The importance of water management in hotels: a framework for sustainability through innovation

Abstract

This paper highlights the global phenomenon of the crisis in the quality and quantity of water supplies and how tourism generally and hotels specifically may have contributed to the situation. The major internal and external barriers for Small Medium Enterprises adopting Environmental Management Systems, including water, are listed. The paper proposes a water management framework for hotels and other types of accommodation that leverages on the concept of innovation. Taking into account the various levels of knowledge and technological capabilities in water management, the framework is developed based on the commonly known 3R approach in environmental management, with the addition of another R (Reaching). It is proposed that hotels can innovate and enhance their water management approaches under these 4Rs: Innovative Reducing, Innovative Reusing, Innovative Reaching and Innovative Recycling. The framework offers examples and strategies about how hotels of different sizes, with differing financial, technical, knowledge and managerial capacities could address the challenge of implementing water management and obtain commercial benefit. A detailed case study is provided of a gray and black water recycling system in a Malaysian resort. Other examples of a range of water management methods are also discussed.

酒店里的水管理的重要性：通过创新的可持续性框架

该文章重点突出了水供应质量和数量危机的全球现象，和旅游如何大致地，特别是酒店能对该情况作出贡献。对使用环境管理系统，包括水，的中小型企业的主要内在和外在障碍在文中举列。文章凭借创新的理念对酒店和其他类型的住宿业建议一个水管理框架。该框架考虑到水管理中不同层度的知识和技术，并是建立在广泛运用的环境管理的 方法上，并增加了多一个（到达）文章建议酒店根据这些能创新和提升他们的水管理方法：创新化减少，创新化重复使用，创新化到达，和创新化回收。框架提供了案例和战略关于不同大小的酒店使用不同的财政支持，技术，知识和管理能力来面对实施水管理和获得商业优势的挑战。文章提供了一个马来西亚度假地的具体案例，关于灰和黑水回收系统。其他一系列的水管理方法也讨论到。

Keywords:

• corporate environmentalism
• responsible tourism
• hotel management

关键词:

• 企业环保主义
• 责任心旅游
• 酒店管理

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Azilah Kasim

Dr Azilah Kasim is from the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Environmental Management, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia. Her research interests include corporate social responsibility, corporate environmentalism, environmental management, hotel management and tourism marketing.

Dogan Gursoy

Professor Dogan Gursoy is from the School of Hospitality Business Management, Washington State University, USA. His research interests are sustainable development, tourism studies, tourism marketing, hotel business and hospitality management.

Fevzi Okumus

Professor Fevzi Okumus serves at the University of Central Florida, USA. His research interests are strategy implementation, change management, competitive advantage and learning organizations.

Anthony Wong

Mr Anthony Wong is the Chief Operating Manager of Asia Overland Ltd. and managing director of Frangipanni Resort, Hotel and Spa. His interest is in integrating environmental management system (EMS) in hotels.