Bridging the training gap: organizational and spatial challenges in peripheral tourism SMEs

Following modern trends emphasizing continuous education and training in labor-intensive sectors such as hospitality, this study investigates the perceptions of employees working in small and medium-sized hotel units in the Regional Unit of Heraklion regarding the implementation, effectiveness, barriers, and perceived benefits of in-company training programs. Greek hospitality SMEs, particularly in regional areas, face operational constraints, limited resources, and informal training practices. While training in tourism has been widely studied, in-house training within peripheral SMEs remains underexplored. To address this gap, survey data were collected from 102 hotel employees in Heraklion through an online structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS v.28. The results revealed a predominantly neutral to positive attitude toward training, although employees in very small units reported significantly lower access to training opportunities. No statistically significant relationship was found between training participation and employment status or hotel classification. To deepen the analysis, an EFA was conducted on the “Perceived Benefits and Advantages of Training” axis, confirming its unidimensional structure and strong internal consistency. Furthermore, a HCA was employed to identify distinct employee typologies based on overall engagement with training, revealing subgroups characterized by differing levels of perceived effectiveness and benefit recognition. The findings highlight structural and spatial inequalities in training provision, suggesting that organizational practices in smaller or remote enterprises may inhibit systematic human resource development. The implications are discussed in relation to the broader literature, highlighting how geographical context, organizational structures, and internal capacity constraints jointly shape training culture in hospitality SMEs.