Fig 4 - uploaded by Harald Schoenberger
Content may be subject to copyright.
Modelled water consumption for a 100-room hotel with 'unimproved' and best practice water management across all major water-consuming processes (process details in Table 1)
Source publication
Water stress is a major environmental challenge for many tourism destinations. This paper presents a synthesis of best practice, key performance indicators and performance benchmarks for water management in hospitality enterprises. Widely applicable best practices and associated performance benchmarks were derived at the process level based on tech...
Similar publications
Pumps play a pivotal role in both energy and water conservation. They account for the 20% of the world's total energy consumption and thus monitoring it becomes more relevant to decrease an energy wastage. The performance of the pump deteriorates for various reasons, such as cavitation, sedimentation of silt and water hammering, electrical and mech...
Citations
... Moreover, sustainable resource management practices, including water conservation, waste reduction, and recycling initiatives, are implemented to minimize environmental impact and enhance operational efficiency (Pujara et al., 2019). For example, hotels may implement water-saving measures such as low-flow faucets, dualflush toilets, and greywater recycling systems to reduce water consumption and preserve freshwater resources (Styles et al., 2015). ...
As global temperatures rise and weather patterns become increasingly erratic, the hospitality sector faces unprecedented challenges in mitigating emissions, promoting sustainability, and enhancing resilience to climate-related hazards. This paper explores the complex interplay between tourism and climate change, focusing on the mitigation and adaptation strategies employed by the hospitality industry to address these challenges. This study also examines the impacts of climate change activities on tourism that including shifts within tourist behavior, changes in destination competitiveness, and vulnerabilities to extreme weather events. In the research methods, quantitative method was conducted where the purposive sampling method was used to collect primary data collection approach. 200 primary questionnaires through google forms and hard copies were distributed to among desired respondents where response rate is 65%. After cleaning the datasets, 130 responses were usable to use in the analysis portion. Microsoft excel was used to retrieve the result of the research. Major finding of the study represented on the effectiveness of mitigation measures, such as energy-efficient technologies, sustainable resource management practices, and renewable energy integration, in reducing carbon footprints and promoting environmental stewardship in hotel operations. In the recommendation and implications part of the research paper, this paper provides insights into the challenges and opportunities for the hospitality industry in mitigating and adapting to climate change, while ensuring the long-term sustainability and viability of tourism development.
... Other studies speak to the crisis in the quality and quantity of the water supply and the repercussion on tourism and hotels (Kasim et al., 2014). More specifically, water stress is an important environmental challenge for many hotels, and good water management practices are a necessity, along with water-saving strategies (Styles, Schoenberger & Galvez-Martos, 2015). On the other hand, the intensification of droughts, increasingly more frequent due to climate change, raises concerns in the tourism industry. ...
... Water consumption is one environmental indicator to be improved, but an improvement in consumption would also cut operating costs in the hospitality industry. To illustrate this scenario in monetary terms, certain researchers have estimated the savings in water and energy for hotels with 100 rooms (approximately 16,000 cubic meters of water and 200,000 kilowatt-hours of energy) would correspond to a financial savings of around €60,000 (Styles et al., 2015). When this model is extrapolated to a European context, the potential water savings could amount to 422,000,000 cubic meters per year (Styles et al., 2015). ...
... To illustrate this scenario in monetary terms, certain researchers have estimated the savings in water and energy for hotels with 100 rooms (approximately 16,000 cubic meters of water and 200,000 kilowatt-hours of energy) would correspond to a financial savings of around €60,000 (Styles et al., 2015). When this model is extrapolated to a European context, the potential water savings could amount to 422,000,000 cubic meters per year (Styles et al., 2015). However, other researchers do not detect a positive relationship between sustainability and financial performance, despite finding that sustainability is associated with a minimum measure and positive effects at the economies of scale level, which affect margins (Aznar, Sayeras, Galiana & Rocafort, 2016). ...
