Specialized SMEs in the Hotel Industry and Market Positioning in Croatia

The aim of this paper is to research the positioning of small- and medium-sized hotel companies as entrepreneurships in the tourism business competitive environment as well as to consider further development potential. Potential for future activities and possibilities of valorization of SME companies on the international tourism market are presented through examination and the knowledge gained. The positions of the Croatian hotel industry have been looked at using scientific quantitative, statistical, and qualitative interview methods. This was followed by research into the opinions of Italian hotel managers, where Italian tourism and its hotel industry are recognized as a leader in SME hotel entrepreneurship – a source of best practice that developing markets could learn from. On the other hand, the survey research of tourist attitudes was investigated using statistical methodology. Research results point to the importance of specialization on the part of small- and medium-sized hotels with the implementation of an adequate marketing mix. This includes all the components that valorize a hotel product adapted to modern trends dictated by tourist demand. This research also affirmed the purpose of the paper, opening new questions directed at the continuous activities of market positioning optimization in the hotel industry. The paper puts specialized SME entrepreneurship into the developmental context in an innovative way.