Sustainable circular innovation ecosystem for hospitality and tourism

Purpose In response to growing call for developing integrative frameworks for value co-creation in the hospitability and tourism (HT) field, this paper aims to conceptualize a sustainable circular innovation ecosystem based upon tenets of “Business Model Innovation”, “Sustainability” and “Circular Economy”. This proposed model is driven by a “Sustainable Circular Core” with an inherent capacity to drive value co-creation in the HT field. The drivers/enablers and barriers towards circular core are also identified. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a structured methodology approach that comprised integrating bibliometric analysis, conceptual mapping and industrial ecology perspective. Bibliometric analysis was used for identification of major research themes based on analysis of 75 studies from a data set of 973 references. The timeframe for the data set was 2007–2024. Strategy and conceptual mapping were used to propagate the tenets of sustainable circular core. Further, industrial ecology approach was used for prescribing the integrated HT ecosystem. Findings The sustainable circular core of the newly envisaged framework is driven by newly conceptualized centrifugal force of the “Knowledge Value Chain Network’ based upon the integrative perspective of “Knowledge Value Chain” and “Value Network Analysis” concepts. The knowledge value chain network comprises components of system dynamics, social/organizational dynamics, process modelling workflow and asset management that can help HT enterprises to channelize productive use of latent capabilities, intangible competencies, intangible goods and tangible assets with a digital focus towards a sustainable circular model innovation. Practical implications The new innovative framework can serve as a platform for further research and collaboration among scholars and HT industry professionals, facilitating innovative solutions to the challenges associated with transitioning to a circular economy. Social implications The newly proposed framework promotes awareness and understanding of sustainable practices and HT industry stakeholders (i.e. businesses, policymakers and communities) to adopt circular economy tenets. This shift fosters a culture of sustainability, leading to improved resource management, waste reduction and enhanced quality of life for individuals and communities. Originality/value This study presents a novel called “Sustainable Circular Hospitality and Tourism Innovation Ecosystem” driven by a sustainable circular core mechanism, based on industrial ecology perspective comprising drivers, enablers, barriers and first order and second-order value co-creation outcomes for the HT industry.