Exploring Digital Innovation Issues in Luxury Hospitality Enterprises Towards EU Funding Status

Authors

  • Amvrosios Prodromou Neapolis University Pafos - Cyprus https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4787-6292
  • Nikolaos Apostolopoulos University of the Peloponnese
  • Andreas Masouras Neapolis University - Pafos, Cyprus
  • Sotiris Apostolopoulos Neapolis University - Pafos, Cyprus
  • Iordanis Katemliadis University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34190/ecie.20.1.3819

Keywords:

digital innovation, luxury hotels, Cyprus, EU funds

Abstract

The current study explores the trends of the technological advancements with regard to digital tools utilised by 4&5-star hotels, in order to identify how the relevant Cypriot market is in alignment with such innovative practices, leading oftentimes to improved entrepreneurial growth. Additionally, it emphasizes whether such enterprises are willing to implement such advanced instruments in order to ensure higher productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness. More specifically, this primary research strives to examine the strategic role of managerial decisions in applying cutting-edge technological tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their operations in order to achieve sustainability and deploy innovation as well as ensure organisational resilience supported by EU funds. Empirically, qualitative study was conducted by tracing the views and experiences of 12 business executives within the Cypriot hospitality sector. Convenience sampling was employed by the research team to recruit potential participants before semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out in the field, respectively. Moreover, through the perspectives of interviewees, the research offers insights of Cyprus' market reality, by taking into account that tourism constitutes the flagship of the country’s economy. Findings indicate that digital innovation applications play a pivotal role in the ongoing digital transformation of the examined luxury tourism enterprises whilst they are prevalent used in certain internal and external functions ensuring enhanced organisational resilience and entrepreneurial competitiveness. Additionally, the support EU programmes, derived from the Green Deal, appear to be impactful on the establishment of the aforementioned digital equipment. Furthermore, conclusions, and recommendations provide a basis for future research on the specific topic, especially regarding certain EU policies contributed to enterprises' resilience process. Lastly, study's evidence could be useful to European and National institutions that deal with challenges towards digital transformation and formulate relevant policies as well as potential and active entrepreneurs in the field.

 

Author Biographies

Amvrosios Prodromou, Neapolis University Pafos - Cyprus

Dr. Prodromou holds a DBA with specialization in SMEs, an MBA in Marketing, an MBA in Project Management, and a Bachelor’s (Hons) in Business Administration. He is a qualified vocational trainer by the Cyprus Human Resource Development Authority and a qualified sustainability expert by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He runs his own business consulting firm. During his professional career in the private sector, he has managed to win the Cyprus Innovation Award in 2009 and the 2012 European Business Awards. He is an active academic with several publications covering a broad range of contemporary research issues, working with academics from several universities from both Cyprus and abroad. He has participated in several conferences and Erasmus projects, collaborating with professionals and academics from most EU countries, as well as from several other countries. His fields of specialization are tourism, sustainability and circular economy, SMEs, strategic marketing, and human resources. He is a Lecturer at Neapolis University Pafos.

Nikolaos Apostolopoulos, University of the Peloponnese

Dr. Nikolaos Apostolopoulos is an Associated Professor in European Policies in Sustainability, Development and Entrepreneurship and Director of the Laboratory of European Sustainable Development Policies at the University of Peloponnese. He also acts as a Scientific Advisor at the Labour Institute of the General Confederation of Greek Employees (INE-GSEE). His research publications focus on entrepreneurship, social challenges and EU development policies.

Andreas Masouras, Neapolis University - Pafos, Cyprus

Dr. Andreas Masouras is the Head of the Department of Communication & Creativity, Member of the Senate, and Associate Professor of Communication and Marketing at Neapolis University Pafos. He also serves as MBA Coordinator, including the specialization in Tourism. As a full-time faculty member, he plays a key role in academic governance, program development, and the strategic academic direction of the university.

Sotiris Apostolopoulos, Neapolis University - Pafos, Cyprus

Dr. Sotiris Apostolopoulos is a Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Development at Neapolis University Paphos, Cyprus. He also acts as Academic Coordinator of the Undergraduate Program in Business Administration of the Department of Economics and Business for the same University. He specialises in rural entrepreneurship, European policies and the socio-economic development of the rural areas with emphasis on private and social health enterprises.

Iordanis Katemliadis, University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus

Dr. Katemliadis holds a PhD from the Department of Tourism Economics and Management, University of the Aegean, Greece; an MSc in International Hospitality Management, University of Strathclyde, and a BA in Tourism Management, International University of Greece, Thessaloniki. He is a Lecturer in Destination Marketing and Tourism, and course leader of the MA Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management, at the University of Central Lancashire in Cyprus. 

ECIE Proceedings Cover

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Published

2025-09-19

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 1 (2025): The Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Section

Full academic papers

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Amvrosios Prodromou, Nikolaos Apostolopoulos, Andreas Masouras, Sotiris Apostolopoulos, Iordanis Katemliadis

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.