Purpose: This research examines policies aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the hotel sector in Catalonia, Spain in 2020 and how they are communicated to stakeholders through corporate websites. It applies academic criteria to identify key aspects that are relevant to tourism.Design/Methodology: This study conducts a descriptive analysis of Catalonia's hotel sector in 2020, utilizing SABI (Iberian Balance Sheet Analysis System) data. It selects the top 48 companies in the hotel sector that are legally required to report their annual accounts in the regular format. The study then systematically evaluates their websites to assess the availability and transparency of information on environmental sustainability.Findings: Sustainable tourism, marked by non-financial indicators such as environmental impact, energy/water usage and waste generation, is a very important issue for stakeholders in the hotel industry, including governments, owners, investors, and customers. The sector's reporting methods are crucial for effectively communicating environmental policies to these parties. While many companies have implemented strategies to assess and reduce their environmental impact, there is still considerable room for improvement, particularly in communicating these efforts to the various stakeholders.Research limitations/implications: This research, while rigorous, has certain limitations that suggest directions for future studies. A primary constraint involves data reported at a group level by hotel companies, which complicates obtaining specific data for the Catalonia region, particularly for hotel groups with an international presence. Another significant limitation is the reliance on indirect data collection, based on the companies' self-reported environmental policies posted on their websites.Practical implications: By identifying and knowing the environmental policies of the hotel industry over the analyzed period, we can help the industry itself to improve the sustainability of its environmental efforts and make it more attractive to all stakeholders.Social implications: The study highlights the importance of environmental policies and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the hotel industry. This industry plays an important role in achieving the UN SDGs, which offer significant benefits for business, such as access to new markets, better risk management and long-term sustainability, as well as social benefits. This is increasingly expected by both consumers and investors.Originality/Value: This study examines the commitment and information transparency of the Costa Brava hotel sector in terms of environmental sustainability, as well as its communication strategies. This is achieved primarily through the analysis of corporate websites, comparing the information and indices to those of other entities in the sector. The relevance and value of this analysis stems from the recognition that, despite the efforts made to improve the sector, further progress needs to be made in order to make it more attractive to stakeholders.
... Measures can be implemented in accommodation facilities to reduce the environmental burden in the area of waste management (sorting containers, sorting bins for plastic, paper, etc. in individual rooms, sorting of bio-waste, reuse of recycled materials), see for example studies [30, [75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82], in the area of water conservation (installation of lever faucets and pearl faucets, installation of water-saving shower heads, use of two-stage flushing, rainwater harvesting), as highlighted by studies [83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90]. In addition, several measures are focused on reducing heat consumption (individual room heating and air conditioning controls, building insulation, window insulation) [91,92], energy savings(use of solar energy, energy saving appliances, energy saving and LED light bulbs, central lighting switches in rooms, motion sensors) [93][94][95][96][97], saving of chemicals and products including energy (changing bed linen and towels on demand, using environmentally friendly (eco) cleaning products, minimizing single-use product, preferring products with "eco" label) [98,99]. ...
The economic recovery of the tourism industry after the Covid-19 pandemic to find modern and efficient trends to increase profitability is accompanied by the adoption of comprehensive accommodation approaches towards resilience and environmental sustainability. The research aims at the application of environmental management elements and measures in all types of accommodation facilities in the Czech Republic ( n 1 = 1,016). A qualitative focus group method complemented the quantitative research using correspondence analysis, Levene’s, Kruskal-Wallis, and Tukey’s HSD tests ( n 2 = 9 + moderator). The results indicate that the differences in the number of environmental measures implemented were minimal for the monitored hotels and guesthouses. On the other hand, the star rating of accommodation facilities is not a key parameter in the environmental impact assessment. The most used environmental measures were devices reducing electricity consumption (hotels 94%, guesthouses 94%), separating waste (hotels 88%, guesthouses 89%), and water consumption reduction (hotels 85%, guesthouses 86%). At the same time, the most minor used were measures reducing chemical consumption (hotels 23%, guesthouses 22%) communication and environmental education of employees and guests (hotels 32%, guesthouses 18%).
