SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN HOTEL CHAINS—A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF OFFICIAL ANNUAL HOSPITALITY SUSTAINABLE REPORTS FROM LISTED COMPANIES IN MACAU SAR, CHINA

Abstract

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS EXPERIENCED RAPID EXPANSION AND DIVERSIFICATION, MAKING IT ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING FINANCIAL INDUSTRIES IN THE WORLD. CONSEQUENTLY, THE HOTEL INDUSTRY HAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED THE ENVIRONMENT'S LONG-TERM VIABILITY. MANY HOTELS HAVE BEGUN VOLUNTARILY IMPLEMENTING ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AS THEY BECOME MORE AWARE OF THEIR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT. THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF HOTEL OPERATIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM SUSTAINABILITY IN MACAU. IT IS BECAUSE OF THESE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT HOTELIERS HAVE ADOPTED GREEN PRACTICES IN AN ATTEMPT TO MINIMIZE THEM. BY DEVELOPING SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS, HOTELS CAN SET GOALS, MEASURE PERFORMANCE, AND MANAGE CHANGE, RESULTING IN BETTER SUSTAINABILITY. IT COULD ALSO BE VIEWED AS A STRATEGY TO ENHANCE THE COMPANY’S SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING TO ENSURE STAKEHOLDERS KNOW WHAT THE COMPANY DOES. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY IS TWOFOLD BASED ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE OFFICIAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS OF FOUR MAJOR HOTEL CHAINS. FIRSTLY, SEVEN CATEGORIES OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES EFFECTIVELY ADOPTED BY THESE CHAIN HOTELS ARE IDENTIFIED AND CLUSTERIZED. SECOND, IT IS PRESENTED IN WHICH AREAS SOME HOTELS PERFORMED MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN OTHERS, CONSIDERING THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) AS A REFERENCE. THE RESULTS ALLOW A COMPREHENSIVE CLUSTERIZED ANALYSIS OF THE INDUSTRY IN A HIGHLY DEVELOPED GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT AREA OF SOUTH CHINA AND CREATE A CLEAR COMPARISON BETWEEN RELEVANT PLAYERS AND THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES.