A proposition-based theorizing approach to hotel cancellation practices research

Purpose: This paper aims to demonstrate how hospitality management research could benefit from the propositional style of theorizing, and how this approach could expand the scope of research in the discipline. Design/methodology/approach: Developing new theories could provide unique insights and broaden the scope of research in hospitality management. To illustrate the power of proposition-based theorizing, this methodology is applied to the hotel cancellation policies domain. Findings: Using the proposition-based theorizing in the context of cancellation policies, this study provides several propositions that could have broad implications for future research. Originality/value: The contribution of this paper is threefold. First, the potential benefit of the proposition-based theorizing in the revenue management context of cancellation policies is demonstrated. Second, the theoretical frameworks and insights from the product return policy literature that could enrich future studies on hotel cancellation policies are introduced. Finally, this study conjectures on these theories’ relevance to hotel cancellation policies and consequently on their potential contribution to the scholarly discourse.