Value creation in the tourism sector: an empirical analysis of Albergo Diffuso’s business model

The “albergo diffuso” (AD)—or “scattered hotel”—model is an innovative and sustainable approach to tourism that is much discussed in the literature, in terms of its early evolution in Italy and the current experiences of the movement in other countries. Using a questionnaire-based survey conducted on Italian alberghi diffusi, the present empirical analysis investigates the peculiarities of the AD movement over the years and the main factors through which it generates value both for the hotel managers and for the remote regions in which they are located. Through our observations regarding the contemporary experiences of Italy, the key factors of AD as a business model emerge, elucidating operational data with respect to reference activities and for future research. Consistency is also important for the replication of the model’s successes in other destinations. Our findings provide a concrete contribution to the wider literature discussions concerning tourism management and innovation in hospitality models.