Evaluating the impact of road network configuration on hotel layout based on big data, GIS and space syntax – evidence from Shanghai

Understanding the impact of road network configuration, traffic stations and people flow factors on hotel layout can provide a scientific evidence for the spatial planning of hotels and other service industries. Based on multiple geographic big data, this study uses space syntax and Geographic Information System (GIS) to explore the impact of road network on the spatial layout of hotels with varying grades. Results show that low-end hotels are most affected by road network configurations; this is followed by mid-range hotels, and then by high-end hotels; high-end hotels are mostly located in the areas with high accessibility to the road network, while the mid-range and low-end hotels are mostly distributed near areas with strong traffic carrying capacity and attractiveness. Furthermore, traffic stations and people flow also have substantial impact on the spatial distribution of hotels, with the low-end hotels being most affected and the high-end hotels being least affected. Our findings provide several important implications for the spatial planning of hotels in the rapidly developing tourism industry.