Green Practices of Hotels in Clark Pampanga Based on ASEAN Standard: A Basis for Sustainability Program Capacity

Abstract

This study assessed the extent of green practices and the sustainability of programs within a selection of hotels in Clark Pampanga, Philippines. This study primarily focused on the assessment of the level of green practices and the assessment of the program capability on the sustainability of the green practices of the selected hotels in Clark Pampanga. The hotels considered are establishments who are formally practicing green concepts as part of their hotel service branding. The research utilized the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard Self Evaluation Checklist to assess the level of green practices as perceived by the hotel managers, guests and employees. In addition, the Program Sustainability Assessment Tool V2 (PSAT), a standardized instrument intended to assess the program’s current capacity for sustainability of the green practices of the hotels was utilized. Hence, to find the significant difference in terms of the level of green practices and program capacity for sustainability among the clusters in the demographic profile, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. Finally, a structured face- to-face was employed to identify and assess the strengths and weaknesses of their programs. The participants and respondents who answered the instrument are the top, middle management team and supervisors of the hotel for they are directly involved in the program and project proposal, planning and operation. The two (2) employees and one (1) manager and (2) guests from the 14 selected hotels were the respondents who assessed the level of green practices of the hotel. On the other hand, one (1) or two (2) managers particularly the top managers, middle managers and supervisors of the 14 selected hotels were the respondents who assessed the level of program capacity for sustainability as well as answered the structured interview. All respondents were regular employees and manager of the hotel establishment with at least 2 years residency. Quantitative analysis reveals a strong commitment to green practices among the surveyed hotels, particularly in waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation, and air quality. However, areas for improvement include the use of eco-friendly products and documentation of water guidelines. Furthermore, hotels demonstrate robust program sustainability across dimensions such as political support, funding stability, partnerships, organizational capacity, and program evaluation. Demographic factors such as establishment age and departmental affiliation show minimal influence on green practices, highlighting the significance of hotel classification in shaping sustainability initiatives. Based on the findings, a structured sustainability framework is proposed, encompassing leadership, stakeholder engagement, assessment, capacity building, implementation, monitoring, recognition, continuous improvement, community engagement, and integration. Recommendations include collaboration with local communities, municipal support, tourism office involvement, academic institution engagement, hotel owner initiatives, guest participation, employee empowerment, and research for continuous improvement. By addressing key areas of improvement and leveraging strengths, hotels in Clark Pampanga can enhance sustainability efforts, leading to long- term environmental, social, and economic benefits.