Abstract:
The study seeks to examine sustainable practices of hotels in the Bono Region.
Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. Using the convenience
sampling procedure, 194 respondents comprising of 108 employees and 86 managers
were involved in the study. Two sets of questionnaire (for managers and employees)
were used to gather the requisite data for the study. Data were analysed through the
computation of frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations,
independents samples t-test, ANOVA, as well as Pearson’s Product Moment
Correlation Coefficient. The results of the study showed that the hotels did not
adhere to most of the specific management practices that promote environmental
sustainability. The respondents agreed with the mean of 2.00 that the hotels did not
plant live trees for both beautification and fresh air. Again, the respondents agreed
with the mean of 2.25 that the hotels did not recycle waste material. Also, both staff
and management had negative attitude towards sustainable practices. Again, the
respondents agreed that there were number of challenges in the implementation of
sustainable practices. These included lack of the following; support from staff
education and training and guidance from government agencies. Finally, to a large
extent the respondents agreed that the various hotels implement the existing policies
on sustainable practices. This is because, the hotel management ensures appropriate
hygienic conditions in the premises; and ensures that air pollution from its premises is
within that permitted by the Assembly. The study recommended that the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Tourism Board and the
Assembly should ensure hotels adhere to specific management practices such as
planting live plants on property for beautification and fresh air. Additionally, hotel
management and staff should ensure solid waste is sorted to enable the recycling of
waste. Also, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Tourism
Board, Assembly and hotel managers should ensure that there is a good drainage
system inside and outside the facility.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM EDUCATION,
Faculty of VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, submitted to the School of Graduate
Studies, University of Education, Winneba, in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the award of the Master of Philosophy
(Catering and Hospitality) degree.