The hotel industry plays an important role in reducing society’s overall environmental footprint. However, achieving meaningful progress depends not only on hotel operators themselves, but also on the many external stakeholders who shape and influence decision-making. A study led by Prof. WANG Dan, Associate Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) and Professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, proposes a new framework to help the industry strengthen environmental management through more effective stakeholder engagement.
Based on case studies of five international hotel chains in Beijing and Shanghai, the research examined how the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives was influenced by multiple stakeholder groups. It shows that hotel owners, employees, guests, industry associations and local communities all affect the outcomes of sustainability initiatives.
Drawing on stakeholder theory, the researchers classified stakeholders according to three criteria: by power, legitimacy and urgency. Hotel owners and employees were identified as “definitive” stakeholders because of their direct influence over the design and delivery of green practices. However, owners’ commitment to such initiatives was often limited by cost concerns and return-on-investment considerations, particularly in relation to the introduction of new technologies aimed at reducing energy use and emissions.
The study also highlights the need for staff training and clearer communication with guests. The paper, titled “Pathway to Environmental Management in the Hotel Industry: A Stakeholder Engagement Framework”, has been published in the Journal of China Tourism Research.
Read the full paper:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19388160.2024.2374726#abstract
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| Research Units | Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism |
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