The review of “green” research in hospitality, 2000-2014

Abstract

Purpose Green practices have been of increasing interest to both practitioners and researchers in the hospitality context. To understand how green practices have been adopted in the industry, a systematic review of recent hospitality literature is essential. The purpose of this paper is to identify research domains and formulate a definition of green practices that accurately reflects the current hospitality context. Design/methodology/approach The authors reviewed 146 articles on green practices published between 2000 and 2014 in eight hospitality journals. Using content analysis, multiple researchers coded the articles using a standardized coding scheme. Findings The number of articles on green practices in the hospitality context has been growing. Most studies focus on managers and the lodging sector. The authors identify three research domains for green practices in the hospitality literature: organizational, operational and strategic. They define a green practice as a value-added business strategy that benefits hospitality operations that engage in environmental protection initiatives. Research limitations/implications This framework may help practitioners develop green practice strategies and governments develop effective green policies and reinforce activities aimed at environmental protection. It provides theoretical foundation for future research related to green practices in the hospitality industry. Overall, hospitality stakeholders can use this framework to understand the implementation and effects of green practices. Originality/value The authors create an organizational framework for a fragmented body of literature by identifying three research domains for green practices based on a systematic review of recently published hospitality articles (2000-2014). They challenge existing definitions of green practices and propose an accurate definition tailored to the hospitality context.