What hinders hotels’ adoption of environmental technologies: A quantitative study

In response to our planet’s severe environmental problems, many businesses use environmental technologies to strengthen their environmental performance. However, the adoption rate of using such technologies in hotels is still slow, and very few quantitative studies have examined the reasons why. This study examined the barriers to environmental technology adoption in the Hong Kong hotel industry. We sent 648 questionnaires to the target sample and eventually received 102 completed responses. Seven barriers were identified: (1) monopolised after-sales service; (2) human resource limitations; (3) government and initial support; (4) financial performance; (5) lack of green knowledge and green network; (6) customer experience; and (7) environmental feasibility. An independent samples t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to investigate the relative significance of the seven barriers for different hotel demographic variables. This study offers specific theoretical and practical implications. Recommendations for the industry are also provided.     

Exploring the viability of a new ‘pay-as-you-use’ energy management model in budget hotels

Hotels consume significant amounts of energy, especially in guest rooms. Financial incentives can be given to hotel guests for conserving energy during their stay while financial penalties can be applied for excessive energy use. This can be achieved by deploying the smart energy meters (SEMs) in guest rooms that enable accurate energy monitoring and billing. This study explored the viability of a new business model for energy management in hotels underpinned by SEMs. Semi-structured interviews with managers of UK budget hotels revealed the determinants of industrial adoption of this new model. Despite positive appeal, the chances for the model’s immediate commercialisation were found slim due to its novelty and the market disruption potential held. To enhance the business viability of the proposed model, close integration of energy conservation targets into the corporate agenda of budget hotels is necessary coupled with dedicated policy support.     

Exploring the business feasibility of childcare provision in hotels

In light of continuous growth of family tourism hotels should consider providing childcare to family guests. Very few hotels have however embraced this market opportunity and the determinants of childcare provision in hotels remain poorly understood. This paper contributes to knowledge by exploring the business feasibility of providing childcare in hotels. Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, i.e. family guests (n = 20) and managers (n = 9), in UK hotels establish the numerous benefits of childcare provision. They also reveal such barriers of implementation as increased operational costs, lack of adequate staffing, children’s safety considerations and seasonality of family tourism demand. To enhance feasibility of childcare provision, hotels should collaborate with each other, but also with local nurseries, to resolve the issues of fluctuated demand and staffing. Hotels should further consider extending childcare provision to their own employees and local residents. Policy interventions can facilitate this by offering dedicated financial and training support.     

Political connections,guanxi and adoption of CSR policies in the Chinese hotel industry: Is there a link?

This research note examines the existence of a potential relationship between the political connections possessed by senior Chinese hotel managers and their adoption of corporate socially responsible (CSR) policies in the Chinese hotel industry. Given (a) China’s Green Hotel policy and (b) a broader context where, it is argued political connections and guanxi are a means by which the State seeks to advance desired economic reforms and counter corruption practice, it is suggested that those hotels with better political connections may show evidence of higher levels of awareness and adoption of CSR policies. The data are derived from a usable sample of 404 senior hotel managers. The findings show a positive relationship between the variables of ‘political connectedness’ and ‘CSR adoption’ in areas relating to environmental and philanthropic action, but less of a relationship in other CSR areas such as human resource management and guest relationships. The implications for future research are discussed.     

Barriers to EMS in the hotel industry

While some hotels have adopted the formal environmental management system (EMS) or the internationally recognised ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard for the sake of the environment—or other claimed benefits—many hotels are still standing at the crossroads in adopting EMS. This exploratory study was conducted with the aim of investigating the barriers to EMS in the hotel industry in Hong Kong SAR. Of the 330 questionnaires mailed, 83 were returned. Using exploratory factor analysis to identify interpretable orthogonal factors, six factors that hinder hotels from adopting formal EMS were identified and interpreted. They are: (1) lack of knowledge and skills; (2) lack of professional advice; (3) uncertainty of outcome; (4) certifiers/verifiers; (5) lack of resources; and (6) implementation and maintenance costs. Independent samples t-test and ANOVA analysis were also conducted to gain a better understanding of the significant differences in the identified six factors on the barriers to adopting and implementing EMS in the hotel industry among different hotel demographic variables. Implications of the findings are discussed, while recommendations are made to reduce the barriers inhibiting the adoption of EMS in the hotel industry.     

