Is tourist accommodation homogeneous?: An analysis of the adults-only category through a three-step approach

Abstract

Purpose: This paper aims to classify tourist accommodation using data from Booking.com and TripAdvisor and analyse the extent to which the different segments identified differ in terms of being adults-only. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 1,535 properties located in nine Spanish sun and beach destinations were examined using a latent class cluster analysis (LCCA). The bias-adjusted three-step approach was used to investigate the differences between belonging to adults-only accommodation or not among the identified clusters. Findings: Results show that adults-only accommodation tends to belong to the cluster with higher online ratings. In small Spanish islands, adults-only hotels account for a large share (more than 25%) of hotels. Research limitations/implications: It was not possible to analyse whether the higher rating was due to the accommodation being better or due to the tourists being more satisfied with their stay. Practical implications: In urban destinations, the model is not widely used. However, in coastal destinations, it is becoming more than a novelty or a new trend. Social implications: In small Spanish islands, people traveling with children are becoming a minority. Families may feel discriminated against and express dissatisfaction with this situation in the future. Originality/value: This study covers the gap in the academic literature on this growing hotel segment.