The Concept Of Sustainability In The Hotel Industry Tourism Essay

The Concept Of Sustainability In The Hotel Industry tourism EssayOver the years, sustainability and environmental tailors make water gained signifi lavt attention in cordial reception, tourism and precaution projects. Across the fast ground, discussions on sustainable development including that of cordial reception pains atomic depend 18 ongoing in fact the cordial reception pains is fetching a serious note of it.This chapter discusses on issues, quarrels and cut offs that cordial reception application is facing and might face in the coming years ahead. Eco dissolverable Approach and the top issues that might influence the global hospitality labor in the coming years ahead including sustainable development, calls for verdancy hospitality, tire out toll, multicultural issues and spicyer facts of life atomic play 18 interpreted actively. Latest Trends in the hospitality, ways to enhance thickening experience in hospitality and leaf node expectations to c ommon land initiatives shall be discussed. Further, the aspects pertaining to guest packs for sustainable products services shall be covered. depict words sustainable Issues Challenges Trends cordial reception Industry7.2 Sustainability, touristry cordial receptionThe idea of sustainable development was initially taken in the context of the amicable indicators and thereafter expanded to address the environmental indicators. The World Commission on Environment and developing (The Brundtland Commission) popularised the theory of sustainable development in 1987. We whitethorn define sustainable development as Development that meets the packs of the rescue without compromising the ability of prox propagations to meet their own drives. World touristry Organisation (UNWTO) has menti sensationd that sustainable tourism development meets the inevitably of present tourists and phalanx regions, while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. It is envisaged as leading to centering of all mental imagerys in such a way that economicalal, social and aesthetic needs coffin nail be fulfilled, while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological carry throughes, biological diversity and life support systems.The dimensions of sustainability encompasses of fol pocket-sizeding elementscompetence forethoughteco-efficiencyfinancial managementinnovationsopeproportionnal performanceproduct performance.stakeholder management andsustainable managementSustainability practices argon becoming more and more common and the issues concerning to sustainability have farm an essential persona of the social and political discussions in most of the countries. These geezerhood legion(predicate) of the midget disdaines have to struggle for survival in a world of competitions with light upon players, mergers and mega corporations. There is a strong urge for sustainable development and consequently need of involvement of all stakeholders inclu ding local communities. Further there is a strong ingestment for educating the young mint on the environmental issues and impart the values in their minds so as to make the world a better place in which to live.The concept of sustainability in the Hotel IndustryThe hospitality fabrication is gradually becoming sensation of the great examples of why cartroad a sustainable business add be crucial for long success. Defined at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, sustainability is progressively becoming 1 of the most applicable issues to hoteliers in the 21st century as be continue to rise, fill bring close tos increasingly sensitive and the pressure on being economically, socially and environmentally responsible grows.Due to the increment environmental degradation, hostel is forced to become increasingly aware of the n eed of adopting and enforcing more effective measures of environmental protection. Sustainable development, including the development of a more sustainable built environment, has thus become a priority and a challenge of our time. A number of studies evoke that the hotel sedulousness has an important accountability in this process. The global hotel persistence, comprising of sundry(a) facilities, constitutes one of the most important celestial spheres of the tourism labor. Hotels provide fitting and offer high level of resources for utilization (including energy, water, consumables) in hotel facilities, the environmental footprint of hotels is typically bigger than those of an early(a)(prenominal) types of buildings of same size. Research has revealed that the hotels are immense recitationrs of consumer goods waste generation is one of the more visible concerns the hotel industry has on the environment. According to an IHEI (2002) estimate, a typical hotel produces in ex cess of 1 kg of waste per guest-day, which, for a typical facility, results in many tons of waste each month. These figures clearly reflect that there is an urgent need for more environmentally ponderous practices and products in the hotel industry.Over the years, there has been an increased environmental awareness among the superior general public and the development of the concept of unripe consumerism has flourished. Where, most of the hotels in the late past were earningsing attention to environmental