How “green” are North American hotels? An exploration of low-cost adoption practices

This study analyzed the so-called “green,” or environmentally friendly, practices of American hotels. As such, it examined how green hotels in the United States are regarding no-cost or low-cost practices. Respondents included 166 hotels, which were identified through a random sample of hotels from the American Hotel & Lodging Association and included chain and independent properties as well as properties of various sizes (based on the number of rooms). The study findings show that chain hotels were at the time of the study stronger adopters of green practices than independent hotels were, likely due to leveraging economies of scale through uniform corporate practices. In addition, hotels in the Midwest were found to be the most environmentally friendly in terms of their use of no-cost or low-cost green practices. Additional results indicated that size (classified by number of rooms) had little effect on the extent to which hotels were trying to manage energy consumption.     

Exploring the Financial Leakages in the Classified Hotels in Jordan: A Managerial Perspective

The study aimed to provide a better understanding of financial leakages in a sample of classified hotels in Jordan in terms of its reasons, its channels, and potential ways to reduce it from hotel managers’ perspective. Eighteen semistructured interviews were conducted with hotel managers. The results showed a high level of awareness regarding financial leakages by hotel managers. Furthermore, the main reasons for financial leakages included: the high cost of energy, the need to import products not produced locally, and the lack of awareness of sustainability practices. The main channels of financial leakages were: importing furniture and electronics, human resources, and food and beverages not produced in Jordan. The study’s main suggestions are to reduce financial leakages, especially energy consumption, and to increase trust in local products.     

How managerial ties affect hotels’ proactive environmental practices in China: The contingent role of institutional environments

Despite the increasing attention of environmental management in the hotel industry, few studies have examined how managerial ties impact hotels’ adoption of proactive environmental practices (PEPs) in China. Drawing on institutional theory, this study develops a model that investigates the differential effects of political ties and business ties on PEPs in the presence of important institutional factors. Using a primary survey and multiple secondary datasets on 190 Chinese hotels, we find that political ties inhibit a hotel’s adoption of PEPs whereas business ties facilitate PEPs. Moreover, advanced legal development and high levels of regional pollution reduce the impacts of both political ties and business ties on PEPs. We also test the relationship between PEPs and hotels’ financial performance. These findings provide novel insights into how managerial ties shape a hotel’s strategic behaviors for environmental protection under the influence of institutional environments in emerging economies.     

Resources and capabilities as drivers of hotel environmental marketing strategy: Implications for competitive advantage and performance

Building on the resource-based view, we develop a model of drivers and outcomes of environmentally friendly marketing strategies in the Greek hotel sector. Data collected from 152 hotels reveal that possessing sufficient physical and financial resources is instrumental in achieving effective green marketing strategies. In addition, shared vision and technology sensing/response capabilities help develop a sound environmentally friendly marketing strategy. In turn, the adoption of such a strategy is conducive to obtaining competitive advantage, which subsequently increases the potential to achieve superior market and financial performance. Furthermore, the study finds that the effect of environmental marketing strategy on competitive advantage is stronger in the case of intense competitive situations, while market dynamism has no moderating effect on this association. Several implications can be drawn from the study findings for both corporate and public policy makers and interesting directions for future research are provided.     

Corporate Social Responsibility and the Operationalization Challenge for Global Tourism Organizations

Tourism businesses have increasingly sought to contribute to society through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Larger tourism organizations normally seek to institutionalize CSR under their corporate CSR policy and strategy that is common for their whole organization. This presents challenges for organizations with global operations. This article examines the operationalization of CSR policy by hotel properties in coastal destinations in Thailand. The research found that stakeholders other than the hotels played pivotal roles in the implementation of CSR programs and that there was a preference for involvement by hotels in local projects, over those situated elsewhere in the country or internationally. These hotels tended to partner with other non-hotel stakeholders to execute their external CSR programs and for these to be directed at social issues rather than environmental issues. Overall it was concluded that there are limits to the extent that corporate headquarters may direct the implementation of CSR.     

