SACM - France
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9654
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Item Restricted Integrating Saudi Cultural Identity into Boutique Hotel Guest Experiences in Alignment with Vision 2030: Towards Innovation and Differentiation(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alnuwaiser, Raghad; Maekinen, TiiaSaudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has placed a strong emphasis on cultural identity as a primary element of tourism strategy. As such, cultural hospitality is reconceptualized as a vehicle for national identity, cultural diplomacy, and tourism product differentiation. In this regard, boutique hotels are specifically designed to offer a culturally rich and personalized guest experience. However, despite this strategy, literature on hospitality and tourism in Saudi Arabia is limited and often focuses on niche areas such as architectural heritage or service quality, overlooking the integration of cultural identity into the holistic guest experience. This study addresses this gap by exploring how Saudi cultural identity can be systematically integrated into boutique hotel guest experiences to enhance authenticity, innovation, and differentiation. Using a qualitative multiple-case study design, the research analyzes online guest reviews of boutique and heritage hotels across key Saudi destinations, including Riyadh, Jeddah, and AlUla. The study employs inductive thematic analysis to identify patterns related to cultural design, service interactions, culinary experiences, and the balance between modern luxury and traditional elements. Findings reveal that deeply embedded cultural elements significantly enhance guest satisfaction and create meaningful, memorable experiences. Guests particularly value authentic spatial design, culturally informed service interactions, and traditional culinary offerings. However, gaps remain in staff cultural competence and the depth of storytelling, leading to occasional inconsistencies in the overall guest experience. The study proposes a Cultural Cohesion-Integration Framework (CCIF), offering a structured approach for embedding cultural identity across strategic, operational, and experiential dimensions. This framework provides practical guidance for boutique hotel managers and policymakers, supporting the alignment of cultural preservation with innovation and tourism development under Vision 2030.9 0Item Restricted Digitalization and Internationalization: Assessing Digital Maturity’s Impact on the Internationalization Speed and Performance of Saudi SMEs’ Global Expansion(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Babgi, Mnahel; PACHÉ, Gilles; SHAJARI, BenyaminThis doctoral dissertation explores the role of digitalization and internationalization in driving company growth, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As a powerful duo, these trends present both opportunities and challenges, requiring SMEs to adapt and reconfigure their performance models. Despite significant attention to this topic, there remains a need to synthesize and categorize diverse contributions to gain a deeper understanding of how digitalization and internationalization have evolved. This study employs a three-stage methodology: first, a bibliometric analysis; second, theoretical and conceptual assessments; and third, a comprehensive survey evaluating digital capabilities. By linking digital proficiency to rapid international expansion and SME performance, this research provides valuable insights into the intersection of digitalization and global business growth. The goal is to establish a strong foundation for future research and debate on this critical subject. A bibliometric analysis of 246 publications in international business research was conducted to establish a contextual understanding of digitalization, followed by a front analysis to further refine these findings. Perspectives for future research are also explored. Additionally, the study assesses traditional SME internationalization models and introduces an alternative, capabilities-based digital maturity model designed to accelerate SME internationalization. This advancement calls for an expansion of the resource-based view (RBV) theory to incorporate digitalization-related capabilities. The proposed model features a matrix of eight key capabilities to assess an SME’s digital maturity, along with two components of internationalization speed: the speed of committing to these capabilities and the speed of developing them. Finally, drawing on digital maturity theory, this research explores the impact of eight digital capabilities on SME internationalization and overall performance. Based on responses from 164 Saudi SMEs, the findings confirm that higher levels of digital maturity positively influence both the speed of internationalization learning and the speed of committing to international markets. Additionally, the results indicate that internationalization speed has a positive effect on SME performance. However, in contrast to previous literature, some strategic elements of digital maturity were not supported. Despite this, the study provides empirical evidence to guide SMEs in leveraging digitalization to enhance both internationalization and performance. This doctoral dissertation offers valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers, underscoring the strategic role of digital maturity in SMEs within emerging economies.1 0Item Restricted Exploring the Impact of Cybersecurity Incidents on Hotel Operations and Reputation in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alasiri, Abdullah; Khurdi, Ruby BakshiThe hospitality industry continues to integrate various technologies to improve guests’ satisfaction and optimize organizational performance. However, this reliance also poses a cybersecurity threat to hotels according to Al Hamli and Sobaih (2023). The expansion of the tourism and hospitality sectors within Saudi Arabia under vision 2030 also serves to explain the increased vulnerability to cyber threats. Statement of the Problem The hotel industry is among the most vulnerable to cyber threats because of the kind of information that it processes. A cyber security attack can hinder business activities in a hotel and negatively affect the organization’s reputation, resulting in considerable losses and low customer confidence (Almaiah et al., 2022). The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of such occurrences on the hotels’ business in Saudi Arabia.6 0Item Restricted Wellness Hospitality in Saudi Arabia: A redefined approach to wellness traditions: