PurposeThis paper aims to suggest an empirically based typology of hotels according to their marketing information systems (MrkIS) configurations. The study seeks to examine major antecedents of the effectiveness of MrkIS and their influence on the adoption of specific marketing applications. Finally, this paper seeks to expand the general understanding of the relationship between the effectiveness of a hotel's MrkIS and that hotel's overall effectiveness, compared with that of others from the suggested typology.Design/methodology/approachThe paper collected empirical data from a sample of 254 luxury and five‐star Greek hotels. They conducted a cluster analysis in order to define various clusters of hotels based on their use of specific marketing applications. They considered the role of basic antecedents – namely the hotel's degree of market orientation adoption, system quality, the quality of the information that the MrkIS produce, and support service quality – examining their influence on the MrkIS configuration in use. In addition, the paper considers the relationship between MrkIS effectiveness and overall hotel effectiveness as evidenced throughout the different clusters.FindingsThe study offers insights that can help hoteliers to analyse realistically the potential benefits of MrkIS for their businesses. Toward this end, the paper identifies three specific types of hotels: the “transactional‐oriented”, the “sales‐oriented”, and the “market‐oriented”.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the study may not be broadly applicable due to differences in national context, hotel category, and other characteristics – a fact that suggests future research opportunities.Practical implicationsBased on the current results, a hotel might better evaluate its existing MrkIS and be prepared to maximise the opportunities offered by the full utilisation of these systems.Originality/valueThe scarcity of empirical evidence with regard to MrkIS utilisation in the lodging industry makes this kind of study essential. The results of the paper expand the general knowledge about hotels' MrkIS adoption, its antecedents, its effectiveness and hotels' overall effectiveness. The results provide an integrated picture of the utilisation of these systems.