José Luis Sánchez-Ollero

How Does Respect for the Environment Affect Final Prices in the Hospitality Sector? A Hedonic Pricing Approach

Hedonic pricing theory states that the price of a room is determined by a set of characteristics (e.g., structural, location, and environmental) of the establishment. Set within the framework of this methodology, and using raw data from the Quality, Productivity, and Competitiveness in the Hospitality Industry for Andalusia project, this article discusses the impact on room pricing of hotels implementing environmental sustainability measures based on a sample of 232 hotels (3-, 4-, and 5-stars) in Andalusia (Southern Spain). This sample is statistically representative of hotel accommodations in the region. A distinguishing feature of this study is the creation of a variable derived from the replies given by hotel managers to a questionnaire designed by the authors. The questionnaire presented questions about the measures the managers implemented in their establishments to improve environmental sustainability. The use of this variable in the semilogarithmic hedonic model suggests that the prices of hotel rooms are 5.15-percent higher for each environmentally sustainable measure implemented in the hotel; in some cases, the price increase could be as much as 36.05 percent. Other variables that were also introduced in the model yielded estimates consistent with those obtained in previous studies.

Eco-innovation and management: an empirical analysis of environmental good practices and labour productivity in the spanish hotel industry

Can the implementation of eco-innovation measures improve apparent labour productivity in hotel establishments? Based on data from a sample of 173 hotel establishments with three or more stars, this article suggests that these measures improve apparent labour productivity. We define the variable “eco-innovative” as an indicator of environmental management and introduce it in a widely-used production function with a set of control variables that represents some characteristics of the hotels for which we have information. The econometric results indicate that the implementation of additional eco-innovative practices increases labour productivity on average by 8.15%. However, the results also suggest that this increase occurs as a function of a certain level of investment in these types of environmental measures, after which level the variation in apparent labour productivity may become negative. The results obtained have managerial implications that should encourage hotel managers to reconsider their level of commitment to the implementation of eco-innovative practices.

Employer Size and Wages in the Hotel Industry

A labour market in which wages depend on employer size means the characteristics of the same job differ between firms. In the hotel industry, the data indicate significant differences in the nature of the job according to the size of the establishment. This topic has been analysed for many economic sectors but, as far as we know, not for the hotel industry. The first aim of this paper was to establish whether there was a similar positive relationship between employer size and wages in the hotel industry. The second aim was to account for wage premia earned by workers employed by larger hotels taking into account the specific characteristics of each establishment. To achieve these aims, four hypotheses on productivity, labour quality, working conditions and internal labour markets were tested. Based on adding the productivity measure, the results show that this variable accounts for 17.8% of the establishment-size wage premium. Similar results were obtained when adding our own measures of working conditions. However, the size–wage relationship remains almost unaffected when controlling for labour quality and internal labour market variables.

Measuring the effects of quality certification on labour productivity: an analysis of the hospitality sector.

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of quality certifications on apparent labour productivity in a sample of hotels in Spain. Design/methodology/approach – In line with Mairesse and Kremp (1993), the theoretical model was based on a Cobb–Douglas production function readapted to the goals of the study. Findings – The descriptive results show that labour productivity increases only when certifications and quality standards specific to the hospitality industry are implemented and the tourist destination is committed to quality. The econometric analysis shows that the hotel category, belonging to a chain, and outsourcing services have a positive impact on labour productivity. In contrast, the location of the establishment in areas other than the coast or the capital city of a province has a negative effect on labour productivity. Of the quality models and certifications studied, only the Spanish Q-Mark certificate significantly improves hotel productivity (an average increase of 23....

Educational mismatch and returns on human capital in the Spanish hospitality and travel agency sectors.

The authors analyse the returns on human capital and the importance of educational mismatch in determining wages in the Spanish hospitality and the travel agency sectors. In addition, they assess the impact of several job characteristics (business size, full-time contracts and permanent contracts) and personal characteristics (gender and worker nationality) on wages. Using an expanded Mincerian wage equation and data from the 2006 Spanish Wage Structure Survey, they estimate separate regressions for each educational group analysed: overeducated, undereducated and adequately educated workers. The results show that the return on human capital and the real hourly wage may be quantitatively influenced by educational mismatch. Moreover, evidence is presented regarding the impact of firm size on wage returns and the data also reveal wage differentials by the gender and nationality of workers in the Spanish hospitality industry.

Impact of introducing eco-innovation measures on productivity in transport sector companies

ABSTRACT This paper analyses the impact of factors related to innovation and the environment, among others, on labour productivity in the Spanish transport sector. The methodological approach used in this study was based on the CDM structural model. The main advantage of this model is its capacity to integrate investment in R&D and the generation of knowledge and production innovation. The data used in the estimations were obtained from the Technological Innovation Panel (PITEC) database. PITEC is a panel-type database jointly prepared by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT). The econometric results show that reducing the environmental impact has a statistically significant and positive effect at all stages of the innovative process and above all on labour productivity of transport firms, where the improvement of labour productivity can reach 8.35% compared to non-ecoinnovative companies. This finding could alert firms in the transport sector to the need to improve their activities by adopting environmentally proactive attitudes.