Pipeline speed of chain-branded hotels in the U.S.: A competitive dynamics perspective

This study focuses on examining antecedents of hotel pipeline speed using the setting of chain-branded pipelines in the top 25 markets in the U.S. Based on competitive dynamics, we propose factors influencing chain-branded hotels’ pipeline speed in two domains: awareness-motivation-capability (AMC) and competitive inertia (CI). A total of 1447 hotel pipeline projects are analyzed in this study. We find that (1) a hotel’s pipeline speed is negatively associated with the number of total pipeline rooms in the same market and in the same brand segment; (2) pipeline speed is negatively associated with the percentage of pipeline rooms under construction in the same market and in the same brand segment; (3) pipeline speed is positively associated with the number of rooms of the property. Our study contributes to the literature by providing theoretical underpinnings of pipeline speed and exams the explanatory factors with field data. The findings can be translated to practical insights that could benefit hoteliers when planning pipeline projects.