Research Paper on Challenges for Singapore Hospitality Industry: Hotel and Resort Guests Support for Green Initiatives

Abstract

Singapore forms part of the leading destinations for tourists and business persons in Asia. The hospitality industry in Singapore is, however, facing various challenges as far as the implementation of green initiatives is concerned. This research, therefore, seeks to analyze the significant challenges faced by this particular industry. This is achieved by the review of past studies and the use of specific methodology. The methodology used was questionnaire administration with questions formulated from recent literature. The finding and analysis show that the significant challenge include acquiring the green certification by willing hotels due to various issues. Inadequate impact monitoring capabilities and low market take-up are also other challenges.

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Introduction

Background Information

In the recent past, green approaches and environmentally friendly practices have become standards within the hospitality industry all over the world (Rahman et al. 2012). Environmental sustainability has become one of the critical concepts that significantly contributes to the success of hotels and resorts, especially in Singapore. According to Bromberek (2009), the green initiatives involve operations that ensure the current needs are met without interfering with the potential future generation 's needs. The concept of green approaches, therefore, is equally applicable in the hospitality industry which operates in the natural environment and uses various natural resources (Persic-Zivadinov 2010; Scanlon 2007). The primary driver for this initiative is the organizations' interest in cost reduction, operational efficiency improvement, and reducing the environmental impact due to the recently evident vast climatic change (Hsu et al.2013). According to TRENDS (2011), the hospitality industry has continuously made steps ahead by setting aggressive objectives on water, energy and waste reduction. The implementation of green building techniques in the hospitality industry has become a commonplace in the recent past with better advancement in technology making it even easier to achieve by reducing the cost as opposed to the traditional alternatives. Some of the critical areas that have been addressed by the green initiatives within the hospitality industry include energy management, health, and wellness of guests, air quality, climate action and certification, and communication (Holcomb et al.2007).

According to Withiam (2011), the hospitality industry is the most exposed to inspection by the public as opposed to other sectors. Most guests at the restaurants and hotels have shown much interest in companies that embrace green initiatives. Nowadays, most guests would prefer a hotel or restaurant that welcomes the green approaches for betterment and health wellness as well as for nature and conservation of the environment. The hospitality industry in Singapore has however experienced various challenges in an attempt to embrace the green approaches in multiple areas. Withiam (2011) posits that many guests in the industry do not contribute to the hotels' sustainability and they rarely help in ensuring the green approaches are achieved even though they expect the hotels to be "green" as possible. The hospitality operators are, however, working and scrambling day and night to ensure sustainability is achieved. Lack of guests' positive contribution to the implementation of the green approaches among others is, therefore, one of the significant challenges in the hospitality industry in Singapore.

Objectives of the Research

Various empirical studies have been investigated by the challenges of maintaining green certification in the hospitality industry in multiple countries all over the world. However, empirical studies on the analysis of problems experienced in the hospitality sector in Singapore with regards to green initiatives implementations still lacks. This research, therefore, seeks to analyze the challenges encountered by the operators and the hospitality industry at large concerning green approaches implementation within Singapore. The study also aims to find out how viable the green initiative within Singapore is and as well as establish the take of guests about the approach. Determining the input and effort of guests within the hotels and resorts towards the success of the green initiative is also forms part of the objective of this research.

Research Structure

Sections of this research include an abstract with an overview of the critical areas of study. The introduction where background information about the investigation is elaborated, brief literature is explained, and as well as its aims and objectives. The literature review also forms part of this research where a conceptual and theoretical framework of the study is developed. The research methodology involving various research methods, data collection, and design also forms a section of the proposal. A section of discussion of findings and analysis of the data forms the fourth part and finally the conclusion about the results, followed by limitations and recommendation for future research.

Literature Review

Case of Singapore

According to a report by the Singapore Tourism Board (2015), Singapore forms one of the best destinations for economic events such as meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions (MICE). The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA 2015) ranked the country as a top convention city was Asia for the 13th consecutive year in 2014. These various business events form part of the hospitality industry. The industry contributes 1.1% of Singapore's GDP. However, at an international conference on climate change and tourism in2007, it was deemed that the sector provides 5% of carbon dioxide emission globally (UNWTO and UNEP 2008). As a result, the concept of sustainable tourism and green initiatives introduced. According to the Convention Industry Council (2010), a green meetings concept was introduced to mitigate the impact caused by meetings on the environment.

