Sustainability in Hospitality
How Innovative Hotels are Transforming the Industry
Edited by Miguel Angel Gardetti and Ana Laura Torres
This book intends to explore the different dimensions of sustainability within the hospitality industry. The call for papers for this book attracted 23 submissions, 19 of which were invited to the second round for full manuscript review. Finally, and with the help of the review panel throughout this process, 14 high-quality papers were selected which deal with essential aspects of sustainability in the hospitality sector. At this point we would like to make a clarification: at the end of the collection of papers we have added an article that, given the current importance of the topic it addresses, we considered should be included.
The book is divided into two parts: In the first one we have gathered the chapters referring to “The relevance of business sustainability in the hospitality sector”. The second part of the book refers to the practice of sustainability within the sector, and thus bringing together several case studies developed in this field.
Part I begins with the chapter written by Theresa Bauer, titled “Human rights obligations of international hotel chains”. Arguing that the issue of human rights in the hospitality industry has rarely been explicitly dealt with, the author examines the human rights obligations and responses of three international hotel chains.
In the following chapter, “The relevance of business sustainability in the hotel industry”, by Zabihollah Rezaee and Eun Kyong Choi, the authors examine five dimensions of sustainability performance, namely EGSEE (economic, governance, social, ethical and environmental) and their relevance to the hotel industry. Following this, Susan Tinnish presents “Strategic decision elements for hotel managers embarking on a sustainable supply chain management initiative”. The author contends that this chapter will allow hotel managers to think more purposefully about the role of supply chains and the opportunity they represent for developing sustainable initiatives.
In turn, Duane Windsor, in his work “Exotic tourism to very fragile locations: Sustainable value creation in environmentally and socially fragile locations”, examines the theory and practice of sustainable value creation for environmentally and socially fragile locations attracting increasing exotic tourism. The chapter explains how stakeholder management theory and TBL (triple bottom line) performance theory should be combined with environmental stewardship for sustainable exotic tourism.
Then, in the chapter titled “The role of leadership and organizational competencies in corporate social responsibility programs”,written by Susan Tinnish and Kevin D. Lynch, the authors identify—through the use of a model—key competencies required to embed sustainability into a culture and create sustainable CSR programs for hotels.
Following this, and in order to gain an overview of extant definitions of sustainability and value, Ruth Mattimoe, author of the chapter “Effective delivery of the finance function and sustainable business in hotels in the British Isles”, presents a deep review of the professional accountancy literature.
With the chapter “Evolving towards truly sustainable hotels through a ‘well-being’ lens: the S-WELL sustainability grid”, Gulen Z. Hashmi and Katrin Muff aim to provide hotels, academia and students with an analytical tool for understanding and challenging hotel sustainability strategies and practices to benefit society at large.
In the eighth chapter titled “The Swiss ibex sustainability scheme: A comprehensive sustainability orientation for hotels”, Arthur Braunschweig and Domenico Saladino present the “ibex fairstay”, a label for hotels denoting the hotels’ level of sustainability performance and management. Its structure and methodology, as well as some learnings from participating hotels and across all ibex certified houses, are described.
In the following chapter John Hirst, author of “Can hotels educate consumers about sustainability?”, presents a very interesting project, delivered as an MBA at Durham University Business School, which seeks to link theory to practice in a way that can make a distinctive contribution to the quest for sustainability.
Part II begins with the work of Alison Dempsey titled “A resort for generations—Maintaining, protecting, renewing, improving”. This case study is intended to exemplify how a small resort is making steps to increase and protect its environment, community and commitment to a sustainable future while recognizing the inherent limitations and challenges of scale and cost for a smaller enterprise.
In turn, Benjamin H. Gill and Beverly K. Burden present “Optimizing performance of a remote African hotel: Using the One Planet Living framework to maximize the sustainability performance of Singita Gruneti in Tanzania”. Through the analysis of this case, the authors aim to demonstrate that it is possible to enjoy a high quality of life within the productive capacity of the planet.
The following contribution, “Business and sustainable tourism: Sextantio—a case study”, written by Salvatore Moccia, presents the case of Sextantio, a company that focuses on the reclamation of abandoned areas to create hotels.
In order to better understand motivations towards an adopted practice in a competitive environment, Marlon Delano Nangle, in his chapter “Compliance or the deviant response: Implementation patterns of the TTTIC quality practice in Trinidad & Tobago”, studies the implementation patterns of a quality practice that has been introduced to the tourist accommodation industry in the Caribbean republic. He examines which factors lead managers to interpret the practice as an opportunity for gain versus a threat of loss. Closing this selection of contributions, the chapter written by Fran Hughes, “Human trafficking: Why it’s time for the hotel industry to act”, provides facts, figures and practical information to help a hotel or hotel company understand the issue of human trafficking and its implications to the business. It also includes a selection of case studies highlighting best practice from the hotel sector.
In closing, these diverse contributions certainly offer a wide and representative compilation of writings on the subject. Note that this initiative has received a large international response. We hope this book represents a major step forward in expanding the knowledge base of the relationship between hospitality and sustainability and that it continues to stimulate further debate.