... The hotel sector is aware of this and has developed numerous strategies to ensure tourists' water needs without compromising the environment . Several measures to save water have been extensively applied to reach maximum efficiency in water use and consumption (Styles et al., 2015), understood as those mechanisms, devices, or tools aimed at reducing the pressure over water resources by reducing water consumption and/or by additionally using other non-conventional resources such as rainwater or reclaimed water. However, while it is true that the industry must be an active change-maker in saving water, other stakeholders need to be included in the promotion, management, regulation and boosting of any effort to reduce water consumption. ...
... The quantitative approach is based on positivism and aims to measure and analyse variables to represent the truth (Sale et al., 2002). This is the main purpose of articles aiming to test new water-saving technologies (Atanasova et al., 2017;Chai et al., 2013;Gattringer et al., 2016), calculate water savings (Abdallah and Al Antary, 2020;Klontza et al., 2016), or estimate economic savings (Gatt and Schranz, 2015;Styles et al., 2015). Conversely, qualitative research attempts to elucidate reality's complexity by employing an interpretative approach. ...
... Actions with low investment costs and/or short payback periods were shown to be highly efficient because they can significantly reduce water consumption. Lowcost mechanisms were proven to be important water-savers in all the articles which discuss them (Barberán et al., 2013;Gatt and Schranz, 2015;Klontza et al., 2016;Styles et al., 2015). Regarding water consumption and economic cost reduction in applying water-saving actions, several articles aimed at quantifying these two specific indicators. ...
... To address the issue of excessive water consumption by tourists, hotels have implemented a range of strategies, including the installation of water-saving devices (Barberán et al., 2013;Gatt & Schranz, 2015;Styles et al., 2015), the implementation of green nudges and changes in choice architecture (Joo et al., 2018), environmental appeals (Dolnicar et al., 2017), or training employees in sustainable practices (Chou, 2014). Recent studies by Demeter et al. (2023) and Greene et al. (2023) have indicated that altering choice architecture and enhancing enjoyment are the most effective interventions for inducing behavioural change. ...
... This includes the adoption of efficient taps, reuse of swimming pool water, regulation of water tap pressure, purchase of efficient dishwashers, water reuse for toilet flushing or reductor flows in showers, laundry, or kitchens. Evidence shows that these devices tend to produce substantial drops in annual water consumption by tourists (Chan et al., 2009;Gatt & Schranz, 2015;McIennan et al., 2017;Styles et al., 2015) and increases hotels' profits through water costs savings (Barberán et al., 2013). ...
Water overconsumption by tourists is nowadays a major environmental challenge, raising concerns for both hospitality managers and policymakers, especially in regions facing water stress. Hotels have implemented various strategies for water conservation, yet there remains limited knowledge regarding the comparative effectiveness of technological investments in contrast to other alternatives, such as green nudges, consumer awareness programmes, or environmental training for staff. This paper investigates the effects of several water-saving strategies on the growth rates of water consumption at hotels. Using panel data for 361 hotels in Colombia, we show that consumer awareness programmes, environmental training for staff, and environmental research and development (R&D) do not achieve the goal of reducing hotel water consumption. Importantly, our findings indicate that investments in technologically efficient devices lead to increases in water consumption, a result that is compatible with time-use rebound effects.
... Being the tourism industries responsible for a significant environmental impact (Styles et al., 2015) greater knowledge and concern about the impacts of tourism and environmental problems in general (Holden, 2003) it necessitates urgent evaluation for sustainability. To work towards sustainability and the CE, tourism businesses must actively participate and indicators measuring sustainability are crucial for assessing progress and guiding decision-making . ...
