Developing Best Practices to Achieve Sustainable Development in Hotels

Purpose: This research seeks to create a checklist of optimal practices for attaining Sustainable Development (SD) in hotels located in Fayoum, Egypt. To achieve this, a conceptual framework is developed from the viewpoint of customers, aiming to investigate the ways in which SD initiatives influence guests' decisions about hotel stays and their propensity to return. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research utilizes a survey methodology, which includes distributing a questionnaire to hotel patrons to evaluate the hypotheses through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The survey effectively engaged 210 participants, yielding 160 valid responses deemed suitable for statistical analysis, resulting in a response rate of 76%. Findings: The research indicates that SD measures have a notable effect on guests' intentions to return (IR). The environmental, economic, and social aspects of SD, influenced by subjective norms, enhance IR positively. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis validates that subjective norms play a significant mediating role in the connection between SD measures and IR, demonstrating considerable predictive relevance. Implications/Originality/Value: This study enhances the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by applying it within the hotel industry, presenting a holistic SD framework that encompasses environmental, economic, and social aspects. From a practical standpoint, it equips hotel managers with a set of actionable strategies (Toolkit) to adopt effective SD practices, improve service quality, and cultivate guest loyalty through sustainable operations.