Assessing sustainable practices of hotels in the Bono Region the role of management

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.