Abstract
We study patent applications in the Italian hospitality sector. We analyze (a) the determinants of patenting behavior in the Italian accommodation sector and (b) the impact of innovation—measured through firms' patenting activity—on firms' performance. Using microdata from the Orbis database (Bureau van Dijk), we find that the firms' innovative performance in the Italian hospitality sector—measured through the number of successful patents applications—varies based on firms' size, age, intangible assets, and legal form. Moreover, patenting activity is positively and significantly associated to different measures of firms' performance.