Purpose This study aims to explore the nature of the relationship between market orientation and business performance in the Portuguese hotel industry and to evaluate the mediating role of service quality in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach A literature analysis on market orientation, service quality and hotel business performance was conducted. The structural model was developed, and the measurement scales’ items were generated. Working data were obtained by sending a survey to Portuguese hotel managers. A purification process was conducted, and the convergent and discriminant validity, as well the reliability, of the measurement models were assessed. The structural model was tested by conducting a path analysis, as well by evaluating the coefficient of determination (R2) and the predictive relevance indicator (Q2). Findings Research results show that market orientation has a positive direct effect on business performance. Moreover, results indicate that market orientation effects on business performance are mediated throughout the hotels’ ability to provide service quality. Originality/value Despite the large amount of research on market orientation, research on the hospitality sector has been conducted mainly using tools developed for the manufacturing and consumer goods sectors. On the other hand, little has been done to explore the nature of the mediating effect of service quality on the relationship between market orientation and business performance in the hotel industry. Moreover, despite the contribution of the tourism industry to the Portuguese gross domestic product, research on the hotel industry is scarce.

Nonprofit sector integrates an important part of the economy, which serves as a critical factor for social change. Social innovation and social entrepreneurship are of paramount importance for the nonprofit sector aiming to solve social needs. The purpose of this paper is, through bibliometric mapping techniques, based on 2695 documents, to understand thematic evolution of social innovation and social entrepreneurship. The main conclusion is that, from the analysis, we can see that the scientific production in this field of knowledge has intensified in recent years, but the centrality and the search density undergo major changes. New paths for future research are outlined.

This study explores the nature of the relationship between market orientation and business performance and the mediating role of customer loyalty in this relationship. Empirical analysis was based on a sample from the Western European hotel industry. Research results indicate that market orientation has a positive direct effect on business performance and that the effects of market orientation on business performance are mediated through customer loyalty. Market orientation produces a positive effect on customer loyalty, which in turn has a positive effect on business performance, showing that market orientation has a significant and positive indirect effect on business performance. These findings suggest potential major implications for the hotel industry. For example, by developing a market-oriented organization, hotels could produce positive effects on customer loyalty and consequently on their business performance.

This study seeks to study the relationship between market orientation and business performance and to evaluate the mediating effect of adopting a low-price strategy in this relationship in the hotel industry. A sample from the Spanish and Portuguese hotel industry is used. Results show that the effect of market orientation on business performance is positive and direct. On the other hand, the results do not confirm the mediating effect of a strategy based on low-price in the strength of this relationship. Moreover, results indicate that a price strategy based on low-price is negatively related to hotel business performance.