European Journal of Social Sciences
ISSN 1450-2267 Vol.26 No.3 (2011), pp. 340-357
© EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2011
http://www.europeanjournalofsocialsciences.com
340
Entrepreneurial Marketing-The Interface between
Marketing and Entrepreneurship: A Qualitative
Research on Boutique Hotels
Hulya Kurgun
Asst. Prof. Izmir Vocational School
Department of Economics and Administrative Programs
Dokuz Eylul University, Buca-İzmir, Turkey
E-mail: hulya.kurgun@deu.edu.tr
Tel: 00 90 232 4400707/204
Demet Bagiran
PhD Candidate in Department of Tourism Management
Graduate School of Social Sciences
Dokuz Eylul University, Buca-İzmir, Turkey
E-mail: dbagiran@yahoo.com
Emir Ozeren
Research Assistant, PhD Candidate in Department of Business Administration
Graduate School of Social Sciences
Dokuz Eylul University, Buca-İzmir, Turkey
E-mail: emir.ozeren@deu.edu.tr
Begum Maral
PhD Candidate in Department of Business Administration
Graduate School of Social Sciences
Dokuz Eylul University, Buca-İzmir, Turkey
E-mail: begummaral@yahoo.com
Abstract
The aim of the study is to identify major dimensions of entrepreneurial marketing concept
in boutique hotels and determine to what extent current marketing approaches in boutique
hotels seem to be consistent with the entrepreneurial marketing approaches. The major
motivation of this research is stemmed from the fact that the empirical examination of the
notion of entrepreneurial marketing from the viewpoint of boutique hotels has received
scant attention in the relevant literature. The research was conducted with semi-structured
interview method in nine boutique hotels located in the province of Izmir in Turkey. Based
on seven dimensions of entrepreneurial marketing concept, a unique semi structured
interview form was designed. Data gathered in the interviews was analyzed via descriptive
analysis used in qualitative researches and evaluated and interpreted in terms of the seven
main dimensions of entrepreneurial marketing. Results of in-depth interviews pointed out
that entrepreneurial marketing concept which carries great importance for boutique hotels
has been well adopted and put into effective use by boutique hotels.