Adoption of sustainability tourism practices : Auckland hotels
Date
2014Citation:
Newlands, K., and Schitko, D. (2014). Adoption of sustainability tourism practices: Auckland hotels. Paper presented at The 11th New Zealand Tourism Hospitality Research Conference, the Department of Tourism Hospitality Management and the China - New Zealand Tourism Research Unit, University of Waikato Management School Hamilton NZ., Hamilton.Permanent link to Research Bank record:
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/3012Abstract
The paper reports the findings of a survey of the reasons for the adoption or non-adoption of sustainable practices by hotels in the greater Auckland region.
New Zealand prides itself on its clean green image. For over ten years Tourism New Zealand has used this catch cry to promote New Zealand. However some customers are becoming increasingly aware that New Zealand is not as green as it portrays, many are actively choosing to stay in accommodation that is really green.
A major longitudinal study of sustainability in SME's by Waikato University includes a small representation of the retail hotel and restaurants sector (11%) amongst the industries respondents (Collins, Lawrence, Roper & Haar, 2010). While that work indicates an increase in the adoption of sustainable business practices, this survey focuses primarily on the hospitality sector of the tourism industry, to provide a more in-depth review of the adoption such practices.
The Tourism Industry Association (2011) 'Strategy towards 2015' is based on the principles adopted of Kaitiakitanga and Manaakitanga. 'Kaitiakitanga' means guardianship, care and protection. It provides a basis for an approach to sustainably managing the natural and cultural environment for current and future generations. 'Manaakitanga' means sharing exceptional and natural hospitality, knowledge and beliefs, on the basis of mutual respect between host and visitor.
Rod Oram (2011), a business commentator, headlined an article about the 2011 merger of Business New Zealand's Sustainability Business Forum and the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development Sustainability into a new entity the Sustainable Business forum as "Sustainability key to success." Oram noted that the three top reasons that companies adopted sustainable practices were to improve efficiency and reduce costs, safeguard their reputation and thirdly to spur growth.
This research quantifies the extent of the adoption of sustainable practices, and the reasons for their adoption or otherwise amongst Auckland hotels.