Incidence of Eco-Innovation in Competitiveness in the Hotel Sector in Bogotá

Abstract

This paper aims to identify the impact of eco-innovation in the hotel industry’s competitiveness in Bogotá . The population under study is represented by hotels with the Colombian Environmental Seal. For that purpose, a deductive-inductive methodological process was implemented in order to analyze the most representative environmental practices in the hotel industry, after considering eco-innovation as a competitive element in generating economic and environmental benefits. In fact, the predominant tourism model in Bogotá is business or metropolitan; therefore, innovative developments are given in the process structure, which involves new production or distribution methods, technical improvements, equipment or software and, finally, service and organizational innovation. Finally, the paper shows how the tourism industry’s growing interest for environmental accreditation is a reflection of the need to eco-innovate and adapt to a new competitive reality, reason why eco-innovation appears as a key competitive source for sustainable development.