Entrepreneurial approaches to the internationalisation of Portugal’s hotel industry

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess motivational factors in the internationalisation of Portuguese hotel firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The epistemological approach that supports the development of this study is based on a deductive strategy. A comprehensive multi-case study was performed in which theoretical propositions were tested prior to further development.

Findings

The results of this study reveal that the internationalisation process of Portuguese hotel companies was triggered by managers’ entrepreneurial attitudes and international vision that in themselves embraced a combination of particular resources and competencies.

Research limitations/implications

Noteworthy are study’s contributions to international entrepreneurship as an individual act within existing social networks established by managers and the management team as a result of previous business experiences. The impact of this overall entrepreneurial profile on firms’ behaviour is also of interest. Limitations of the study relate to its cross-sectional nature and the number of interviewees.

Originality/value

The integration of economic paradigms with behaviour theories and the resource-based view to understand how and why Portuguese hotel companies engage in international endeavours is a major contribution of this study.

Citation

de Correia, R.J.C., Lengler, J. and Mohsin, A. (2019), "Entrepreneurial approaches to the internationalisation of Portugal’s hotel industry", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 31 No. 3, pp. 1141-1165. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-09-2017-0567