Sustainable Practices in Hospitality

This assignment delves into the growing importance of sustainable practices within the hospitality industry. It examines research on the effects of these practices on customer satisfaction, operational performance, and industry trends. Students are encouraged to analyze case studies, evaluate the effectiveness of various sustainability initiatives, and propose strategies for promoting responsible practices in hotels and tourism businesses.

Sustainable Hospitality
Management

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Critically evaluate hospitality industry contribution on economic, social and environmental
issue........................................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
Impact of different issues on hospitality industry..................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
Importance of corporate sustainable management.................................................................6
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
Relevant industry example.....................................................................................................7
Links between theory and practice.........................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Sustainable hospitality management is a wide concept which helps in understanding
different aspects of the hotel industry (Xu and Gur soy, 2015). There are different issues which
are present in the hospitality industry. These issues will be discussed in the given report along
with their effect on the profitability of same. There are different sections like environmental,
social and economic due to which the operations of company get highly affected. These issues
will be highlighted in the following study. Thereafter, the below text will highlight incorporation
of sustainability management in the hospitality industry.
TASK 1
Critically evaluate hospitality industry contribution on economic, social and environmental issue
Sustainable issues are related to various factors such as social, environmental and
economic which is strongly connected with the country’s economy. It is helpful in modifying
practical form and gives adaptability to the business operations. Sustainability is the activity
which solve all major issues. In hospitality industry, they are trying to work together with
different issues and help in improving them in an effective manner (Radwan, Jones and Miaoli,
2012). Royal National Hotel is situated in the United Kingdom. They provide the best quality
services and products to their customers. They are trying to deal with these three types of issues
that includes social, environment and economic which make contribution on the hospitality
sector.
Environmental issues:
There are various environmental issues or problems which arises within an organisation
which are discussed as under: Water usage- It is one of the major issues which directly put its impact on these sectors.
In resorts and restaurants, they waste many litres of water for attracts their guest by
making showers and ponds (Barber, Deale and Goodman, 2011). In all restaurant, dishes
are made by using water and without water they cannot make any food. They also use
water in maintaining greenery and healthy environment for their customers. Wastage of food items- At that time food are preparing the hotels are waste water and
then many food items are also not used, and this is put in the dustbin. It will highly
impact on environment, the action of throw food is not good and in that place, they are
produce more if they are not throw it.
1

 Pollution- This is also creating bad impact on environment and it is another type of issue
which has high output of natural gas, coal, gasoline, oil etc. They are some elements
which are used for saving energy and used in transportation. The pollution is making big
problem to hospitality industry (Why sustainability should be a core subject in hospitality
management. 2017). Energy usage- It is highly impact on hotels. This includes resorts, hotels, restaurants,
electricity and gas which is used by tourist and others.
 Scraps and wastage- It is very essential to became products which can be recycled, and
environment will not waste and trash in garbage (Xu and Gur soy, 2015). It will impact
on environment; the hotel cannot throw their waste materials in dustbin, but they usually
throw that in the water.
Social Issues:
Social issues are directly impact on hospitality industry are given below: Increased importance on health and well-being- This is one of the most important thing
that hotels are firstly take care of their guest health and provide quality products which
are suitable for them. They basically make that goods which are mainly demanded by
customers and analyse social issues. Need of technological- This is essential for hotels to adopt new and latest technologies
which assist in improving growth and development to the firm. Cited hotel is deal with
this issue for update their methods and tools and attracts large number of customers. Highly attracts international clients- They are mostly gain attention of global people who
are come for seeing famous places and this industry provide facilities such as
accommodation, food, transportation etc. Follow rules and regulations- It is that social issue which normally occurs during the
year (Waling, Clarke and Hawkins, 2013). It directly put impact on hotel’s policies and
plans and highly impact on their business operations. It will slow the work of this
industry and they required to change their rules or norms according to authority made.
This will also give outcome which relates to develop new plans and strategies that assist
in promoting their facilities and gain attention of domestic as well as international guest.
2