This chapter presents the concept sustainable tourism business as a response to the urgency of directing society towards sustainable development, to face challenges like pollution, waste, or climate change. To this aims the concept of circular economy (CE) is introduced focusing on principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle. As well as the concept sustainability, covering economic, environmental, and social aspects to relate it with sustainable tourism. Emphasizing how businesses must actively engage in sustainability and the circular economy. This chapter presents the concept sustainable tourism business as a response to the urgency of directing society towards sustainable development, to face challenges like pollution, waste, or climate change. To this aims the concept of circular economy (CE) is introduced focusing on principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle. As well as the concept sustainability, covering economic, environmental, and social aspects to relate it with sustainable tourism. Emphasizing how businesses must actively engage in sustainability and the circular economy. To engage in sustainability within the tourism industry it is necessary for business to measure sustainability in tourism. There has been a greater interest in developing sustainability indicators since the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Many authors have proposed various indicator models to measure the sustainability of tourism companies and destinations. This chapter highlights an indicator model to propose a new set of indicators, encompassing economic, environmental, socio-cultural, and institutional dimensions. The conclusion underscores the importance of adopting sustainable practices in tourism and the need for measurement through indicators.
... However, it is a sector that has a particular impact on water resources, due to the significant water demand generated by tourism, especially in the hotel sector. Initiatives centered on water conservation and energy-saving measures are indispensable in tempering the effects of climate change (Scott et al. 2012;Rosselló-Nadal 2014;Styles et al. 2015;Mak and Chang 2019). ...
... On the one hand, studies highlight the crisis in the quality and quantity of water supply and the impact on tourism and hotels (Kasim et al. 2014;Kiper et al. 2022). More specifically, water stress is a major environmental challenge for many hotels, and good water management practices are imperative (Rico-Amoros et al. 2013;Styles et al. 2015;Kiper et al. 2022). ...
... Stakeholders across the tourism sector have manifestly demonstrated their commitment to sustainability (Schaltegger et al. 2019). Notably, evaporation, accounting for about 15% of water loss in pools (Styles et al. 2015), can be curtailed by up to 90% through the adoption of industryendorsed pool covers. ...
The aim of this research is to critically evaluate the environmental implications of public pools in Costa Brava hotels, with a focus on their impact in terms of energy, water, and carbon footprint. The methodology employed hinges on the characterization of the stock of pools installed in the hotels of the region. Following this characterization, calculations were undertaken regarding water and energy consumption, in addition to the computation of the equivalent carbon footprint for the entirety of the pools combined. The findings of the study reveal an annual energy consumption of 1,850.2 MWh/year and an annual water evaporation consumption of 50,105 m³/year. As a result, the carbon footprint corresponding to these consumptions is 481.8 tCO2 eq./year. Identified areas of improvement within the facilities encompassed the modernization of equipment towards more contemporary models with higher efficiencies, the adoption of holistic management approaches for pools, and the utilization of emerging modelling trends to enhance facility efficiency. Conclusions drawn from the research suggest that enhancing the sustainability of pools within the Costa Brava hospitality sector holds significant societal relevance, especially when considering the heightened water stress in Mediterranean climate zones during the peak tourist season. Improving the energy efficiency of these facilities not only contributes to environmental sustainability, but also cuts operational costs, allowing establishments to have more room to channel more resources towards their main hospitality tasks.
Highlights
Tourism is vital in global, Spanish, Catalan GDP and an environmental impact key.
Costa Brava hotel pools use 1,850 MWh/year, 50,105 m³ water/year, emit 482 tCO2/year.
Modern equipment, management, and modelling trends enhance pool sustainability.
Efficient pools cut costs, aid environment, free resources for hospitality.
Tourism's future relies on holistic sustainability; efforts and policies are vital.
... Their research has demonstrated that the guidance has been highly insufficient and, at times, ignorant of operational issues. Styles et al. (2015) alternatively proposed a series of benchmarks and best practices for managing the consumption of water by hotels. According to these researchers, effective water management can result in substantial savings for firms. ...
This paper provides a comprehensive, international, multi-discipline and multi-methods systematic literature review (SLR) of the existing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate financial performance and non-financial performance measures research in tourism firms. The objective is to synthesise, appraise and extend current understanding of the existing conceptual/theoretical/empirical literature on the relationship between CSR and corporate financial and non-financial performance measures. We adopt a three-step SLR approach to analyse/review one of the largest SLR datasets employed to-date, consisting of 140 multi-methods and theoretical CSR studies conducted globally across multiple disciplines over the 2004–2019 period, published in top-ranked journals. Our findings are as follows. First, a large number of the existing studies are descriptive and/or draw on single rather than multi-theoretical perspectives. Second, existing studies have focused mainly on how CSR is related to financial performance measures to the neglect of non-financial performance measures. Third, observable methodological limitations include the dearth of qualitative, mixed-methods and cross-cultural/developing/country studies. Finally, we outline opportunities for future research.