Exploratory Research(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almithn, Khalid; Palmeiro, MarianaWellness economy within Saudi Arabia has the potential to be one of the leading in its region utilizing global wellness growth backed up by four macro forces that drive its growth, while relying on wellness traditions and healing method that exist within Saudi culture. Nonetheless, while it is challenging, competing with global known wellness traditions requires the attention to holistic design and supplying the needs of consumers by benefiting from trending topics in wellness tourism and hospitality.6 0Item Restricted Exploring the Impact of Vision 2030 on Saudi Arabia's Hospitality and Tourism Industry(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ALJOHRA, TAYEB; Annamarie, SissonThis study investigates the impact of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 on the country’s hospitality and tourism industry, focusing on how national reforms are experienced and interpreted by key industry stakeholders. Vision 2030 aims to diversify the Saudi economy, reduce oil dependence, and develop a globally competitive tourism sector through giga-projects such as NEOM, AlUla, and the Red Sea. Using a qualitative, interpretivist methodology, the research draws on semi-structured interviews with 15 professionals representing public agencies, giga-project management teams, and private enterprises across various regions. Thematic analysis reveals four core findings: economic transformation, sustainability implementation gaps, cultural authenticity concerns, and stakeholder coordination challenges. The study applies tourism development and destination branding theories to contextualize these themes, highlighting both the ambitious scale of reform and the practical frictions encountered during implementation. Contributions include an empirical perspective on stakeholder alignment, a critique of top-down planning in emerging destinations, and recommendations for more inclusive and sustainable tourism governance. This research offers theoretical and practical insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and scholars examining transformational tourism agendas in developing economies.3 0Item Restricted The Impact of Implementing Development Policies for Saudi Hotels and Lodging Industry on Rating and Customer Satisfaction: Challenge, Critical Success Factors, And Opportunities(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Barayan, Ayman; Witte, Alexandra; Moysidou, Mania; Annamarie, D. SissonThis study investigates how Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 diversification agenda translates into measurable performance gains across the Kingdom’s upscale hotel sector. A crosssectional survey was distributed to managers and frontline staff in 4- and 5-star properties in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah–Madinah, and the Eastern Province. Using a rigorously validated instrument (Cronbach’s α = 0.957), 312 usable responses were analysed with Pearson correlations and hierarchical linear regressions. Results show that the intensity of Vision-aligned policy implementation correlates strongly and positively with overall hotel ratings (r = 0.776) and customer satisfaction (r = 0.751) at the 0.01 significance level. Regression models confirm that Vision-driven initiatives explain 60 % of the variance in hotel ratings (R² = 0.60; β = 0.659, p < .001) and 56 % of the variance in customer satisfaction (R² = 0.56; β = 0.645, p < .001). Qualitative follow-ups identify staff upskilling programmes, green-retrofit incentives, and AI-enabled guest-service apps as the most influential levers linking national policy to firm-level outcomes. These findings provide the first empirical evidence that Saudi Arabia’s macro-level diversification strategy can be converted into micro-level performance improvements, offering hotel operators and policy-makers a clear roadmap for leveraging Vision 2030 to enhance competitiveness, guest loyalty, and revenue growth.1 0Item Restricted How does the customer experience in Saudi Arabia's luxury stores influence consumer behavior to shop at other branches in Europe?(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alsunaydi, Amjad; Eleonora, CattaneoSaudi Arabia, the largest economy in the MENA region, has experienced rapid economic and social transformation, with a growing young and affluent population that is increasingly influencing luxury consumption patterns. Despite the expansion of luxury retail options within the country, many Saudi consumers continue to prefer shopping abroad, particularly in Europe, where high-end brands and exceptional shopping experiences are deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric. This study examines why Saudi consumers favor international luxury shopping despite the rise in local options. Using a mixed-method approach, combining surveys and focus groups with frequent luxury shoppers, the research identifies the key factors influencing their purchasing behavior and highlights gaps in Saudi Arabia’s luxury retail market. The findings aim to provide insights into consumer expectations, focusing on aspects such as product availability, pricing disparities, customer service, and in-store experience. By understanding these factors, the study seeks to align the local luxury shopping experience with the evolving needs of Saudi consumers, thereby contributing to the country’s broader goals under Vision 2030 to retain more luxury spending within its borders. The results will offer valuable recommendations for luxury brands and retailers to enhance their offerings and capture a larger share of the domestic luxury market.18 0Item Restricted Leveraging AI in Saudi Medical Tourism(2025) Aljohani, Elaf Maher S; Dr.Tiia MäkinenThis research examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in Saudi Arabia’s medical tourism sector, highlighting its potential to enhance healthcare services, operational efficiency, and foreign investment. Using qualitative methods, including expert interviews and global case studies, the study analyzes AI-driven innovations in leading countries and Saudi Arabia’s readiness for adoption. Findings reveal that AI improves diagnostics, patient care, and resource management but faces regulatory and infrastructural challenges. Addressing these barriers requires policy frameworks, investment in AI infrastructure, and collaboration between healthcare providers and technology firms. The study contributes to understanding AI’s role in medical tourism and its alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.7 0