Study on the relationship between urban road network morphology and spatial distribution of hotel industry: a case study of Nanjing City

Zhe Li, Yinan Xu, Xue Bai, Zhanjun Xu (), Huiqiang Ma, Xin Yue, Jiale Liu and Yuchao Lun
Additional contact information
Zhe Li: Shanxi Agricultural University
Yinan Xu: Shanxi Normal University
Xue Bai: Shanxi Normal University
Zhanjun Xu: Shanxi Agricultural University
Huiqiang Ma: Shanxi University of Finance and Economic
Xin Yue: Shanxi Agricultural University
Jiale Liu: Shanxi University of Finance and Economic
Yuchao Lun: Liaoning Normal University

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2025, vol. 27, issue 1, No 85, 2423-2447

Abstract: Abstract As important venues for urban recreational and hospitality activities, hotels serve as the third space that connects tourists with the city. Their rational layout plays a crucial role in improving the convenience of tourist arrivals and enhancing their overall travel experience, thereby promoting the sustainable development of urban tourism. Using the main urban area of Nanjing, China as a case study, this study explored the relationship between road network morphology and the spatial distribution of the hotel industry from the perspective of spatial users. By employing research methods such as space syntax and kernel density analysis, we examine road network data and hotel points of interest to uncover this relationship. The results demonstrate that high agglomerations of first-, second-, and fourth-tier hotels are concentrated in specific areas, displaying a single-core distribution pattern. Conversely, high agglomerations of third-tier hotels are dispersed and exhibit multiple core areas of concentration. The distribution range of high-value areas in the global and local road network integration corresponds closely, while spatial disparities exist in the medium- and low-value areas. The spatial distribution of higher-tier hotels (first- and second-tier hotels) shows little correlation and coordination with both the global and local road network morphology. This can be attributed to the ability of higher-tier hotels to cater to global travelers, attracting a larger number of tourists and leading to their concentration in urban population and economic centers. Consequently, the influence of road network morphology on the spatial layout of higher-tier hotels is neglected. In contrast, the spatial distribution of lower-tier hotels (third- and fourth-tier hotels) demonstrates a strong correlation and coordination with the global road network morphology, while exhibiting little correlation and coordination with the local road network morphology. This indicates that high-value areas in the global road network are more likely to have agglomerations of lower-tier hotels, while the layout of lower-tier hotels is less influenced by the local road network morphology, thereby weakening the spatial advantages of local road network features such as streets and alleys. This research provides hotel layout optimization recommendations from the perspectives of policymakers, urban planners, destination marketing organizations, and hotel operators, thereby offering theoretical support for the sustainable development of the urban hotel industry.

Keywords: Space syntax; Road network morphology; The hotel industry; Nanjing City (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-03973-9 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03973-9

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/10668

DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03973-9

Access Statistics for this article

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development is currently edited by Luc Hens

More articles in Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().