Destination Evaluation Attributes for Tourists in Hotel and Non-Hotel Accommodation in Spain

Abstract

Accommodation constitutes a key element in the competitiveness of a destination. However, there is limited information on how overnight tourists evaluate the destination according to the type of accommodation. To date, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have led to an increased use of online media and the generation of large datasets available for analysis. This study analyses 47,568 feedback surveys administered by Spanish accommodation establishments to tourists, provided anonymously by a tourism software company. The main objective is to understand which destination attributes predict positive results on satisfaction and recommendation, depending on the type of accommodation (hotel and non-hotel). To this end, both a descriptive analysis and an analysis using neural networks are conducted. The results reveal significant differences in the evaluation of destination elements depending on whether the accommodation is a hotel or non-hotel, with the predictive variables varying across each typology. As a key conclusion, the study highlights that adopting this perspective makes it possible to understand destination evaluation from the standpoint of overnight tourists, thereby contributing to destination-related literature. From a practical perspective, recommendations are offered to both destination managers and accommodation providers.