 Adopt changes- It is essential for this industry that they will necessary to adopt changes
which directly impact on their business operations (Sempai, Thomas and Font, 2012).
They should provide new and modify items and products which are liked by customers.
Economic issues: Create jobs- In UK, hospitality industry provide almost 2.9 million jobs to
unemployment people and it has increased their growth approx. 9%. Their net
employment growth rate is 17% and it mainly contribute to private sectors. Services provided- In UK, this industry stood fourth position in employment point of
view (Meissen, 2013). After that business services and gives many different types of
facilities to their people. Provide tax relief- It will also provide more jobs, and this increase the level of growth
and development in UK. Only hospitality get relief by government by authorities are
players because they contribute huge amount in their funds. It is main factor which
required to minimise their capital and attract large number of customers towards them.
They also develop innovative and creative products and services which will serve and
offers in the market place. Increased GDP- The largest portion of share of UK are come to the hospitality industry.
But south west is the largest focusing of management of hospitality sector. It has
contributed an estimation profit of approx. 57 billion in 2014. The gross domestic
products rate is almost 4% in current time. Hospitality industry has given approx. 41
billion to the country in appropriate manner. In 2014, this will invest capital in foreign
exchange export income that is about 10 billion. It has also estimate that in this year their
GDP rate is increased in recent time.
 Capital investment- In 2014, the average of total investment in UK economy which is
made by hospitality sector. The total gross profit is approx. 5 billion which is predicted in
future time (Mock, Sparks and Damply, 2013). It has also invested huge capital in the
country. The direct impact of capital investment is large in the country.
These are some issues which is important for all hospitality industry. They required to
focus on them and try to improve them in effective manner. They should try to invest capital in
large amount value. Also, Royal hotel can environmental factors and their business operations.
They try to solve these issues because it highly contributes in the hospitality industry. This will
3

analyse that the gross domestic product of economy will directly impact on country hospitality
industry.
TASK 2
Impact of different issues on hospitality industry AND PROFITABILITY
As the surroundings of every organisation are dynamic it keeps on developing challenges
for an enterprise to operate. Travel and tourism is a huge business and keeps on encountering
different external changes which creates issue for it and hence effect its profitability. Factors like
environment, social and economic are the major three sustainability problems which has its great
effect on the growth of tourism industry. To understand the effect of each they are discussed
below in detail under different headings.
Environmental issues
These are the problems which are related to the surroundings (Prud’-homme and
Raymond, 2013). With the continuous increase in the present population issues related to
environment are also increasing and hence effecting the tourism and hospitality sector. It is
important that their effects are minimised, and steps are taken against the same. Some of the
major concerns of environment which has their direct impact of hospitality profitability are
discussed below under different heads:
1. Water use – It is observed that the bigger a hotel is more will be the wastage of water
bodies. It is due to the reason that customers do not realise the importance of water and
do its wastage. Huge pools are constructed in big hotels to attract visitors and hence
wastage of water is done maximum in this. Those who stay in hotels take long guest
showers which ultimately create issue for the management as they must incur high cost
on maintaining the required level of water facilities and hence their expenditure increases
which has its direct impact on the company’s profitability.
2. Pollution – Unorganized dumping of garbage or emission of gas in the nearby areas
effect the location quality of a hotel. If it is observed that a nice construction of hotel
building is done but if its surroundings are polluted by other units than it will have direct
impact on the customer choice as it will not be considered as fit for stay and hence the
revenue will be greatly affected.
3. Food waste – When people get something as complimentary they do not actually realise
the value of same. They do waste of the same and do not consider the cost incurred in
4

making it fit for their use. This also adds to the cost of the company and hence effects to
profit margins.
4. Energy usage – To influence customer’s use of fancy and high voltage lights is done
(Tsang and Hsu, 2011). A major portion of company’s expenditure is done in this
department which further affects the ratio of profit.
Social issue
It consists of any social disturbance which take place in the society and has great effect
on the mind-set of different individuals. People from different culture support and encourage
distinct beliefs which further leads to rise in the conflicts due dissimilar interest of people. Apart
from this unfair use of social media sites also effects to the hospitality industry. People post fake
comments to decrees the value of one organisation in front of the other. As in the present world
customers are so much aware that they go truth the feedbacks of different customers before
choosing their destination, any negative publicity of a place changes the mind-set of an
individual. This way it becomes difficult for a hotel or resort to sustain in the competitive market
and hence loses its hold.
Economic issues
The state of economy of a country keeps on fluctuating. It brings chance in the rate of
labour in which it is available to the hospitality industry. At times when the economy is
experiencing a downfall the given sector must reduce the price of its services to attract more
customers due to the reason that to cove the running cost it is important that some amount of
continuity in the visitors is maintained. Hence, the owners of various visiting place reduce their
profit margins and continue their operations even at very minimal profit level. Also, in case
when the price of labour increases it becomes difficult to recruit employees as it effects to the
profitability of the company. As the industry is labour intensive it cannot substitute this cost with
some other cheap resources. Apart from this, in the construction of hotels and resorts, huge funds
are required which demands much cash. The primary source for the investors are loans which at
the time of inflation are available at high interest rates. When loans are provided at high cost it
brings pressure on the unit to repay the amount on time and hence reduces the profit margins.
5

