The Impact of Green Certification to Hotel Green Practices: A Case Study on the Green Hotel Award in Macau

Abstract

This study examined the implementation of green practices in award-winning hotels and the effect of the green certification towards the hotel green practices via qualitative semi-structured interview and content analysis. This study summarized that there are still significant differences in implementing green practices among different hotels. “Energy saving”, “Saving water” and “Waste management” are the most popular activities of implementing green practices in award-winning hotels. Very few award-winning hotels implemented the activity of green practices, such as “Staff training”, “Noise control”, “Odor control”, “Motivating green practices” and “Attending green activities”. This study found that the green certification showed both positive and negative effects on hotels’ green practices. The positive influence of the green certification on hotels’ green practices is far greater than the negative influence. Therefore, to promote green practices, hotel managers could improve the efficiency of green practices based on the findings of this research.