Purpose This study examines the intellectual evolution of technology-related research in hospitality and tourism between 2008 and 2024, explaining how foundational adoption theories and emerging technological themes co-evolve within digitally transforming service ecosystems. Design/methodology/approach A bibliometric analysis of 953 peer-reviewed articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection was conducted using integrated co-citation and co-word techniques to map the field's intellectual structure and longitudinal thematic progression. Findings Behavioral adoption frameworks, particularly TAM, TPB, and UTAUT, remain structurally central but are increasingly embedded within broader constructs of trust, governance, and organizational readiness. Four dominant knowledge domains emerge: digital transformation and strategic innovation; technology-enabled value creation; technology acceptance in service contexts; and user-generated content and online information ecosystems. The field has evolved from early ICT-focused research on websites and social media toward artificial intelligence, big data analytics, immersive technologies, and workforce adaptation. This progression signals a shift from predicting adoption intention to theorizing digitally mediated service ecosystem transformation. Research limitations/implications The analysis is limited to English-language Web of Science publications and bibliometric methods. Practical implications Effective digital transformation requires systemic alignment of technology adoption, workforce capability, and governance structures. Social implications Trust, ethical oversight, and human–technology integration are increasingly central to digitally mediated service environments. Originality/value By integrating dual bibliometric techniques, this study advances a theory-integrative, 17-year longitudinal mapping that moves beyond descriptive productivity reviews. It clarifies how theoretical continuity and technological disruption interact and consolidates a multi-level framework for hospitality technology research.
Park et al. (2026) studied this question.