... It is necessary to say that tourism has a very important impact on the GDP of the countries and globally (Lenzen et al. 2018). Nevertheless it is a sector that has a particular impact on water resources, due to the significant water demand generated by tourism, especially in the hotel sector, with water saving initiatives, and consequently energy saving initiatives in these establishments to mitigate climate change (Styles et al., 2015;Scott et al., 2012Scott et al., ), 2015Scott et al., 2012;Mak & Chang, 2019 ). The Mediterranean climate of the Costa Brava may come under great environmental stress with the arrival of the large number of international tourists that visit its municipalities every year. ...
... On the one hand, studies highlight the crisis in the quality and quantity of water supply and the impact on tourism and hotels (Kasim, Gursoy, Okumus, & Wong, 2014). More specifically, water stress is a major environmental challenge for many hotels, and good water management practices are a necessity (Styles, Schoenberger, & Galvez-Martos, 2015). However, on the other hand, the intensification of droughts, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change, is also causing concern in the tourism sector and, in response to this reality, the tourism sector in Catalonia is promoting technological and behavioural changes in this direction, derived from Government regulations to control the effects of these droughts (Dinarès & Saurí, 2015). ...
... Regarding the environmental impact of hotel pool water it is important to calculate its carbon footprint, especially in crowded coastal areas with very limited resources, and to verify its effect on climate change (Gössling et al., 2002), and all stakeholders of the tourism sector and industry show their concern and interest in the sustainability of the sector (Schaltegger et al., 2019). Evaporation is often one of the main causes of water loss in swimming pools, around 15% of the total (Styles et al., 2015). ...
The hotel industry already has a high level of sensitivity to environmental sustainability at all levels, from the owners and managers of the establishments to the clients who stay there. The Costa Brava is an area with high water stress during the high tourist season; therefore, any initiative that seeks to make the sector and one of its main assets, such as swimming pools, more environmentally sustainable is of great social interest. Swimming pools are one of the hotel industry's most important assets in attracting visitors to their facilities. Improving the energy efficiency of these facilities will not only improve the sustainability of the hotel industry but will also improve operating costs and allow establishments to dedicate more resources to their hospitality business. The aim of this research is to collect data on the swimming pools installed in hotels on the Costa Brava, to calculate the carbon footprint equivalent to the consumption of electrical energy and to identify the possibilities for improvement in the installations
... Based on these values for the current eco-showerhead, it is hypothesized that 26 visitors using the shower for 14 min, would result in a daily water consumption of 4368 l if each guest had a shower twice a day. Moreover, according to Styles et al. (2015) regarding toilet flushing, it is reasonable to allow four flushes/day per guest and two flushes/day per occupied room required for cleaning. On this basis, and considering cleaning 26 rooms, using the existing specs of 4 l and 8 l for a dual-flush toilet, it was calculated that the total water consumed for David's motel was 624 l. ...
... Often guests are ready to pick the most environmentally friendly option when presented with a simple choice. Likewise, reducing water usage while cleaning guest rooms, as identified by Styles et al. (2015), should always be included in the SOPs. ...
The hotel and tourist industries rely heavily on average water consumption. The establishment and maintenance of a water conservation culture in hotels is the responsibility of industry professionals in this field. For determining the root cause of a problem and devising a workable solution, researchers often use the Ishikawa technique invented by Ishikawa in 1943, also called the fishbone diagram. This case study demonstrates how water tap specs can be used in conjunction with the Ishikawa approach to achieve water savings in hotels. As an added benefit, this case study illustrates how the outcomes of this approach can be assimilated in standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the accommodation business.