TASK 3
Importance of corporate sustainable management
By contributing to healthier world organization sustainability can improve population
health. It can improve the experience of patient by improving environment of hospital and try to
improve perceptions of public related to the hospital's products and services. By reducing health
care expenses sustainability can also reduce the per capita price of health care in hospitals. Day
by day advantage of sustainability increase more than ever before in the economic environment.
It also helps hospital to reduce their costs so that normal people can also take products and
services easily. It protects the scarce resource to save environment and contribute something
towards society and environment. There is so many benefits of cooperate sustainability
management in hospitals. Some of them are define as follows:
The image of hospital improves in the economy by maintaining corporate sustainability
hospital contribute towards the society, public and environment. The high turnover reduces by
providing good working environment to their employees in the hospital and they retain with
association for long period of time because of good facilities. It helps to improve the financial
facility operations of the association which can help to association to maintain stability in market
for long period of time. Hospitality organisation considered lean approaches for their growth and
development, through placing greater values towards society by reducing pollution and there will
be less wastage while manufacturing process. The largest portion of UK comes in hospitality
with increasing population in the country more issues are created in the society.
To solve issues and problem they mainly focus on sustainability so that people do not
face problem. Wastage of resources in hospitality is very critical part. Sustainability help to
reduce wastage of natural resources. Every hospital need to look over the amount which is
generated in the associated cost or process of care. There is so many hospitals who do not know
how to spend resources and management in effective way as they have various variety of
wastages by different departments which are operated within the hospitals. Hospital's waste falls
in various categories which are as hazardous waste, pharmaceutical waste, regulated medical
waste or recycled waste. Sustainability help in reducing all this factors from hospitality and
increase their level of profit in the economy.
There are so many reasons why organisations or hospitals to embrace the environmental
sustainability to achieve their vision or mission in certain period. Environmental sustainability
6

schemes help to provide extra benefits of heath care products and services to the public. It also
helps to enhance the performance of hospitals by giving effectively and effectively services to
patients such as enhance the employee’s as well patient experience in the hospitals (Schubert and
et. al., 2010). It also supports culture and high reliability system of association which help to
increase their level of profit and productivity. Suitability initiatives help to save costs and extra
time by consuming resources well manner to reduce wastages. The also help to enhance the
perception of public within the community by promoting health or well-being of patients as well
as staff.
Relevant industry example
MAKE PESTLE ANALYSIS, WITH EXAMPLE FROM MARRIOT
There are several concepts that are applied in hospitality industry when talking about
sustainable hospitality management. These concepts are being prat iced in the industry at various
levels. Some of the relevant examples are discussed here.
Hotel companies are applying the best practices to save environment like they are making
use of solar power plants for heating water that is being used in various purposes (Kapok, 2012).
Use of microwaves for instant and low temperature needed foods is another such practice. In
generating waste, they have adopted the procedures of reducing 1 kg of waste per day. There is a
lot amount of waste that is generated in extra remaining food. For this purpose, companies are
advising to make limited amount of food on the instant demands, this may lead to longer waiting
time for consumers, but it is highly effective in reducing waste (Benavides-Velasco, Quintana-
García and March ante-Lara, 2014).
Many of the hotels are making use of practices that will make optimum utilisation of their
resources like for the cooking purpose they are using the stoves that are electrically operated this
reduces the fuel consumptions like LPG.
Concept of use of transport sharing for many of the purposes are making reduction in the
profit margin as well as it is making optimum utilisation of fuels as well as the cost on the
transport industry. This is most common practice in airlines industry where their same flights
route is being extended if required.
The water resources are utilised in optimum manner so that waste is generated in sanitary
facility can be treated inside hotel itself and can be used for watering of gardens where there is
large requirement of water (You and Bai, 2013). Use of the taps which are automatically
7