All relevant bodies and stakeholders including political organizations and tourists are required for the development of suitable sustainable tourism (UNEP and UNWTO 2005). In Singapore stakeholders in the hospitality industry commit and support green events in various degrees. There is however significant growth of interest in environmental sustainability from the hotel owners and the guests.

The industry encounters various challenges with regards to environmental sustainability and implementation of the green initiatives which as a result affects the country's economy and the environment. According to Govindan et al. (2015), the going green approach involves decision making by stakeholder and taking actions that would protect the natural resources and as well as improving profitability by lowering the cost of operation. Some of the challenges experienced by the hospitality industry in the with regards to implementation of green approaches include low market demand for green products, perceived additional costs, inadequate technology and expertise among other issues. However, in the recent past, there has been a growing demand and interest in the sustainability of products and services of green initiatives (Ottman at al. 2006).

Challenges in Achieving the Green Approaches in the Hospitality Industry in Singapore

In a situation where a business meeting occurs, in most cases, the venues lack impact monitoring capability. This would, as a result, hinder tracking of the resources such as electricity used in an event. Singapore Tourism Board (2015) states that in most cases, operators of the hotels hardly do follow up on the event impact report making it challenging to take relevant measures. As a result, it makes it difficult to estimate resources such as energy consumption during the events (Arup 2012).

The other major challenge experienced by the operators in the hospitality industry is low market take-up of the green products and services (Bonini & Oppenheim 2008). This is as a result of assumption by clients that the products or services of the green initiatives are a bit costly or they may be of low quality as compared to others. Such clients in most cases do not see sustainability as their priority or concern. Inadequate control of wastes by both the guests and operators is also another challenge. The guests in the hotels at times do not make proper use of the recycle bins (MEWR and NEA 2015).

In Singapore, the BCA green mark certification is premier and is significantly relevant as a gold standard for green hotels (BCA 2015a; 2015b). Most of the older resorts and motels; however, might find it challenging to meet the qualification and criteria to be certified since it requires making of structural overhauled which would reduce the cost of operation (Xia et al. 2014). This is not easy for hotels situated in densely populated areas. The expenditure incurred when attaining the green mark certification is also too high for some hotel operators. Thus it becomes difficult for minor and middle-sized companies without enough resources and senior manager to acquire the green mark certification.

Importance of green Building Certification

Green Building Certification for the Hotel Industry Hospitality industry is deemed as the core for the tourism industry as well as a significant sector of the economy where cooking, landscaping, waste disposal, and use of both energy and water dramatically impact the environment (Mensah 2006). Buultjens et al. (2016) posit that many of the hotels and restaurants in both the developed and developing countries operate as per the national and international standards of eco-certification since it is a way of showing their protection of the environment. According to Dowling (2007), when tourism industry is developed inappropriately, it depletes natural resources, degrades habitats, interferes with the economic system and pollutes the environment when wastes are produced in the process of operation. The negative impacts on the environment have to be mitigated for the tourism industry to thrive, be sustained and make profits (Clarke, 2010).

According to Plumb and Zamfir (2009), there would be increased demand and market for tourism products and services within the hospitality industry where green building certifications are available and thus boosting the economy of the country. Currently, various hotels have acquired certifications, and as a result, they are acting as tourism practices improvement tools which aid in minimizing adverse environmental, societal and cultural impacts (Mehta 2007). According to Winkler (2011), the certification facilitates attraction of guests to the hotel making it more popular and eventually gives it a better reputation. According to Hwang and Tan (2012), It also enhances public awareness of good sustainable environmental practices and as well as quality services. With more hotels receiving certification, the cost of environmental protection is lowered, and issues such as conservation of natural resources and climate change are also addressed. The accreditation is a symbol of achievement of high-level quality services that are related to societal and environmental management (Jhamb and Singh 2016).

Futures of Green Initiatives

According to Kalamees (2007), some of the characteristics of green building are air tightness and vapor barrier in the wall and surfaces of buildings to enable natural cooling of the structure which would reduce the...