Background and Objective: Ecolodges in Savadkouh cityhave developed in recent years in line with the growing demand for nature-based and rural tourism. Despite the natural and cultural capacities of this region, active resorts in it face challenges such as intense competition during peak travel seasons, resource limitations, demand fluctuations, and weak coordination mechanisms. In such a context, coopetition, as a new paradigm in which competitors simultaneously cooperate and compete, can be an effective strategy to strengthen the resilience and improve the network performance of these resorts. This research aims to identify, analyze, and classify key categories in the management of coopetition networks among ecolodges in Savadkouh .
Methodology: This applied-developmental research was conducted with an exploratory-descriptive approach. A combination of documentary and survey methods was used to collect data. The main tool for collecting field data was semi-structured in-depth interviews with experts, owners and managers of ecolodges, and MAXQDA20 software was used for data analysis.
Findings: In-depth data analysis led to the emergence of 883 basic themes, 20 organizing themes and 6 overarching themes. The main themes are: cooperation components as network enhancers, structural components as a formation platform, regulatory components balancing cooperation and competition, competitive components in the form of network dynamics drivers, outcome components and feedback components.
Conclusion and recommendations: The findings show that coopetition networks act as a dynamic ecosystem that can activate the latent capacities of ecolodges in the face of market challenges, beyond a mere strategy. The conceptual framework presented will provide operational guidelines for managers and policymakers, as well as pave the way for future research in this emerging field.
Innovation and Originality: This study is the first systematic attempt to conceptualize cooperative competition in the context of ecolodges, especially among domestic research.
kazemi, E. , Hashemi, S. S. , & Nadalipour, Z. (2026). Ecolodge Network Management Model with a Collaborative Coopetition Approach - Case Study: Ecolodges in Savadkouh city. Tourism and hospitality marketing research, 4(1), 103-123. doi: 10.22080/tmhr.2026.30702.1105
MLA
Elahe kazemi; seyed saeed Hashemi; Zahra Nadalipour. "Ecolodge Network Management Model with a Collaborative Coopetition Approach - Case Study: Ecolodges in Savadkouh city", Tourism and hospitality marketing research, 4, 1, 2026, 103-123. doi: 10.22080/tmhr.2026.30702.1105
HARVARD
kazemi, E., Hashemi, S. S., Nadalipour, Z. (2026). 'Ecolodge Network Management Model with a Collaborative Coopetition Approach - Case Study: Ecolodges in Savadkouh city', Tourism and hospitality marketing research, 4(1), pp. 103-123. doi: 10.22080/tmhr.2026.30702.1105
CHICAGO
E. kazemi , S. S. Hashemi and Z. Nadalipour, "Ecolodge Network Management Model with a Collaborative Coopetition Approach - Case Study: Ecolodges in Savadkouh city," Tourism and hospitality marketing research, 4 1 (2026): 103-123, doi: 10.22080/tmhr.2026.30702.1105
VANCOUVER
kazemi, E., Hashemi, S. S., Nadalipour, Z. Ecolodge Network Management Model with a Collaborative Coopetition Approach - Case Study: Ecolodges in Savadkouh city. Tourism and hospitality marketing research, 2026; 4(1): 103-123. doi: 10.22080/tmhr.2026.30702.1105
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