Measuring performance variability: A Meta-Heterogeneity Index approach in tourism research

In this study, we present the Meta-Heterogeneity Index (MHI), which we designed to uncover within-group performance disparities across destinations, firms, or regions—disparities that more conventional approaches often overlook. Using panel data on star-rated hotels in China, we demonstrate the usefulness of the MHI, showing how it separates efficiency change from technical change and identifies whether shortfalls stem from operations or technology. This detailed diagnosis would equip destination managers and corporate decision-makers with clear priorities for reallocating resources or driving innovation. In addition, since the MHI can be readily transferred to other tourism subsectors, it is a practical tool that researchers can use to track competitiveness and to enrich performance analysis in the tourism management field.