Dissertation

The ecological contribution of hotels to a sustainable tourism: The case of Accor hotels in Paris.

Contents

Statement of Authorship. 1

Abstract 2

Acknowledgements. 3

A big thank you to Mr. Gervaix for his kindness and encouragement. 4

I. Introduction. 4

I.1. General Introduction. 4

I.3. Objectives. 7

I.3.1. Major Objectives. 7

I.3.2. Minor Objectives. 7

II. Literature review. 9

 

Statement of Authorship

 

I certify that this dissertation is my own work and contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any degree or diploma in any institute, college or university. Moreover, to the best of my knowledge and belief it contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference is made in the text of the dissertation. I also understand that under no circumstances should any part of this dissertation be published, including on the Internet, or publicly displayed without receiving written permission from the school.

Student Signature

Date

 

Abstract

The purpose of this study was based on the concept of sustainable development and sustainable tourism related to the hospitality industry, mainly focusing on the environmental dimension.

Three main objectives were set to help conduct this study to determine the ecological actions that hotels undertake to contribute to a sustainable tourism: the actions taken by the hotels, the effects on the environment and on the properties, and the consumer behavior towards hotels implementing environmental policies.  Based on these objectives, a literature review was conducted on relevant theories and concepts that surround the notion of sustainability of use of the environment as it is applied in the tourism industry. 

Sustainable tourism covers a wide scope and may not be covered completely in this study.  Thus, the author has defined some limits for the scope of this study to be more realistic given the current time constraints, and the resource constraints of the author.  Focus was given on the Accor Hotels, specifically on their Sofitel brand.  To further define the scope of this study, the author identified the Sofitel Geneve as its main focus of study. 

Secondary data were gathered regarding sustainable tourism.  These secondary data are the materials used for the review of related literature.  In order to come up with primary data, the author conducted two primary methods of data gathering:  interview and the survery methods.  The author conducted an interview with a personnel of the Sofitel Geneve in order to get the concepts and ideas, as well as the operational aspects, of Accor on sustainable tourism.   

A survey, on the other hand, was conducted in order to gather information regarding consumer views on hotels that observe and contribute to sustainable tourism.  The results of the survey are discussed by the author extensively.  After the discussion of survey results, an analysis on whether the Sofitel Geneve is carefully implementing the declared plans and goals of the Accor Hotels that comprise its grand plan to promote sustainable tourism. Finally, an analysis is also made on whether the operational efforts of Sofitel Geneve correspond to what the conceptual notion of sustainable tourism is.

Acknowledgements

 

A huge thank you to Mr Nash for its wonderful and enormous kindness, help, support and encouragement;

Thank you to my parents for their love, support and encouragement: I love you a lot!

The biggest thank you is given to my lovely Zita, my support, and my inspiration;       

A huge thank you to my dearest roommate and brother Jad khaye for everything he gave me and for everything we shared, for hitting me and shouting at me to put me on the right track when I am wrong BHEBAK YA KHARA;

Thank you to Boutsi for helping me survive the semester; thanks to his collection of Arabic music including  Fairouz.

Thank you wellahhh ya Stephane : Jacob for all the good moment that we spent together even though we couldn’t pass the same moment that we use to have in 6 semester because you were very busy… Bhebak roomyyyy J;

Thank you to Julien - yes man I will admit it: you are stronger than me in pro evolution;

Didier I love u bro and I love Haiti;

Serge thank you for everything and especially for the good massage that you gave me;

Thank you to all my friends: Mathieu, JJ, Rebecca,  Fafa, Seb, Serge, Katia, Vangelis, Natalia, Dewy, Prunelle, Fanny, Tarek, Thomas, Boon, Ghali, Micheline, Lien and all the reception team;

Thanks to the library team that helped me in my research;

A big thank you to Mr. Gervaix for his kindness and encouragement.

 I. Introduction

I.1. General Introduction

 

The tourism and hospitality industry is known to be the first economical activity in the world. In fact, it is important to note that this industry has been existing in its cultural, socio-cultural and natural environments.  It is, therefore, an industry that relies so much on so many aspects of its environment.  Thus, people are naturally diverted towards the tourism hospitality industry whenever the notion of sustainable development and sustainable tourism is raised.  However, as Mintel (2002) stated, whereas it was recognized before for being a clean industry, the hospitality business is now known for having a negative impact on the natural environment, and therefore on the ecology.

The concept of sustainable tourism has appeared because due to the growing awareness of the people onthe limited nature of global natural resources, as well as the human usage of the environment and the implications of tourism for the future generations (WTO, 2006).  This has placed the tourism sector in the spotlight, as tourists normally look for places they cannot see nor experience within the concrete jungle that typically characterizes most modern cities nowdays.  This places the spotlight on the hospitality industry.  Hotels have always been the home away from home for tourists.  Save for some who stay with relatives, most people who travel stay in hotels.  This is due to the fact that travelers do not only include vacationers and tourists.  Travelers include business people as well. 

