Sonya Graci

Why Go Green? The Business Case for Environmental Commitment in the Canadian Hotel Industry

ABSTRACT Despite several studies, international treaties and individual organizations commitment to going green in the tourist hotel industry, there has been limited discussion of the business case for implementing environmental practices. Several hotels have determined that there are numerous benefits to greening their hotel operations; however, there is still a gap between attitude and action in this industry. Cost savings; competitive advantage; employee loyalty; customer retention; regulatory compliance; risk management and social responsibility have been identified as the benefits to environmental commitment however with very limited discussion and proof in relation to the hotel industry. This paper seeks to identify the business case for environmental commitment with a focus on the Canadian hotel industry. Concrete examples of benefits that apply to this industry are discussed as well as future trends that support the case that going green is necessary for an economically viable and efficiently run hotel.

Does the tourist care? A comparison of tourists in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand and Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, and Gili Trawangan, Indonesia, are two islands in Southeast Asia that face several developmental challenges associated with the rapid growth of tourism. Both islands are part of a marine park, are small in size and have several natural resources that need protection. They both face burgeoning tourist numbers that have increased tourism infrastructure development and are leading to environmental degradation. These islands have discussed ways to incorporate sustainability into their management and marketing practices, and they have looked to tourists as a support for change. This study examines the motivations, profiles and perceptions of tourists in island destinations, their level of awareness of environmental issues there, the extent to which they feel responsible about preserving or protecting their natural resources and the role they may be willing to take in their management, including their willingness to pay for environmental protection. The findings showed that the majority of the tourists to both islands were young, had relatively high levels of income and were from English-speaking nations. Tourists in both islands stated that they were willing to pay for sustainability practices, but there were differences around who they felt should be primarily responsible for implementing sustainability measures.

Collaboration and Partnership Development for Sustainable Tourism

Abstract For many years, the need to improve sustainability in the tourism industry has been widely recognized. Many destinations have attempted to move toward sustainability, but unfortunately, have been hindered in their attempts by a lack of collaboration among stakeholders that is necessary to support their sustainability agendas. Collaboration, specifically through multi-stakeholder partnerships, has been seen as an effective way to support initiatives in tourism development. Through the lens of Grays collaboration theory and Selin and Chavezs tourism partnership model, the success of collaboration and partnerships in tourism development on the island of Gili Trawangan, Indonesia, will be examined. Through a multi-method approach consisting of an environmental audit and semi-structured interviews, this paper explores the implementation of a multi-stakeholder partnership. The partnership that has been developed, called the Gili Ecotrust, provides an example of successful collaboration, leading to the implementation of innovative sustainability initiatives on the island.

What drives environmental sustainability in the New Zealand wine industry

Purpose – While global wine consumption is growing, environmental sustainability in the wine industry is also receiving increased attention from retailers, governments, environmental groups, and consumers. New Zealand has experienced a winery boom over the past two decades with a 173 per cent increase in the number of wineries. Along with this growth, wineries are also facing issues such as water consumption, its impact on community, and waste management. The study therefore seeks to examine: the current sustainability initiatives undertaken by wineries; what drives the wine industry to engage in sustainable practices; and barriers to implementing sustainable practices.Design/methodology/approach – Using a mixed method research approach, this study uses a triangulated approach to examine interviews and questionnaires to determine motivations and elements of influence.Findings – This study found that the strong drivers for the sustainability initiatives are their concern about the state of the environment ...

Canada's Tourism Industry—Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change: A Lot of Concern but Little Action

A case study conducted with the Canadian tourism industry identified that the level of awareness and participation in climate change mitigation strategies is low and that there is a need for further action if Canada is to position and market itself as a destination which is taking responsibility for climate change. This study used a qualitative approach that consisted of 24 in-depth interviews with Provincial Deputy Ministers of Tourism, other federal and provincial agencies, marketing bodies and industry associations across Canada. Results indicate that despite a relatively high level of awareness about climate change, the implementation of mitigation strategies was piece-meal in its approach. This non-regulatory approach to climate change action indicated that several small initiatives were taking place without significant collective action. This paper concludes that without national leadership on this issue, there is limited action occurring. A comprehensive, national regulatory framework is required in order to move the agenda forward to be able to market Canada as a responsible destination with regard to climate change.

Examining the factors that impede sustainability in China's tourism accommodation industry: a case study of Sanya, Hainan, China.

This study focuses on the barriers to sustainability in the tourist accommodation industry, with particular emphasis on a case study of Sanya, Hainan, China. On a worldwide basis, negative environmental and social impacts associated with the accommodation industry have spurred the formation of many nonregulatory initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of accommodations and their related activities. As China is a country that is relatively new to tourism and is affected by burgeoning growth, it is imperative to determine how to increase the level of sustainability in the industry. In order to understand how to move the sustainability agenda forward, a study was conducted in Sanya, China to identify the factors that impede the level of sustainability in the tourist accommodation industry. These factors were assessed using qualitative data collection and analysis in an attempt to provide insight into the gap between attitude and action and how this information can be utilized to motivate sustainability.

Chapter 13 Case Study

This chapter discusses the creation of The Icarus Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 2007 to address the issues of climate change and tourism in Canada. As Canadas first nongovernmental organization in this area, the role of the foundation will be described and current initiatives undertaken will be outlined. Challenges to starting a nongovernmental organization in Canada will also be discussed, such as lack of funding, an unmotivated tourism industry, relaxed government regulations, concern about climate change, and its impacts on the tourism industry. The Icarus Foundation began and continues to operate with skeletal staff and the manpower of a few individuals, precariously facing the potential to become extinct if action and support are not provided.