An analysis of the development of “green” hotels in a small to medium-sized city - Kunming, China Wenting Duan A dissertation submitted to Auckland University of Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Hospitality Management (MIHM) 2019 School of Hospitality and Tourism Primary supervisor: Dr Tracy Harkison Secondary supervisor: Dr Shelagh Mooney Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... i List of Tables................................................................................................................... iii Attestation of Authorship ................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... v Abstract ............................................................................................................................ vi Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to green hotels ................................................................................. 1 1.2 Significance of the research ................................................................................ 2 1.3 Research aims and questions ............................................................................... 3 1.4 Research methodology and methods ................................................................... 4 1.5 Dissertation structure .......................................................................................... 5 Chapter 2: Literature review ............................................................................................. 7 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Definitions of green hotels .................................................................................. 7 2.2.1 Green hotels worldwide ........................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Green hotels in China ............................................................................... 8 2.3 Criteria for green hotels ...................................................................................... 9 2.3.1 Criteria for green hotels around the world ............................................... 9 2.3.2 Criteria for green hotels in China ........................................................... 10 2.4 SWOT analysis of green hotels ......................................................................... 12 2.4.1 Strengths of green hotels ........................................................................ 12 2.4.2 Weaknesses of green hotels ................................................................... 13 2.4.3 Opportunities for green hotels ................................................................ 14 2.4.4 Threats to green hotels ........................................................................... 15 2.4.5 Summary ................................................................................................ 17 2.5 Chapter summary .............................................................................................. 17 Chapter 3: Methodology ................................................................................................. 19 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Research objectives and questions .................................................................... 19 3.3 Research philosophy ......................................................................................... 19 3.3.1 Paradigm ................................................................................................ 20 3.3.2 Ontology and epistemology ................................................................... 20 3. 4 Qualitative method ........................................................................................... 21 3. 5 Choice of methodology - case study ................................................................ 21 3.5.1 Case study approach ............................................................................... 22 3.5.2 The case – Kunming............................................................................... 23 3.6 Method .............................................................................................................. 24 3.6.1 Data collection ....................................................................................... 24 3.6.2 Sample selection..................................................................................... 24 3.6.3 Content analysis ..................................................................................... 25 3.6.4 Data analysis .......................................................................................... 26 3.6.5 Analysis process ..................................................................................... 26 3.7 Chapter summary .............................................................................................. 28 Chapter 4: Findings and discussion ................................................................................ 29 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 29 4.2 Case study of green hotels in Kunming ............................................................ 29 4.3 Criteria for green hotels .................................................................................... 32 i 4.3.1 Criteria of green hotels in Kunming....................................................... 32 4.3.2 Detailed criteria for green hotels in Kunming ....................................... 34 4.3.3 Different criteria for green hotels around the world .............................. 37 4.3.4 Comparison of criteria for green hotels around the world ..................... 38 4.4 Benefits of green hotels ..................................................................................... 39 4.4.1 Benefits of green hotels in Kunming ..................................................... 39 4.4.2 Comparing the benefits of green hotels globally ................................... 41 4.5 Opportunities for green hotels in Kunming ...................................................... 42 4.5.1 Consumers and governments’ needs of green hotels ............................. 42 4.5.2 Market demand for green hotels ............................................................ 43 4.6 Challenges of green hotels in Kunming ............................................................ 44 4.7 Comparing opportunities and challenges of green hotels globally ................... 45 4.7.1 Opportunities for green hotels ................................................................ 45 4.7.2 Challenges for green hotels .................................................................... 46 4.8 Possible recommendations for green hotels ...................................................... 46 4.9 Chapter summary .............................................................................................. 48 Chapter 5: Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 50 5.1 Theoretical implications .................................................................................... 51 5.2 Practical implications ........................................................................................ 51 5.3 Limitations of the research ................................................................................ 52 5.4 Recommendations for future research .............................................................. 52 References ....................................................................................................................... 54 ii List of Tables Table 1 Emergence of standards in green hotels ............................................................. 10 Table 2 SWOT analysis of green hotels .......................................................................... 17 Table 3 Analysis process ................................................................................................. 27 Table 4 Certified 48 Green hotels in Kunming ............................................................... 31 Table 5 5A to A levels of green hotels in Kunming ....................................................... 33 Table 6 Detailed requirements for the criteria of green hotels in Kunming: .................. 35 Table 7 Different standards around the world................................................................. 37 iii Attestation of Authorship I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previous published or written by another person (expect where explicitly defined in the acknowledges), nor material which to a substantial extent has been submitted for the award of any other degree or diploma of a university or other institution of high learning. Signature of Candidate: ........................................................................... iv Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to all the people who helped