Is robot hotel a future trend? Exploring the incentives,barriers and customers' purchase intention for robot hotel stays

To explore whether robot hotels will be a future trend, the main purpose of this study is to increase understanding of the incentives and barriers that influence customers' purchase intention (PI) for robot hotel stays. This study also explores how customers' tech-savviness moderates the causal relationships between incentives, barriers, and PI. Hotel customers in Taiwan were surveyed with a 6-part questionnaire; 408 responses were collected using convenience sampling. The data is analyzed with structural equation modeling (SEM). The research results indicate that incentives and barriers impact respondents' PI for robot hotel stays, with tech-savviness serving as moderators. This indicates that particular types of individuals (e.g., individuals more comfortable with technology and/or change) are more susceptible to the idea of robot hotels and are more willing to pay to stay at robot hotels. Other individual types may require additional incentives before choosing to patronize robot hotels.     

An analysis and assessment of environmental operating practices in hotel and resort properties

The objective of this research study is to examine the environmental operating practices of hotels and resorts to identify common operating activities and examples of ‘best practices’. The findings illustrate a lack of systemized measurement and documentation of utility consumption rates and costs in individualized properties. This study also finds that corporate benchmarks for utility consumption are not effective benchmarks for nonaffiliated hotels and resorts to achieve. This study also finds that the education of hotel owners and operators is the key to understanding the benefits of implementing environmental management practices.     

Environmental proactivity of hotel operations: Antecedents and the moderating effect of ownership type

This study examines the relative importance of three influential factors (stakeholder pressure, economic opportunities, and top managers’ personal environmental concern) in shaping managerial attitudes toward adoption of green programs in the hotel industry. The results, based on a sample of 235 top managers of hotels affiliated with three U.S. state hotel associations, suggest that stakeholder pressure is the most dominant predictor of managerial attitudes toward adoption of green programs followed by economic benefits and top managers’ personal environmental concern. In addition, the relationship between managerial attitudes toward adoption of environmental programs and organizational environmental commitment is found to be moderated by the ownership style. The relationship is stronger for independent hotels than for chain-affiliated hotels, indicating a more significant role of managerial discretion in implementing environmental strategies at the independent hotel setting than the chain hotel setting.     

Solid waste management in small hotels: a comparison of green and non-green small hotels in Wales

Solid waste generation and disposal is one of the most negative impacts of small hotels on the environment. Small hotels often pay little attention to their environmental responsibilities. This research builds upon an earlier work by the same authors considering solid waste management (SWM) issues in small Welsh hotels. It considers the Welsh Assembly Government's Green Dragon Environmental Standard (GDES) as an environmental management system developed specifically to target small and medium-sized enterprises and help them with aspects of environmental management, such as SWM. It explores SWM practices in green (i.e. GDES-accredited) and non-green small hotels and develops a best practice SWM model for them. Semi-structured interviews were used to investigate hoteliers’ attitudes and the barriers to implement sustainable SWM practices. The findings revealed that most non-GDES small hotels were highly reliant on landfill for the disposal of solid waste and felt negatively about the implementation of more sustainable SWM alternatives. In contrast, GDES small hotels used landfill as a last resort and targeted other waste hierarchy options in preference. The study develops a best practice model for policymakers (local authorities and UK central government) to influence and encourage better SWM practices in small hotels.     

Total quality management,corporate social responsibility and performance in the hotel industry

Total quality management (TQM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are relevant management philosophies in the hotel industry to be able to generate a sustainable competitive advantage. This paper examines how the implementation of both TQM and CSR influences the results of hotels’ stakeholders as an antecedent of business performance. An empirical study of a sample of 141 Spanish hotels from the Andalusian region shows that the adoption of such approaches improves the capacity of hotels to create benefits for their stakeholders, and these results have a positive effect on hotel performance. The study also provides evidence of the complementarity of both management philosophies as TQM can enhance the development of CSR.     

