Profitability index in the accommodation services sector in Slovakia

Considering evolving market dynamics, high fixed costs and vulnerability to external shocks, such as the impact of the ongoing global pandemic, it has become increasingly important to assess profitability in the accommodation sector. This study proposes a composite profitability index for accommodation services in Slovakia, which integrates traditional financial indicators such as return on equity (ROE), return on assets (ROA) and return on sales (ROS), as well as broader indicators such as the value-added-to-sales ratio (VAS) and EBITDA margin. Each indicator captures a distinct aspect of financial health, from operational efficiency to capital utilisation and value creation. To ensure methodological robustness, the study employs three expert-based weighting techniques: the exact Saaty method, the approximate Saaty method and the best-worst method. A panel of 14 experts in economics, finance and hospitality management participated in a Delphi-based survey to evaluate the relative importance and optimal values of each indicator. All methods ranked ROA as the most critical metric, followed by ROS and ROE, meanwhile, EBITDA margin and VAS were considered less significant, yet still essential, for a comprehensive assessment. Using sectoral data and applying normalised scoring, the index captures profitability trends from 2020 to 2023. The aim of the study is to develop a composite profitability index for the accommodation services sector in Slovakia, based on the identified limitations of traditional indicators. The results show a marked post-pandemic recovery, with profitability index scores rising steadily across all weighting methods. Notably, the best-worst method yielded consistently higher index values, indicating its sensitivity to prioritisation extremes. This composite index provides accommodation businesses and policymakers with a practical tool for benchmarking, strategic planning and improving long-term financial sustainability in a volatile and competitive environment, offering a multidimensional framework for evaluating financial performance.