Identifying and Ranking the Competitive Advantages of Hospital Hotels in Islamic Countries using the DEMATEL Method (An Iranian Case Study)

This study aims to identify and rank the competitive advantages of hospital hotels in Islamic countries, with a focus on an Iranian case study. Given the unique needs and cultural context of Islamic nations, the research investigates the key factors that contribute to the success of hospital hotels, including elements such as treatment measures, family hospitality, halal nutrition, and worship arrangements. The primary methodology used is the DEMATEL (Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) method, which is a pairwise comparison-based decision-making tool that effectively identifies relationships and hierarchies among system elements. Expert judgment from hospital hotel managers, employees, and Ministry of Health officials was employed to construct a Direct Influence Matrix, which was then normalized to assess both direct and indirect influences among the identified criteria. The results reveal that "Treatment Measures" and "Family Hospitality" are the most influential factors, acting as key drivers in enhancing overall service quality. Conversely, "Halal Financing" and "Worship Arrangements" were found to be the most dependent factors, influenced by the other elements in the system. Additionally, criteria such as "Patient Relationships" and "Halal Nutrition" exhibited high levels of prominence, indicating their central role in the competitive advantage of hospital hotels. The study concludes that focusing on improving core criteria like treatment measures and family hospitality will enhance the competitive position of hospital hotels in Islamic countries. These findings provide actionable insights for hospital hotel management and policymakers seeking to enhance service quality and cultural alignment in healthcare settings.

Keywords:

Hospital Hotels , competitive advantages , DEMATEL method , Islamic countries , Healthcare services