2010 · 11 citations · 0 references
Tourism ManagementEngineeringSustainable BuildingsSustainable DevelopmentHospitalityGreen BuildingBuilding Energy ConservationSustainable DesignHotel IndustryBuilt EnvironmentManagementHospitality IndustryRegenerative Hospitality EcosystemsMotel ManagementHospitality PracticeDesignSustainable BuildingSustainable HotelsSustainable PracticeSustainable ConstructionBusinessLife Cycle AssessmentConstruction ManagementTourismSustainabilityHospitality Management
Sustainable hotels reduce environmental impact by using energy, water, waste, materials, and land more efficiently, while creating healthier, more natural‑lighted environments that improve health, comfort, and productivity. The study proposes a systematic approach to transform the Croatian hotel industry by establishing an Eko hotel standard and promoting sustainable construction through state incentives and education on real costs and benefits. The research adopts a six‑part integrated framework covering construction, renovation, waste reduction and recycling, energy efficiency and maintenance, environmental and water efficiency, and hazardous substance management and purchasing policies. Although an upfront investment of 0–2 % of construction costs can yield savings over ten times the initial outlay within 20 years, Croatian hotels still largely fail to incorporate sustainable principles into their life cycles.
The paper considers sustainable development in the context of hospitality practice. Sustainable buildings and hotels have an important role in reducing the negative impact on the environment since they use energy, water, waste, materials and land much more efficiently than buildings simply built to code. They create healthier environments, with more natural light and cleaner air and contribute to improve health, comfort and productivity. The analysis of the financial cost and benefits of sustainable buildings finds that an upfront investment of 0-2% of construction costs yields, during a 20 years life cycle, with savings of over ten times the initial investment. Although integrating sustainable building practice into the construction of hotels is a solid financial investment, an extensive research carried out in 2008 on a representative sample of hotels throughout Croatia is showing that practice is not integrating sustainable principles in the life cycle of Croatian hotels. The research was divided into six parts which together represent an integrated sustainable approach: Construction, reconstruction and renovation of hotels ; Reduction, reuse and recycling of waste ; Energy efficiency and maintenance ; Hotel environment and water efficiency ; Dangerous and poison substances and Purchasing policies. This paper shows that in order to properly approach the changes in the Croatian hotel industry, and construction practice in general, it is necessary to systematically approach the problem, to make a standard for Eko hotel and to encourage sustainable buildings through state incentives and education about the real costs and benefits of sustainable hotels.