responsibility it has is immediately increasingly emerged as a collective issue.However, in order to achieve great environmental responsibility, proper applyation tools and strategies are necessary. The instruments of action include the enforcement of applicable laws and regulations (health and safety requirements, planning and building regulations, water utilization, waste generation and the personnel casualty of emissions), as well as voluntary standards. Certificatio n and labelling schemes are increasingly growing in popularity. Further, the governments, NGOs, Academic Communities are coming up to assist hoteliers in running more environmentally responsible businesses. As a matter of fact many good hotel gyves have as well as developed their modules and have practiced innovative practices. Signifi tintly, the research study by Centre for cordial reception Research, Cornell University (2010) (2012) by Glenn Withiam Rohit Verma in Hotel Year Book 2012 highlighted on Sustainability citing customers demand for sustainable hotel operations has taken root and expanded. The hotel industry has taken notice, as demonstrated by a push for consistent report standards and industry best practices coming from our industry roundtables in both Asia and northeasterly America. In that regard, meeting planners and corporate planners are direct requesting that hotels provide sustainability- link up data (such as energy drill or recycling policies). Thi rd-party certification of discolour claims has become an important part of sustainability reporting, as demonstrated for instance by deceaseocitys Green Hotel Directory, which does not recognize self-certified hotels.Hotels are highly dependent on financial performance and have to bank upon increased demand and reduce the make ups for survival. Sustainable practices can appear altruistic to the guest, shedding a positive light on a hotel. Also, when employ correctly they are mainly cost-effective with short periods of payback. The hotels who implement such measures are generally financially sound as cost are recovered in a short time and many a times much the long-term delivers are great. However, that a small percent of existing hotels have sustainability at the core of their business routine that in like manner in organized sector.There are many benefits for a hotel with sustainable business practices Additional tax by dint of lower costs. hail saving through cost-re duction measures. Easier financing beca use of goods and services of lower long-term risk. great attractiveness to lenders. Greater long-term financial stability. Increased asset value because of long-term business capability. Long-term ability to stay in business and be pull aheadable.7.3 Trends challenges of the industryDue to increased awareness on the growing environmental degradation, society is becoming aware of the need of adopting and enforcing more effective measures of environmental protection. Sustainable development has become a key priority and a challenge of time. The issue of sustainability needs to be addressed at different levels, in cooperation with academia, industry, policy makers, the general public and other stakeholders. The hotel industry has an important responsibility in this process. The study by Wang Jin zhao and Wang zing (Shenyang University China) in the Journal of care Science Engineering (2009) in has highlighted in the article issues, challen ges trends, that facing hospitality Industry has been taken in this chapter and as under7.3.1 Issues in HospitalityGreen Hospitality Sustainable Development Calls for viridity hospitality. Going atomic number 19 is a burgeoning issue in the hospitality industry. People are abrupt to look at sustainable solutions in a hearty vernal way. There has been a metamorphose in the perception of green it has make for(p) from a fringe movement to mainstream. As a sign of its gaining popularity, one of the appreciated initiatives in India is Welcom Environment Programme by ITC Welcom Group of Hotels in addition to others. Across the globe various conferences on hospitality are being held. The basis of sustainable hospitality operation is a three-part balance, show as profits, mess, and planet. By taking those three elements into account, thus, a sustainable green hospitality development program becomes economically viable, as well as beneficial to the community and environment.Higher Education Tremendous changes are taking place in hospitality industry which poses several challenges for transformation of the whole educational process including educational curricula, reading materials, instructional practices and education stakeholders. This includes restructuring the learning process to reflect the use of information in the real world, changing the role of the educator from presenter of pre-packaged facts to facilitator of active learning and transforming the library specialiser to an active collaborator in curriculum planning for effective use and availability of information resources. Ministry of tourism, Govt of India is providing Hospitality Tourism Education through issue Council of Hotel trouble, Indian Institute of Travel Tourism centering and interestingly is loose Biasing Hospitality Tourism Education through Central Financial avail Scheme by giving a direct grant of Rupees