Why Hotel Location Matters for Sustainable Tourism Practices

What is it about?

Why are some hotels more likely than others to adopt environmentally responsible management practices? This study examines hotels in Barcelona to understand how location influences their sustainability decisions. Using geographically detailed information, we investigate whether proximity to natural resources, tourist attractions, and other environmentally responsible hotels is associated with the adoption of green management strategies. The findings show that geographical context matters substantially. Hotels located near concentrations of green hotels and relevant local attractions are more likely to display sustainable management practices, suggesting that sustainability decisions are influenced by more than a hotel's internal characteristics.

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Photo by Darya Jum on Unsplash

Photo by Darya Jum on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Hotel sustainability strategies are often assessed through company-level characteristics, but this research highlights the additional importance of geographical location. The findings can help tourism businesses, destination managers, and local authorities understand how spatial relationships and surrounding environments are associated with sustainable practices. This perspective can inform destination planning and more geographically targeted sustainability initiatives.

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