**6. Conclusions and recommendations**

#### **6.1 Conclusions and policy implications**

The purpose of this study was to understand environmentally friendly initiatives adopted by the hotels and managers attitude in Bihsoftu tourist destination, Ethiopia. The research revealed that the major focus areas of environmental sustainability for the hotel properties sampled were energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, environmental education, sustainable sourcing, and factors affecting performance. Concluding the entire work, it can be said that this study has shown that there are some positive movements and attitudes that Bishoftu resort hotel managers showed toward environmental sustainability practices. It is further confirmed that even though managers showed some positive attitude toward the sustainability issues, the adopted practices are not in a very much satisfactory level, because they have incorporated only with four best practices: the installation of energy-efficient bulbs and key card/sensor for light; using energy-efficient appliances; the installation of dual toilet and other low-flow water technologies; reuse of items such as water for gardening and cloth napkins, buying local products significantly, while other 21 practices were not at the satisfactory level, which is in contrary to previous research [29], which indicates that positive attitude is not the only factor that secures better performance.

The study further confirmed that owners' low level of awareness and commitment, low applicability of government rules and regulations, and the absence of incentive system for better achievement were the main problems that demotivate adoption of sustainability practices even if positive attitude was there. The majority of hotels around Bishoftu lakes were heavily incorporated with economic aspect than environmental and social concerns, which were in questionable level and can be identified in future research why hotel focus more on economic than environmental and social issues. This research identified the creditable reasons behind low performance of adopting environmental sustainability practices in sample hotels, and these factors could vary in geographic region and even from destination to destinations. Hotel owners' motivation and commitment are the most influencing factors, which were proved from the observed situation at Asham Africa resort. This study was broadly informed by stakeholder theory, which concerns corporate social responsibility and sustainability as well and aimed to understand hotels' environmental practice performance and managers' awareness at local level. On the other hand, most previous studies have focused on chain- and star-rated hotels. But this research involved a greater range of hotels of different profiles to highlight the environmental sustainability practices across hotels and targeted the most valuable hotel staff. The literature to date also researched more on corporate level issue, and their targets were external stakeholders and limited departments. But this research examined environmental sustainability practices at the core hotel outlets and property level where policies and programs are into practice, and it is this research gap that the study addresses. Findings in this research also provide the idea that the hotels can be varied regarding sustainability practice adoption in a geographic location and internal and external factors they are in. The information reported in this study would be valuable and useful for the local government and hotel companies in the region. It can be a practical guidance for hotel managers who seek to implement sustainability practices.

*Environmental Sustainability Practices in Hotels: From Attitudes to Implementation Case… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109433*

#### **6.2 Recommendations and policy implications**

Bishoftu city hotels tried to adopt environmental sustainability practices without having any policy and plan which are in line with previous research findings [18, 57]. The majority of technical hotel managers showed positive attitude but insignificant adoption level because of less support and absence of respect for better achievement. So both local and national government bodies have to develop better mechanism and policy to motivate better achievement in tourism and hospitality regarding environmental and social sustainability performance. It is also important for Tourism Ministry to develop green certification policy and strategy to lead tourism and hospitality sector toward green action efficiently and effectively.

Hotel owners' less awareness and concern were among problems affecting significant adoption of environmental sustainability practices, so it is better to apply government-led education and training projects. The training should focus on lakes conservation, waste management, promotion of best practices, and how to create environmental policy, guideline, and targets in hotels at corporate level. From the beginning, hotel owners should consider environmental issues as part of their business plan. This can be possible through early design, realizing environmental impact assessment and establishing responsible department and early environmental policies and targets.

Working closely with government bodies and other stakeholders is also expected from managers in order to activate and internalize environmental management in the hotel sector, and managers should share experiences from other greener national and international hotels. It is better to develop a system to scale up experiences and policy guidance at the ministry level.

National government guidance of stakeholders like the bank, hotel association, and higher institutions should encourage hotels to participate in environmental management practices by taking the issues of the environment as one requirement in their cooperation. For example, banks can request the hotels' environmental policy with their business plan during hostel requests for loans for investment.

#### *6.2.1 Limitations and future studies*

Having carried out the study, there are some limitations that have been discovered. First, the number of the hotels and top managers who participated in this study can be considered as small because of case study, and this may limit the generalization of the results.

Second, it was further observed that respondents were from different types of hotels, i.e., non-, high-, and low-star-rated. So, respondents may have different awareness, experience, and knowledge; for that reason, they had different opportunities. This may cause a limitation in some statistical tests because of unequal hotel sizes and star rates. Finally, this study focused on four dimensions of sustainability measures: energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and air quality through developing green hotel campus. Other sustainable practices like social sustainability practices are beyond the scope of this study.

Future research may need to cover other environmental practices, the main drivers of adoption, why hotels only focus on economic issues, analyze the relationship between sustainable practice and adoption influencing factors in hotels, and compare the operations of hotels those with star-rated and with those that do not in the region.