ii Crores to each University for offering hospitality programmes unde r this scheme. In 2012 about 22 universities in India have been benefited and many more are likely to get. Indeed, educators need to inspire new aspirants and gear them for industry needs. The new educational providers have withal been offering the undeniable demand for open, flexible, distance and e- learning with world class universities like IGNOU offering Hospitality Tourism Programmes, as coaction project NCHMCT MOT, Govt. Of India and state universities like Uttarakhand Open University and others are promoting Hospitality Tourism Programmes reaching to the unreached. Similarly organizations like AHLA, whose primary business is not education just now who facilities to it with its educational institute.Labour Cost Issues Labour expenses continue to proceed amongst the large expense items for hospitality managers, accounting nearly about 40- 45 percent of total operating costs. Thus, any trend or issue that could potentially impact fatigue costs needs to be taken seriousl y by hospitality owners and managers alike. Due to the magnitude of the expense, labour costs and issues have always consumed a substantial portion of the time and efforts of hospitality managers. The cost of labour is the biggest expense in all categories of hotels. Even with the approach of select-service properties, hospitality developers cannot avoid the valet component of hospitality operations. While managing labour expenses is important, hospitality managers also needs to be aware that employees are an constitutive(a) part of the hospitality experience. The interaction between hospitality guests and employees has a crucial impact on the customer experience and the success of the business operation. Therefore, a fine balance must be drawn between cost controls and guest satisfaction.Multicultural Issues The newest trends and topics surrounding hospitality research and development is the management of multicultural talent in the hospitality industry. With the development of globalization, multicultural issues are facing and disturbing the industry operators. Bringing the far corners of the world unitedly is part and parcel of what the hospitality sector does. Blending amenities to give for the needs of the worlds different cultures is central to success for large, international hospitality chains. ethnical issues have never before been such a crucial clincher of how a large hospitality should operate. In some Asian cultures, for example, substance finish off is not sought, as it can make guests feel uncomfortable, while in Western tradition it is equated with openness and honesty. This could be important in defining how staff addresses themselves to certain Asian guests.7.3.2 Challenges confronting the Hospitality Industry The various kinds of challenges confronted by the Hospitality Industry revolves around Economic Issues, Operating Issues, merchandising Issues and Technological IssuesOperating Issues humane Resources Shortages of human resource s and their impact on the industry in almost every geographic location are systematically among the most difficult challenges noted by hoteliers. In many communities, hospitality expansion is limited not by capital, but rather by human resources. A shrinking labour force is the number one challenge facing the global hospitality industry, according to the International beau monde of Hospitality Consultants, which recently convened to brainstorm world issues and rank them according to importance. The worry of attracting and retaining qualified workers, once an issue only in an isolated number of markets, is increasingly becoming a global challenge. Demography, wage levels, failure to adequately address worker satisfaction and a reputation for long hours and low pay are all cited as contributing factors. Creative hospitality professionals have begun to develop innovative strategies for capturing and keeping high tonicity workers. In India itself the research report by HVS Internati onal cites that ongoing demand for human resources is 3,20,000 and the trained manpower supply is 12,000 annually through Govt. Institutes of Hotel Management. The Prime Ministers depicted object Skill Development Council has articulated a vision that tourism sector pass on employ additional 5 million skilled persons by 2022. Realizing the increasing importance of Tourism as an integral part of economic and developmental policy of India Ministry of Tourism Govt. of India has received the 12th innovation storage allocation in Rupees 15,190 crore which is a substantial increase over its 11th Plan size of Rupees 5156 crore. In order to meet the growing needs of Human Resources, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has launched Hunar se Rozgar Programme with a target to train 1,07,800 people in 2016-17 against training of 53,800 personnel in 2012-13 for the trade of Hospitality Tourism.Cost Containment Hospitalities are increasingly challenged to find ways to reduce costs with out sacrificing the quality standards imposed to consistently meet guest expectations. The idea of doing more with le requires managers to think about ways to operate more effectively (in other words to do the remedy things in the right way) and to examine possibilities for cost savings that get