Hotels’ Green Practices Adoption: Determinants and Top Managers’ Environmental Commitment

Abstract

This study aims to examine the mediating effects of top managers’ environmental commitment (EC) between three key variables (i.e., subjective norms, perceived benefits, and environmental knowledge) and the adoption of green practices in Malaysian hotels. This study also evaluates the direct linkages among these variables. A total of 147 hotel top managers returned the completed and valid questionnaires. The participants consisted of top managers, such as owners, general managers, CEOs, and senior managers who possess managerial discretion regarding the hotel’s green practices. Top managers’ EC was found to be significantly related to green practices adoption in the hotels. Subjective norms (i.e., perceived stakeholder pressure) and environmental knowledge showed direct influences on top managers’ EC. On the other hand, the hotels’ green practices were mainly explained by environmental knowledge and perceived benefits. Top managers’ EC was found to fully mediate the relationship between subjective norms and green practices. Besides, EC partially mediates the linkage between environmental knowledge and green practices. These findings suggest that exposure to environmental knowledge through different platforms and frequent monitoring of the stakeholders' expectations are beneficial in enhancing environmental commitment among hotel top managers and embracing green practices.