Switching off for the planet: ‘surface mimicry’ and energy saving practices in peer-to-peer accommodation

Abstract

The introduction of novel energy-saving practices for the peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation sector is a key factor in reducing the effects of greenhouse gas emissions in tourism and hospitality. “Surface mimicry” is an alternative visual intervention that may prove to be effective in saving energy in the P2P accommodation locations. Through the use of three scenario-based experiments, this study was able to validate the main effect of surface mimicry on the property-mapping mindset of guests (i.e. their beliefs around energy-saving) and their intentions to switch off lights. The serially mediating effects of guests’ attitudes towards P2P accommodation were also authenticated. This solution-oriented yet theoretically-driven study contributes to the literature on hospitality and pro-environmental behaviour by examining the causal impacts of surface mimicry on guests’ property-mapping mindset and energy-saving behaviours. It also advances knowledge of surface mimicry theory by adding the important role of “individual attitudes”, and by clarifying the related influencing mechanisms in the unique P2P accommodation context.

Keywords:

• Surface mimicry
• property-mapping
• energy-saving behaviour
• visual intervention
• P2P accommodation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number: 724RC490); The Education Department of Hainan Province (Grant number: Qhys2023-199).

Notes on contributors

Yue (Briana) Liu

Yue (Briana) Liu is a postgraduate research student in the College of International Tourism and Public Administration at Hainan University, China. Her current research focuses on the sharing economy, sustainable tourism, and consumer behavior.

Guojie Zhang

Guojie Zhang is an Associate Professor at the College of International Tourism and Public Administration, Hainan University, China. Guojie’s current research interests lie in the areas of sharing economy, cross-culture, visitor experiences, and nature-based tourism.

James Higham

James Higham is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management at Griffith University (Australia) and Honorary Professor at the University of Otago (New Zealand). His research interests focus on tourism and climate change with a particular focus on carbon mitigation.