sustaining Accommodation SMES

5 Research Framework and Objectives

assess their underlying beliefs about formalised standards, such as iso
21401.
The qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured inter-
views, a method chosen because it facilitates open-ended, richly detailed
responses while simultaneously ensuring that all predetermined key the-
matic areas pertaining to environmental, socio-cultural, and economic
sustainability are systematically addressed. This balance between struc-
ture and fluidity is crucial for generating nuanced academic data. The
sampling strategy was designed to achieve maximum diversity within the
constraints of the project, focusing on the accommodation sector smes
across the consortium countries. Specifically, a target of a minimum of
five (5) smes was set for each of the participating countries: Italy, Greece,
Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In total, twenty-two (22) inter-
views were conducted, ensuring that the selection was varied in terms
of critical operational metrics such as business size (number of rooms),
quality classification, types of amenities and services offered, and geo-
graphic location or destination typology.
The definition of an sme employed throughout the study adhered
to established European standards, requiring the business to have fewer
than 250 permanent employees and either a total turnover of ≤€50 mil-
lion or a total balance sheet of ≤€43 million. Prior to conducting the in-
terviews, rigorous ethical protocols were followed, including securing the
informed consent of every participant and guaranteeing the anonymity
of the collected data. Each interviewee was assigned a unique confidential
code for tracking purposes (e.g., si1 for Slovenia, it1 for Italy).
It is important to highlight the differentiated methodological contri-
bution from one of the consortium partners. In contrast to the interview-
based qualitative methodology used elsewhere, Spain’s input for this
phase focused exclusively on an extensive analysis of national and in-
ternational sustainability certifications relevant to the Spanish hotel sec-
tor. This alternative approach provided valuable contextual insight, as
Spanish hotels were examined based on their demonstrable adoption of
various sustainability certifications, serving as key, formalized measures
of performance within the tourism sector. The Spanish research high-
lighted that, in a highly competitive market, certifications are frequently
leveraged as strategic tools for differentiation and reputation-building.
The research involved the compilation of a detailed dataset, including a
table of nearly 100 Spanish hotels, which provided concrete examples of
how these certifications are practically applied across the country. This

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