Customer Clustering and Marketing Optimization in Hospitality: A Hybrid Data Mining and Decision-Making Approach from an Emerging Economy

This study introduces a novel Recency, Monetary, and Duration (RMD) model for customer classification in the hospitality industry. Using a hybrid approach that integrates data mining with multi-criteria decision-making techniques, this study aims to identify valuable customer segments and optimize m...

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Main Authors: Maryam Deldadehasl, Houra Hajian Karahroodi, Pouya Haddadian Nekah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Tourism and Hospitality
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5768/6/2/80
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author Maryam Deldadehasl
Houra Hajian Karahroodi
Pouya Haddadian Nekah
author_facet Maryam Deldadehasl
Houra Hajian Karahroodi
Pouya Haddadian Nekah
author_sort Maryam Deldadehasl
collection DOAJ
description This study introduces a novel Recency, Monetary, and Duration (RMD) model for customer classification in the hospitality industry. Using a hybrid approach that integrates data mining with multi-criteria decision-making techniques, this study aims to identify valuable customer segments and optimize marketing strategies. This research applies the K-means clustering algorithm to classify customers from a hotel in Iran based on RMD attributes. Cluster validation is performed using three internal indices, and hidden patterns are extracted through association rule mining. Customer segments are prioritized using the TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method and Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) analysis. The outcomes revealed six distinct customer clusters, identified as new customers; loyal customers; collective buying customers; potential customers; business customers, and lost customers. This study helps hotels to be aware of different types of customers with particular spending patterns, enabling hotels to tailor services and improve customer retention. It also provides managers with appropriate tools to allocate resources efficiently. This study extends the traditional Recency, Frequency, and Monetary (RFM) model by incorporating duration, an overlooked dimension of customer engagement. It is the first attempt to integrate data mining and multi-criteria decision-making for customer segmentation in Iran’s hospitality industry.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Tourism and Hospitality
spelling doaj-art-d1cda2a8744445f5a57446c9dd9586ba2025-08-20T03:29:52ZengMDPI AGTourism and Hospitality2673-57682025-05-01628010.3390/tourhosp6020080Customer Clustering and Marketing Optimization in Hospitality: A Hybrid Data Mining and Decision-Making Approach from an Emerging EconomyMaryam Deldadehasl0Houra Hajian Karahroodi1Pouya Haddadian Nekah2School of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USASchool of Management and Marketing, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USABarney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL 33801, USAThis study introduces a novel Recency, Monetary, and Duration (RMD) model for customer classification in the hospitality industry. Using a hybrid approach that integrates data mining with multi-criteria decision-making techniques, this study aims to identify valuable customer segments and optimize marketing strategies. This research applies the K-means clustering algorithm to classify customers from a hotel in Iran based on RMD attributes. Cluster validation is performed using three internal indices, and hidden patterns are extracted through association rule mining. Customer segments are prioritized using the TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method and Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) analysis. The outcomes revealed six distinct customer clusters, identified as new customers; loyal customers; collective buying customers; potential customers; business customers, and lost customers. This study helps hotels to be aware of different types of customers with particular spending patterns, enabling hotels to tailor services and improve customer retention. It also provides managers with appropriate tools to allocate resources efficiently. This study extends the traditional Recency, Frequency, and Monetary (RFM) model by incorporating duration, an overlooked dimension of customer engagement. It is the first attempt to integrate data mining and multi-criteria decision-making for customer segmentation in Iran’s hospitality industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5768/6/2/80hospitality marketingcustomer retentionRMDTOPSISassociation rulesK-means
spellingShingle Maryam Deldadehasl
Houra Hajian Karahroodi
Pouya Haddadian Nekah
Customer Clustering and Marketing Optimization in Hospitality: A Hybrid Data Mining and Decision-Making Approach from an Emerging Economy
Tourism and Hospitality
hospitality marketing
customer retention
RMD
TOPSIS
association rules
K-means
title Customer Clustering and Marketing Optimization in Hospitality: A Hybrid Data Mining and Decision-Making Approach from an Emerging Economy
title_full Customer Clustering and Marketing Optimization in Hospitality: A Hybrid Data Mining and Decision-Making Approach from an Emerging Economy
title_fullStr Customer Clustering and Marketing Optimization in Hospitality: A Hybrid Data Mining and Decision-Making Approach from an Emerging Economy
title_full_unstemmed Customer Clustering and Marketing Optimization in Hospitality: A Hybrid Data Mining and Decision-Making Approach from an Emerging Economy
title_short Customer Clustering and Marketing Optimization in Hospitality: A Hybrid Data Mining and Decision-Making Approach from an Emerging Economy
title_sort customer clustering and marketing optimization in hospitality a hybrid data mining and decision making approach from an emerging economy
topic hospitality marketing
customer retention
RMD
TOPSIS
association rules
K-means
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5768/6/2/80
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AT hourahajiankarahroodi customerclusteringandmarketingoptimizationinhospitalityahybriddatamininganddecisionmakingapproachfromanemergingeconomy
AT pouyahaddadiannekah customerclusteringandmarketingoptimizationinhospitalityahybriddatamininganddecisionmakingapproachfromanemergingeconomy