out not affect the guests perception of value.Increased contention Hotels everywhere indicate that their community is overbuilt there are too many available hospitality rooms relative to the guests desiring to rent them. The resulting competition, which often involves price cutting in efforts to provide greater value to guests, educes still un slight the profits generated. A steep fall in occupancy ratio in the wake of the global slowdown and tight competition among hospitality operators in a shrinking market have brought down hospitality room rents drastically across the country. The competition has resulted in low occupancies and as a result, the average room rate has taken a slaught er of almost 30 percent in all major void markets. Rooms are now sold not only for less but also bundled with packages, like break spendthrift, airport transfers or a days sightseeing. Competition calls for innovation in hospitality industry.Marketing IssuesMarket partition and Overlapping Brands Market segmentation is increasing as lodging chains focus on a specific niche of travellers. Additionally, brands overlap. Some industry observers are concerned that franchisers may expand their number of brands to the point that investors who bribe from the same franchiser will be in direct competition with themselves Also, as the number of brands increases, the ability of consumers to differentiate between them decreases.Increased Guest ordinariness Consumers have become more sophisticated and, as a result, so have the types of products and services that they desire. Amenities, including business centers, exercise and recreational facilities, and guest-room innovations, increase cost s but, if not cautiously selected, may not appeal to many guests being served by a specific property.Technological IssuesThe challenges of keeping up with the fast pace of technology is difficult and expensive.Interactive Reservation Systems Guests can now use the net incomes synergetic reservation systems, and hospitality companies are sometimes criticized for the (alleged) large number of keyboard clicks required to make a reservation. The number of reservations made via the Internet continues to increase. Surveys show that a good number reservations are made through the Internet, and this percentage is increasing every year. With such high percentage of reservations done through the Internet, hospitality cannot afford not being connected. If the potential guest cannot have online, a reservation will be made at the competitors web site.Guest-room Innovations With wi fi connectivity, mood based lighting, choice of music, multiple telephone lines, interactive opportunities for o rdering room service, modern ammenities and guest-room check-out are examples of amenities that guests increasingly desire, but that are very expensive to install and implement.Data Mining This technology allows marketing and sales personnel to find new ways to use guest-related data. (data mining using technology to analyze guest and other related data to make better marketing decisions.) have a bun in the oven Management This computerized process allows managers to match guest demand with room pass judgment (high demand mover higher rates because of lessened discounts low demand result in higher discounts.) (yield management demand forecasting systems designed to maximise revenue by holding rates high during times of high guest-room demand and by decreasing room rates during times of lower guest-room demand). Yield management is critical to maximizing a hospitalitys profitability. The concept are applied to every revenue department and across department. The yield managers job is to maximize the revenue per available room by selling rooms to the right customers, at the right price, at the right time.Economic IssuesDependence upon the Nations delivery When the nations economy is good, business travel generally increases. Hospitality occupancy rates and force out rates increase, which results in higher profit levels. The reverse is also true business travel slows when the economy slow. Then occupancy and rack rates decrease. Discounts to increase occupancy are offered, which yield lower revenues and profit decreases.Globalization Globalization impacts the lodging industry dramatically because it influences the extent of which people travel both within the country and around the world. Therefore, it is not only the economy of the nation, but also the economies of individual countries, that play an increasingly bigger role in the financial success of lodging properties. To compete, they must pay closer attention to the trends of globalization. The industry must reflect the requirements of the global colonisation in many aspects of its operations, including food, services, amenities, staffing policies and training.7.3.3 Trends in Hospitality IndustryRapid evolution in Vacation Ownership Vacation ownership is the fastest growing segment of the lodging industry and is likely to continue growing as the baby boomers enter their fifties and sixties in the U.S.A.. The World Tourism Organization has called timeshares one of the fastest growing sectors of the travel and tourism industry. Hospitality companies are adding brand power to the concept with corporations like Marriott Vacation connection International, the Walt