| Author: | Mihiretu, Haimanot Asmamaw |
| Title: | Green hotel for guest well-being : a quality dimension prospectus |
| Advisors: | Chan, S. W. Eric (SHTM) |
| Degree: | Ph.D. |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Subject: | Hotels -- Environmental aspects Hotel management -- Environmental aspects Tourists -- Psychology Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | School of Hotel and Tourism Management |
| Pages: | xiv, 357 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | The increasing environmental pollution, climate crisis, and non-pathogenic health problems, such as stress, loneliness, and anxiety, have become a growing concern, significantly impacting human life. In response, researchers have shifted their focus to well-being research to address human health alongside pathogen studies in recent decades. One crucial aspect of well-being is the desire for individuals to travel, explore new places, break away from routine life, and stay at green hotels. However, a research gap existed in understanding the role of green hotels in guest well-being and their potential impact on service quality. The study adopted a social constructivism paradigm, qualitative approach, and exploratory design strategy to bridge this gap. The data collection process consisted of two phases. Firstly, the researcher conducted participant observation at two systematically selected green-certified hotels based on predefined criteria. Secondly, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 32 informants using purposive snowball sampling. To ensure the credibility of the findings, the researcher employed various data-eliciting techniques, including confirmatory personal introspection, critical incident, and autobiographic memory cues. Data analysis was conducted objectively using the VOSviewer software, which applies a non-manual algorithm to visualise and identify nodes and themes. The study also adhered to strict data collection guidelines and procedures to mitigate subjectivity and ensure transferable and confirmable findings. The analysis followed a deductive and inductive thematic approach, utilising a three-step logical and analytical framework in line with the research objectives. The study indicated green hotels catalyse and contribute to guests' eco-conscious hedonic well-being. The findings also revealed that guests who pursue eco-conscious hedonic well-being and experience unique or impressive green hotel experiences could lead to liminality, curiosity, learning engagement, self-growth, and positive behavioural change, denoted as transformative well-being. It became a new wellÂ-being dimension conceptualised and theorised in this research findings. The green hotel guests' permanent behavioural change enables them to engage in meaningful, less guilty, and selfless actions like energy saving, water saving and waste reduction activities, and flourishing eudemonic well-being. The study also indicated that the three well-being dimensions are strongly interconnected. The study's findings further revealed that well-being-based green practices found a stamp for service quality and brand identity that can challenge the popular SERVQUAL model and related service quality measurement dimensions. In line with this, green practices with the lens of positive psychology and well-being can become one of the service quality dimensions. Finally, the study sheds light on theoretical, managerial, and methodological contributions. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | open access |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/12750