Title: Evaluating the dimensions of the environment management in the hospitality sector: the case of the Spanish province of Huelva

Authors: Alfonso Vargas Sanchez, Jean-Pierre Levy Mangin

Addresses: Faculty of Business Studies, University of Huelva, Plaza de la Merced, 11, E21002-Huelva, Spain. ' Universite du Quebec en Outaouais, Gatineau, Quebec, J8X 3X7, Canada

Abstract: This paper will introduce the characterisation of the hotels located in the Spanish province of Huelva from three points of view: first, the level of development of their environment management systems; secondly, the manager|s vision about the consequences of environment measures for competitiveness; and finally, the managers| perception of the influence of a series of factors which made pressure on the adoption of these measures. The possible links among these three elements are also treated, considering some control variables: category, type of location and hotel size. Generally, a significant room for the improvement of the hotels| environment management systems was found, as well as a clear relation between their levels of development and the influence of pressure factors. This relation also exists in relation with the perception of the consequences of environmental practices on competitiveness, but also with the pressure of factors related to the company|s competitive advantage improvement and the stakeholders| influence.

Keywords: tourist firms; hospitality sector; environmental management; Spain; tourism; hotels; stakeholders.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2008.016839

International Journal of Business Environment, 2008 Vol.2 No.1, pp.17 - 37

Published online: 25 Jan 2008 *

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