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Barriers and drivers of environmental sustainability: Australian hotels

Ajay Khatter (Department of Higher Education, William Angliss Institute of TAFE, Melbourne, Australia)
Leanne White (Independent Researcher, Melbourne, Australia)
Joanne Pyke (School for the Visitor Economy, College of Business, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia)
Michael McGrath (College of Business, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia)

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management

ISSN: 0959-6119

Article publication date: 10 June 2021

Issue publication date: 6 July 2021

2941

Abstract

Purpose

The paper presents the findings of research into the barriers to and drivers of environmentally sustainable policies and practices (ESPPs) in the Australian hotel industry. This study aims to explore these drivers and barriers from the perspective of hotel managers and involve a range of hotels with different hotel industry profiles and management structures.

Design/methodology/approach

The study conducted one-on-one interviews with hotel managers to explore the barriers to and drivers of ESPPs. The purpose of the sample and sample size was to ensure representation of different segments of the hotel industry to include international chain affiliated hotels, Australian chain affiliated hotels and independent hotels.

Findings

An analysis of the findings suggests that the major barriers to implementing and sustaining environmental sustainability in the Australian hotel industry are time, financial challenges, availability of resources and the views and imperatives of hotel owners and shareholders. The major drivers are financial, marketing, owner and shareholder interests and guest preferences. These stakeholders play a major role in creating both barriers and drivers.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the results, this study can modify the application of stakeholder theory to a degree and argue that stakeholders need to co-operate further to drive sustainability. This study demonstrates that management of environmental sustainability is a challenge for many hotels and there is a particular need for small and independent hotels to embrace environmental sustainability to keep pace with their larger counterparts.

Originality/value

This study is broadly informed by the stakeholder theory. Owners, shareholders and associated stakeholders have a significant influence over environmental sustainability in the Australian hotel industry and they create both drivers and barriers. Responses from hotel managers in this research demonstrate that owners act as a barrier to as well as a driver of environmental sustainability initiatives in the Australian hotel industry.

Keywords

Citation

Khatter, A., White, L., Pyke, J. and McGrath, M. (2021), "Barriers and drivers of environmental sustainability: Australian hotels", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 33 No. 5, pp. 1830-1849. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-08-2020-0929

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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