GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN HOTELS: IMPLICATION FOR NIGERIA

Abstract

The hospitality industry is considered to have relatively lower environmental footprint than other sectors. Hotels have however being identified as the most significant contributor to environmental degradation, pollution and climate change, due to the use of acute amount of water and energy; and while at this emit huge amounts of greenhouse gases. Numerous studies has been conducted on environmentally sustainable policies and practices (ESPPs) at the global scene; however, there hardly exists a compendium of information of their findings. This study provides a systematic review of 20 scholarly articles on ESPPs globally. More so, a website analysis of 10 most prominent hotels in Nigeria was carried out. The review revealed that ESPPs in global hotels are in seven main categories namely energy efficiency, waste management, water efficiency, staff training, environmental awareness, eco-certifications, and offering of eco products. There is a variation in the adoption of ESPPs, with more prominence amongst chain hotels than independent ones. The most important factors influencing adoption of ESPPs include owners and shareholders’ interests, staff education/training and government regulations. ESPPs in hotels has the capacity of reducing operational costs while enhancing technical efficiencies; and beyond this can facilitate enhancing green satisfaction, willingness to pay a premium, loyalty and brand equity. The website analysis shows that none of the hotels included their ESPPs, suggesting low priority and perceived importance. Based on this, the adoption of ESPPs and rightly communicating this to the public is strongly advised within the Nigerian hotel industry’ and beyond this in other tourism and hospitability ventures.