Abstract
Purpose
To explore commercial hospitality enterprise, its development and impact on the economic and cultural progress of the American West between 1800 and 1880, focussing on the story of the Fanthorp Inn in Texas, USA.
Design/methodology/approach
Outline the theory relating to entrepreneurial opportunity and applying it to the historical case of the Fanthorp Inn, Texas, USA. The methodological approach of the paper is based on an in-depth study into the development of one tavern using multiple sources of evidence.
Findings
Firstly, opportunity on the frontier was controlled to the extent that it became objective in the Kirznerian sense. Secondly, commercial hospitality enterprise was used as a vehicle for cultural and economic development in frontier America.
Research limitations/implications
Limited by its use of one case study, and the scarcity of sources of historical evidence. Further studies could engage with different examples of frontier hospitality businesses and develop the method further.
Practical Implications
Provides deeper understanding of cultural and economic development in the American West during the 1800s and supplies a methodological framework with which further organisational research can engage with historical sources of data.
Originality/value
It explores hospitality as a context for entrepreneurial activity in the American West and uses an historical case study method.
To explore commercial hospitality enterprise, its development and impact on the economic and cultural progress of the American West between 1800 and 1880, focussing on the story of the Fanthorp Inn in Texas, USA.
Design/methodology/approach
Outline the theory relating to entrepreneurial opportunity and applying it to the historical case of the Fanthorp Inn, Texas, USA. The methodological approach of the paper is based on an in-depth study into the development of one tavern using multiple sources of evidence.
Findings
Firstly, opportunity on the frontier was controlled to the extent that it became objective in the Kirznerian sense. Secondly, commercial hospitality enterprise was used as a vehicle for cultural and economic development in frontier America.
Research limitations/implications
Limited by its use of one case study, and the scarcity of sources of historical evidence. Further studies could engage with different examples of frontier hospitality businesses and develop the method further.
Practical Implications
Provides deeper understanding of cultural and economic development in the American West during the 1800s and supplies a methodological framework with which further organisational research can engage with historical sources of data.
Originality/value
It explores hospitality as a context for entrepreneurial activity in the American West and uses an historical case study method.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 264-281 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