Disney Company, Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Promus Embassy Suites, Inter-Continental and ever Four Seasons participating in an industry that has grown speedily in recent years.Integration Globalization Vertical integration is a trend that began a few years ago. Lodging companies realized that guests readjustment needs were not just at one level rather, they seemed to take off by price and facilities/amenities. Almost all major lodging companies now have properties in each segment of the market. The future of the lodging industry involves globalization. Companies cannot grow unless they venture beyond the United lands. American hospitality chains and their management techniques were in demand by many growth countries who cute premium-name hotel. An extensive survey of the condition of the hospitality would have shown that substantial heart and souls of gold would be necessary to maintain the hospitalitys condition. The hospitality industry is thus at the very core of the globalization of international business. Hospitality companies therefore need to consider the implications of the global context in which they operate and must be prepared to address the questions that arise from this changing environment. Globalization will lastly touch virtually all aspects of the hospitality industry. Inc reasingly, customers, management processes, employees, products, and sources of capital will be competed for and will move across national boundaries. Competition in the future will come from global entities with the advantages that globalization brings. novel Management The complex forces of energy control, safety and security, capital movement, and technology issues will require a future management cadre that is able to adapt to rapid-paced change across all the traditional functions of management. The growing complexity of the customer/employee interaction, compulsive by technology and the information age, will shape human resources needs in the future. The customer, armed with more information, will expect frontline and other hospitality staff to be at least as knowledgeable about the firms offerings as they are themselves. This will be difficult in an industry characterized by low-skilled, low-paid personnel and a high degree of cultural and behavioural diversity among its e mployees. Visioning the future major forces driving change in the hospitality industry considers seven areas decisive to the future development of the industry. Each is examined to run into the scope and complexity of the issue and the timing of its impact. That is assets and capital, health and safety, new management , marketing, distribution and capacity management, technology, sustainable development, social issuesExpanded role of Travel Intermediaries Portals The entry of Google has added a new dimension to hotel room distribution, since users can book directly from the search results page, instead of clicking through to another site. Going forward, hotels may find themselves being distributed much like package goods. Many guests will go to a travel purveyor for hotel rooms, just as they go to a food market for groceries. Further, there have been facilities extended to many countries including India for developing free websites by google enabling small or even un arrange hote ls accessible on web.Mobile apps and RFID Social media, which have grown exponentially in the past few years, will continue to be a force, but the big electronic development for hotel distribution and operations is nimble devices, particularly those with radio frequency identification (RFID) chips. Because of the remarkable plunge in the cost of RFID, the study by Cornell Research Centre anticipate that this will break out as its own trend soon enough, and the combining of RFID and mobile apps will allow guests to use their smart phones to book a room, check in, open their guestroom door, and settle their folio all without direct contact with staff. Even without RFID, guests use of mobile devices will create opportunities for innovation by hoteliers, including new services and operating efficiencies.Next generation globalization not long ago, globalization meant that hotel brands from developed nations expanded into developing nations, whether through defeat franchises or by acq uiring local firms. Globalization is now catamenia in the reverse direction, as brands from developing nations are expanding to developed nations, as well as to other developing nations. To name just a few brands, Taj Hotels from India has now operations in UK, US having properties in Boston, New York, and San Francisco, as well as hotels in capital of the United Kingdom and Sydney, Jumeirah from UAE now manages the Essex field in New York, as well as properties in London and Frankfurt Thus, globalization will mean that hotel brands criss-cross the globe.7.4 Eco Responsible Approaches in Hospitality BusinessIn the tourism industry, hotels account for a significant amount of the overall pollution generated by this sector. The potential of implementing more sustainable practices in the hotel sector requires the availability of reliable tools for assessment and benchmarking of hotel environmental performance. A number of such tools have been developed by international environmental organizations, tell