The strategy behind hotels going green

by

Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

Abstract

Environmental management and sustainability have been recent important issues in the hospitality industry. The hotel industry, as a main sector of the hospitality industry, has benefited from environmental initiatives through improving corporate image and increasing resource and energy efficiency. Among various environmental issues that have been addressed in the hotel industry, managerial influence on environmental management is rarely investigated.

The purpose of this study was to examine the current state of environmental management in the hotel industry. Further, this study also determined a relationship between top managers' personal environmental attitudes and organizational involvement in environmental management practices. To achieve the purpose of this study, this study examined currently adopted green practices, top managers' environmental attitudes, and their perception of advantages derived from environmental management.

Hotels that participated in this study showed greater involvement in energy management, water conservation, and waste management practices than hotels examined by previous research in different geographical areas. The results of this study showed a correlation between top managers' environmental attitudes and organizational involvement in environmental management. It was also found that top managers' environmental attitudes were positively related to their perceived advantages of environmental management. These findings present various managerial and theoretical implications for related organizations and hotel management companies.

The hotel industry should keep promoting green hotel practices to reduce negative impacts on the valuable environment and increase operational efficiency. In order to promote environmental management in the hotel industry, related organizations, governments, and stakeholders need to focus on raising top managers' environmental awareness as well as providing information on successful cases of environmental management.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION4

Introduction4

Problem Statements5

The Purpose of the Study8

Research Questions9

Summary9

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE11

Introduction11

Environmental Management in the Hotel Industry11

Main drivers of going green12

Current environmental management in the hotel industry16

Energy management16

Water conservation19

Waste reduction and recycling21

Green Certifications and Programs22

Summary25

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY28

Introduction28

Research Design and Procedure28

Sample29

Instrumentation29

Environmental attitudes30

Environmental management practices and organizational involvement31

Perceived advantages of environmental management32

Research Hypotheses32

Analysis33

CHAPTER IV: RESULTS34

Introduction34

Response Rate34

General Demographics35

Environmental Management Practices39

Hypothesis Testing41

The relationship between environmental attitudes and environmental management42

Summary43

CHAPTER V: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS45

Introduction45

Discussion of Findings45

Environmental management in hotels45

Energy management46

Water conservation48

Waste management49

Environmental management systems49

Conclusion54

REFERENCES57

Chapter I: Introduction

Introduction

Sustainability and environmental management have become one of the most critical management issues facing companies in a wide range of industries as well as hospitality firms as a result of growing environmental awareness among consumers, governments and social groups and employees. Reflecting this large scale trend, a number of research initiatives have been made to address these emerging issues in the hospitality industry context. The focus has been on identifying environmental management initiatives some green hotels have been making ...