Hotels often come up with concepts or themes to follow in the total design of their interiors.  Generally though, hotels as businesses, build up on the resources of a community or locality.  These resources include the infrastructure that facilitates the comings and goings of tourists to and from the hotel.  It likewise includes the cultural and natural environment of the hotel.  Often, the best hotels one would find are those that boast of unique architectural styles and general concepts that blend well with its environment.  Culture is often infused in the interior design of hotels.  Lately the trend has been moving towards resort hotels, which promote the harnessing of the natural attractions of a locality in order to invite tourists.  This is the reason for the popularity of Resort Hotels like the Aman Hotels, which often place their facilities in places with pristine, natural beauty.  Most of the resort hotels of Aman are located along pristine beaches.  But there are also those that highlight on the cultural aspect of its environment in the absence of the signature beaches Aman is famous for.The tourism sector needs to have a notion of sustainability as the viability of the sector depends on the quality of the resources in the natural, built or cultural environment (Hobson and Essex, 2001). Moreover, it is important to note that the environmental impacts of tourism are not only related to the number of people traveling., The impact of this sector to the environment also include the impact of the operations of businesses related to tourism, such as transportation, communication, energy, and water consumption(Hobson and Essex, 2001), which all negatively impact on the environment as they bring in pollution. Considering the aforementioned consequences of being a player in the hospitality sector, the businesses that comprise the sectortherefore have a great responsibility to protect the environment through their management decisions.

According to Mintel (2001), most of the hotels seem to be aware of the negative impact their operations have on the ecology. However, it appears that only a few of them apply the concept of sustainability. “There is a gap between the attitudes and actions” (Mintel, 2002:1). Accor hotels is one of the hotels that are aware of this matter and has created a new department in 2002, the sustainable development committee, which has taken an important place in Accor global management (www.accor.com).

This study will generally be based on the ecological involvement of Accor hotels in ensuring that their hotels practice sustainable tourism. Indeed, Accor has been demonstrating ecological commitment and involvement in sustainable tourism, and has been rewarded several times for it (www.toinitiative.org).  The Accor Hotel chain is scattered all over the world.  Moreover, Accor is comprised of several hotel brands that are operating in different market levels of the hospitality industry. This study will focus on the Sofitel brand of Accor Hotels, with specific concentration on the Sofitel Geneve.

While the Accor group of hotels professes to be very concerned and involved in promoting sustainable tourism, it shall be the aim of the author to discover if such pronouncements of the mother company are operationalized by their hotels.  This explains why this study has chosen a specific hotel of the Accor group.  In this manner, there will be an assessment of the professed objectives of the company, as may be read on their company website. At the same time, the operationalization of the concepts and policies mentioned in the company website will be proven by focusing on a specific hotel of the group.  In this case, the specific hotel that will be studied is Sofitel Geneve. 

I.3. Objectives

I.3.1. Major Objectives

·        To find out the level of involvement of the Accor hotels, as evidenced by the Sofitel Geneve, in the promotion of sustainable tourism.

·        To find out the general attitude of consumers towards the concept of sustainable tourism

·        To find out the general attitude of consumers towards hotels that observe environment-friendly practices, which ultimately result into sustainable tourism.

 

I.3.2. Minor Objectives

·        To find out the company policies of Accor with regards the issue of sustainable tourism;

·        To find out how the policies of Accor on sustainable tourism is enforced at the Sofitel Geneve;

·         To determine if the practices of Sofitel Geneve are strictly compliant with the avowed policies of Accor with regards sustainable tourism;

·        To determine how the concept of sustainable tourism is operationalized at the Sofitel Geneve;

·        To assess the level of commitment of Sofitel Geneve towards achieving sustainable tourism;

·        To find out whether there are environmental issues that are relatively unique and specific to Sofitel Geneve;

·        To find out whether the average young professionals in Geneva are aware of the concept of sustainable tourism;

·        To determine the level of awareness of the young professionals in Geneva on the concept of sustainable tourism, and

·        To establish the attitudes of young professionals towards hotels that are observing environment-friendly practices.

II. Literature review

This chapter aims to define the notion of sustainable development and the notion of sustainable tourism.  The concepts that will be discussed here are based on secondary sources of data.  Most of the information contained herein come from reference books or materials, as well as other written documents that establish the concept of sustainable development and sustainable tourism.  There may also be instances in the preceding sections of this paper wherein documented practices of some hotels may be mentioned as evidence of some operational aspect of the concept of sustainable tourism and sustainable development.