associations and even hotel corporations. The various schemes differ with regard to geographical/climatic areas covered, types of hotel facilities included, full point of environmental information required, benchmarking methods, user-friendliness and implementation cost.Green Hotels In view of the famine of resources on Earth, rising awareness of environmental protection, and ecological conservation, eco-friendly hotels shall be the answer for the above issues, so that natural resources can be recycled, re-used, and energy can be conserved. These are the future goals of the hotel accommodation industry. The term green hotel (eco-friendly hotel) was frontmost introduced following the emergence of the above concepts. Eco-friendly Hotel Association (2000) was set up to create the green hotel requirements that promote the economical use of water and energy, and reduction of solid waste, so as to safeguard the Earth resources. Green Mountain State (2010) has focus ed on the creation of an eco-friendly environment, possibly allowing for contribution from all staffs and guests alike. It carefully scrutinizes each area of the hotel operation to find ways to reduce the impacts on the environment. It also looks for ways to educate the public, and to remind everyone that every bit counts no matter how tiny the contribution may be. At the same time, it maintains its inscription to provide the kind of quality service that is expected by hotel guests. The introductory concept of a green hotel is a place of accommodation that can provide eco-friendly services, but its main goal shall be focused on ways to maintain its sustainable operation. Under the premise of minimizing the environmental impact, a green hotel shall be managed in such a way to provide patrons with a comfortable, healthy, natural accommodation while its service quality is maintained.Development of Green Hotels Eco-friendly or green hotels are developed under the concept of sustainabl e operation of the tourism industry. It shall be based on the capacity to sustain the ecological environment, and shall be in line with local economic development and local ethics. In addition, it can meet the needs of contemporaneous people, but without endangering the future generations. Furthermore, it shall be able to promote the local economy, resource conservation, and protect the ecofriendly environment, thus creating a harmonious relationship with the nature. As the hotel accommodation is closely tied to the development of the tourism industry, when the recreation and leisure trend is becoming increasingly popular, increased demand for tourism will also stimulate the demand for hotel accommodation. According to the traditional impression, hotels are places that offer opulence accommodation and services. But, under the global environmental awareness and environmental advocacy, and complying with the environmental management requirements, hotel services are now focused on d ry-cleaned production, eco-friendly services, and regular resource conservation.The concept of eco-friendly hotels came into being under the green corporate cultureand the above principles. With increasing attention on the environmental issues, andinfluenced by the concept of green hotels, hotels in every country are urged to implement the environmental management and energy saving measures.The main spirits of green hotels are to provide affordable products and services to meet the needs of the public, to repair the quality of life at the same time, to reduce the ecological impact on the environment gradually throughout the life cycle, and to reduce the employment of natural resource. At least, the pace of energy consumption shall be reconcile with theEarths loading capacity. Eco-friendly Hotels Association (2010) firmly supported thegreen initiatives through hike and promotion of the green hotel services.Through appropriate management of the natural resources, the green hotel c onceptcan be applied to the hotel accommodation industry.The Green Practices in Hotels includeCommitment to Environmental Practices (By formulating Environmental Committees, Developing Strategies, Plan of Action, Manuals, formulating green teams, monitoring environmental performance, communicating visibility of environmental practices to guests, stake holders, staff, vendors public) push Efficiency Conservation (Installing occupancy sensors, use of energy efficiency equipments, applications of alternate energy sources, proper HVAC maintenance, energy efficient designs, buildings construction patterns)Lighting (Installing programmable sensors, use of reminder cards, provisions for natural lights, application of dimmer controls, use of CFL and other such energy efficient lamps)Landscape (Sprinkler irrigation systems, recycled water, drip irrigation methods, use of drouth resistant plants, grouping of tolerant plants, wont of organic fertilizers)Managing Hazardous ototoxic Subst ances (Proper provisions and instructions for storing, use of least toxic products, little or no phosphates laundry products, use of re chargeable batteries)Pest Management (Implementation of green integrated pest management programme, application of organic insecticides, usage of traps barriers and discretion of strong and harmful chemicals)Purchasing (Creating environmental purchasing polic