Investigating the accessibility factors affecting hotel satisfaction of people with physical disabilities

People with physical disabilities (PwPD) have various incompacities, use different assistive devices and can encounter many barriers in hotels. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of accessibility, disability types and forms of assistive devices on the hotel satisfaction of PwPD. A survey was conducted among PwPD who use mobility devices. Factor analysis revealed five accessibility dimensions: accessibility of public areas, rooms, recreation and other areas, baths in rooms, and food and beverage areas. Accessibility dimensions, disability types and forms of assistive devices had significant impact on the hotel satisfaction while accessibility of public, recreation and other areas, and baths in rooms were the strongest predictors of the satisfaction. People with acquired physical disabilities, powerchair and wheelchair users were the most disadvantaged group in hotels. Hotel satisfaction of PwPD is directly related to the accessibility of hotels. Insufficient and inaccessible areas have negative effect on this satisfaction.     

The importance of water management in hotels: a framework for sustainability through innovation

This paper highlights the global phenomenon of the crisis in the quality and quantity of water supplies and how tourism generally and hotels specifically may have contributed to the situation. The major internal and external barriers for Small Medium Enterprises adopting Environmental Management Systems, including water, are listed. The paper proposes a water management framework for hotels and other types of accommodation that leverages on the concept of innovation. Taking into account the various levels of knowledge and technological capabilities in water management, the framework is developed based on the commonly known 3R approach in environmental management, with the addition of another R (Reaching). It is proposed that hotels can innovate and enhance their water management approaches under these 4Rs: Innovative Reducing, Innovative Reusing, Innovative Reaching and Innovative Recycling. The framework offers examples and strategies about how hotels of different sizes, with differing financial, technical, knowledge and managerial capacities could address the challenge of implementing water management and obtain commercial benefit. A detailed case study is provided of a gray and black water recycling system in a Malaysian resort. Other examples of a range of water management methods are also discussed.     

Corporate Environmentalism in the Hotel Sector: Evidence of Drivers and Barriers in Penang,Malaysia

The linking of tourism businesses and their environmental impacts may be obscured by tourism's image as a ‘soft’ industry. This may explain why there are few studies of the drivers and barriers involved in corporate environmentalism, particularly within the context of developing countries where tourism is often a major foreign exchange earner. This paper narrows this gap by providing evidence about the drivers of and the barriers to corporate environmentalism in the hotel sector of Penang, Malaysia. Using qualitative data obtained via elite interviewing, document analysis and personal observation, the paper discusses the theoretical drivers of and barriers to corporate environmentalism in the study context. The findings indicate that without the introduction of more and stronger drivers, and without understanding and addressing the underlying barriers, instilling a sense of environmental responsibility in the hotel sector in Malaysia, as in other developing countries, may prove daunting.     

世界遗产地旅游企业环境行为及其驱动机制——张家界饭店企业实证

世界遗产地旅游企业的环境行为直接影响到区域环境质量.文章利用6大类33个环境行为指标,对世界自然遗产武陵源所在地张家界市的饭店企业环境行为进行测度;同时,构建饭店企业环境行为影响因素量表,运用多元线性回归分析方法,探析饭店企业环境行为的驱动机制.研究表明:张家界饭店企业环境行为总体均值得分较低(1.72);6个环境行为指标组的均值分别为1.82、1.70、1.63、2.02、1.59和1.43,其中,环保知识掌握、环境管理沟通和节水管理等3个方面的环境行为表现较为欠缺;在大多数环境行为指标的得分上,高星级饭店并未与低星级饭店、社会旅馆拉开明显差距;利润动机、政府环境规制压力和其他利益相关者压力是饭店企业环境行为的主要驱动因素;管理层环境意识和事业动机对饭店企业环境行为绩效没有显著影响.