Green Practices in the Hospitality Industry: A Review of Current Literature and Emerging Trends

Abstract

Environmental sustainability has become a strategic and operational priority in the hospitality industry because hotel 
operations require substantial quantities of energy, water, food, materials and other resources while generating 
wastewater, food waste and solid waste and greenhouse-gas emissions. This review synthesizes current literature on 
environmental practices in hotels and examines emerging trends that are likely to shape the next phase of sustainable 
hospitality. A structured narrative review approach is used to organise the literature into established operational 
practices and emerging strategic and technological developments. The review shows that current hotel practices are 
concentrated around energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, wastewater reuse, waste prevention 
and recycling, food-waste management, sustainable procurement, reduction of single-use plastics, green 
housekeeping, sustainable building design, green human resource management, guest participation, environmental 
management systems and certification, low-emission mobility and community engagement. Emerging trends include 
artificial intelligence and predictive analytics, Internet of Things-based monitoring, smart buildings, circular 
economy models, net-zero strategies, electrification, carbon accounting, regenerative hospitality, biodiversity
positive operations, climate-resilient design, low-carbon food systems, green finance, supply-chain transparency and 
stronger scrutiny of greenwashing. The literature indicates a transition from isolated conservation activities to 
integrated, measurable and technology-supported sustainability systems. The paper concludes that future progress 
will depend on management commitment, credible measurement, employee capability, guest trust, supplier 
collaboration and context-specific investment decisions.