Abstract
This study aims to conduct an analysis of the Environmentally Sustainable Policies and Practices (ESPPs) that are utilised by independent and chain-affiliated hotels. The aim is to determine the level of engagement of hotels with ESPPs and provide evidence of the hotels' responsibility towards fulfilling the expectations of environmentally aware stakeholders. The study utilised secondary data and content analysis to examine the ESPPs of 167 hotels in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. A systematic review of the hotels was conducted through hotel websites and annual reports to reveal a variety of environmental practices reported by various rated hotels. This study attempts to determine hotel engagement with ESPPs and is largely informed by Stakeholder Theory (Freeman, 1983). Whilst earlier studies focused on chain hotels, this study considers a broader variety of properties with diverse characteristics to illustrate the array of ESPPs available in the hotel industry. Rather than only examining hotel firms' corporate websites, the study also examines ESPPs at the hotel property level, as this is where policies are implemented. The existing literature has not explored the extent to which ESPPs are implemented by independent and chain-affiliated hotels at this level, and the study aims to address this research gap. The findings of the study reveal that of the 167 hotels, 62% included information regarding environmental sustainability on their websites. Of these hotels, 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star hotels reported environmental sustainability, but 4-star and 5-star hotels reported environmental sustainability more extensively than 3-star graded hotels. The findings also revealed that the focus of the key areas was predominantly on energy efficiency, water management, and waste management strategies. The study further identified notable differences between international chain hotels, which disseminated environmental information more prominently on their websites, and South African chain hotels, which tended to report more comprehensively in their annual reports. Independent hotels demonstrated limited disclosure of environmental practices, suggesting challenges in implementing and reporting ESPPs. These findings indicate sector-wide variations in the extent of implementation and commitment to environmental sustainability practices.