operated using sensors that detects the presence of obstacle. It can help in saving large amount of
water that is wasted without being utilised properly as there is no manual interventions in
opening and closing of taps.
PESTLE analysis of Marriott
 Political: There are various political changes that are going on in and around the world. It
is important for the Marriot hotels to check their impact so that their business growth
remains intact. Some of the major political issues that this hotel face are terrorism and
international relations.
 Economic: This company is able to manage the financial condition of its business even
after so much of political instability all around the globe. The slowdown in American
economy has further raised the problem for this company.
 Social: Society is changing and hence there is demand is also changing at faster rate.
There is increment in the number of people who are travelling far across the globe hence
it is a positive sign for this firm.
 Technological: Since there are large amount of technological changes that are taking
place in various industry and so is in the hospitality industry. Marriot hotels have to apply
various strategies for making their reach to large amount of customers.
 Legal: Since the legalities have changed like in employment and consumer laws and
hence Marriot has to take care of that so as to run their business successfully.
 Environment: Since the environment is changing and hence Marriot have to introduce
new plans so that they can reduce the amount of waste generated from various operations.
Links between theory and practice
There are many practices that are used in the hospitality industry that will help companies
in growing at a faster rate. The theoretical concept that is relevant in this concept are practically
applied which can be seen that they are practically implemented in the hospitality industry (Chen
and et. al., 2011). The theory of optimum utilisation of resources and making use of best
8

practices in the industry is saving the resources for future use like taking use of non-renewable
resources has been reduced considerably.
Companies are making efforts on reducing the waste that is harming the environment
(Pizza, Oculus and Hutchinson, 2013). Making use of the concept of recycling is making it easier
for these companies to reduce its waste generation.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, this has been summarised that hospitality industry faces various
issues in the market. Due to change in the economic or environmental change, problem arises for
this sector which has its direct connection with the level of profit margins. Various issues have
their own degree of effect on the enterprise and to minimise the same, it is important that actions
are taken against them. It is necessary that effects of each are reduced to minimum so that
expansion can be done. Value of sustainability management is provided in the above text which
shows that it plays an important role in reducing the effects of various issues. There are various
concepts that have been practically given in this regard and now, they are incorporated in the
industry. It can be seen by many examples from the industry as mentioned above.
9

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Xu, X. and Gur soy, D., [2015] A conceptual framework of sustainable hospitality supply chain
management. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management. 24(3). pp.229-259.
Barber, N., Deale, C. and Goodman, R., [2011]. Environmental sustainability in the hospitality
management curriculum: Perspectives from three groups of stakeholders. Journal of
Hospitality & Tourism Education. 23(1). pp.6-17.
Xu, X. and Gur soy, D., [2015]. Influence of sustainable hospitality supply chain management on
customers’ attitudes and behaviours. International journal of hospitality management. 49.
pp.105-116.
Waling, V. M., Clarke, J. and Hawkins, R., [2013]. Implementing sustainable tourism: A multi-
stakeholder involvement management framework. Tourism management. 36. pp.342-353.
Meissen, F., [2013]. Sustainable hospitality: a meaningful notion? Journal of Sustainable
Tourism. 21(6). pp.810-824.
Mock, C., Sparks, B. and Damply, J., [2013]. Service quality management in hospitality, tourism,
and leisure. Routledge.
Prud’-homme, B. and Raymond, L., [2013]. Sustainable development practices in the hospitality
industry: An empirical study of their impact on customer satisfaction and
intentions. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 34. pp.116-126.
Tsang, N. K. and Hsu, C. H., [2011]. Thirty years of research on tourism and hospitality
management in China: A review and analysis of journal publications. International
Journal of Hospitality Management. 30(4). pp.886-896.
Schubert, F. and et. al., [2010]. Exploring consumer perceptions of green restaurants in the
US. Tourism and Hospitality Research. 10(4). pp.286-300.
10

Kapok, S.T., [2012]. Quality management in tourism and hospitality: An exploratory study
among tourism stakeholders.
Benavides-Velasco, C.A., Quintana-García, C. and March ante-Lara, M., [2014]. Total quality
management, corporate social responsibility and performance in the hotel industry.
International Journal of Hospitality Management. 41. pp.77-87.
You, M. and Bai, B., [2013]. Customer loyalty marketing research: A comparative approach
between hospitality and business journals. International Journal of Hospitality
Management. 33. pp.166-177.
Chen, C.J., and et. al., [2011]. College and university dining services administrators' intention to
adopt sustainable practices: results from US institutions. International Journal of
Sustainability in Higher Education. 12(2). pp.145-162.
Pizza, A., Oculus, F. and Hutchinson, J., [2013]. Forming a long-term industry-university
partnership: The case of Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Worldwide
Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 5(3), pp.244-254.
Sempai, A.R., Thomas, R. and Font, X., [2012]. Small business management and environmental
engagement. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 20(2). pp.179-193.
Radwan, H.R., Jones, E. and Miaoli, D., [2012]. Solid waste management in small hotels: a
comparison of green and non-green small hotels in Wales. Journal of sustainable
tourism. 20(4). pp.533-550.
Online
Why sustainability should be a core subject in hospitality management. 2017. Available through:
<https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4067506.html>. [Accessed on 17th October 2017].
11