a b s t r a c t
The study of management innovation has gained relevance in recent years, but there is a lack of empirical
research analysing the factors that favour it. This article contemplates two types of antecedents of
management innovation in the hospitality industry. In the internal context of the company, the influence
of the employees' knowledge and skills is analysed, as well as the company's capacity to integrate this
knowledge. In the external setting, an evaluation is performed of the way relationships established with
tourist industry agents and external change agents affect the development of management innovation.
The data obtained from 109 firms operating hotel establishments in Spain show that both the internal
resources and the relations with external change agents determine the introduction of management
innovations. However, access to knowledge held by tourist industry agents does not influence management
innovation.