The implementation of circular economy practices in the hotel sector——A study case in Majorca

Abstract

[eng] Although tourism is an industry with a growing importance and rapid development in many economies, it is a high energy and water consuming industry and a huge waste generating industry. Within the tourism industry, the hotel industry is regarded as a high resource consuming, especially for energy and water consumption and a high CO2 emissions sector. Due to linear production model used, the transition to the circular economy development offers the possibility to optimize the management of economic and environmental benefits to achieve sustainable development and help the long-term development of the entire industry. This is especially critical at island destinations since they are fragile territories. This paper has two main objectives: First to study the environmental innovation measures related to circular economy about water and energy, waste, human resources policy and corporate social responsibility in the hotel sector of an island destination. Second, to study the perception of hotel managers at a well-known mature island destination, Majorca, about the main factors that affect the implementation of a circular economy strategy in hotel sector. The study was conducted on a sample of hotels in Majorca through an online structured questionnaire. Findings show that there is a positive relationship between hotel category and the implementation of innovative circular practices. Hotels with a CSR policy or strategy tend to adopt more circular economy practices. The main barriers for non-implementation of circular practices is the high cost, as well as financial difficulties to carry out these practices. Water and energy management practices are the most frequent circular economy practices adopted by hotel establishments. There are differences in the implementation of circular practices by hotel size, while chain affiliation affects the adoption of circular practices related to water and energy as well as other innovative practices.