The Importance of Green Hotels in the Hospitality Industry; Best Practices

Session

Management Business and Economics

Description

Due to increasing environmental concerns, shifting consumer preferences, and government restrictions, the hospitality industry recently witnessed a paradigm shift towards sustainability. All these have resulted in green hotels, which are hotels that implement environmentally friendly practices such as waste management, energy conservation, and sustainable supply chain management. They have an interest in minimizing the effects these hotels impose on the environment through new technology and green management practices that also provide high quality services to the customers. Apart from the benefit of sustainability in the hotel industry to the environment, sustainability is of significant value with regard to enhancing customers' loyalty, a company's brand, and costs. The hospitality industry has started embracing greener policies due to growing customer pressure for environmentally friendly hotels, which have grown in recent years due to raising the public's awareness level towards environmental matters. The aim of this research is to study the most effective green hotel practices in the Balkans and Europe and establish the level to which they minimize their environmental footprints, increase operational efficiency, and attain customer satisfaction. This paper looks into how hotels can cut down on energy consumption and carbon footprint by considerable margins through studying energy-saving technologies such as solar energy, smart thermostats, and LED light bulbs. Two practices of conservation of water that are in sync with the concept of water smart hotels are low-flow fixtures and rain water harvesting. Waste management practices, including recycling practices and prohibiting the use of single-use plastics, support sustainability in the hotel industry. This paper also assesses the contribution of green certifications like Earth Check, Green Key, and LEED to promoting and supporting sustainable hotel operations. To analyse the long-term economic and environmental benefits of using sustainable practices, the study compares green hotels with conventional hotels. The results counter concerns like high initial cost and variable regulations, and highlight the financial and image gains of sustainable hospitality practices. In order to achieve a greener future for the hospitality industry, the study concludes with recommendations to legislators and industry stakeholders on how to promote the use of environmentally friendly hotel practices worldwide.

Keywords:

Green Hotels, Sustainable Hospitality, Energy Efficiency, Waste Management, Green Certifications

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-982-41-2

Location

UBT Lipjan, Kosovo

Start Date

25-10-2025 9:00 AM

End Date

26-10-2025 6:00 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.399

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Oct 25th, 9:00 AM Oct 26th, 6:00 PM

The Importance of Green Hotels in the Hospitality Industry; Best Practices

UBT Lipjan, Kosovo

Due to increasing environmental concerns, shifting consumer preferences, and government restrictions, the hospitality industry recently witnessed a paradigm shift towards sustainability. All these have resulted in green hotels, which are hotels that implement environmentally friendly practices such as waste management, energy conservation, and sustainable supply chain management. They have an interest in minimizing the effects these hotels impose on the environment through new technology and green management practices that also provide high quality services to the customers. Apart from the benefit of sustainability in the hotel industry to the environment, sustainability is of significant value with regard to enhancing customers' loyalty, a company's brand, and costs. The hospitality industry has started embracing greener policies due to growing customer pressure for environmentally friendly hotels, which have grown in recent years due to raising the public's awareness level towards environmental matters. The aim of this research is to study the most effective green hotel practices in the Balkans and Europe and establish the level to which they minimize their environmental footprints, increase operational efficiency, and attain customer satisfaction. This paper looks into how hotels can cut down on energy consumption and carbon footprint by considerable margins through studying energy-saving technologies such as solar energy, smart thermostats, and LED light bulbs. Two practices of conservation of water that are in sync with the concept of water smart hotels are low-flow fixtures and rain water harvesting. Waste management practices, including recycling practices and prohibiting the use of single-use plastics, support sustainability in the hotel industry. This paper also assesses the contribution of green certifications like Earth Check, Green Key, and LEED to promoting and supporting sustainable hotel operations. To analyse the long-term economic and environmental benefits of using sustainable practices, the study compares green hotels with conventional hotels. The results counter concerns like high initial cost and variable regulations, and highlight the financial and image gains of sustainable hospitality practices. In order to achieve a greener future for the hospitality industry, the study concludes with recommendations to legislators and industry stakeholders on how to promote the use of environmentally friendly hotel practices worldwide.