Green Hospitality Practices and Customer Satisfaction: A Study of Hotels in the Upper West Region of Ghana

Authors

Cynthia Arah

Catering and Hospitality Studies Department, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi (Ghana)

Ellen Louise Olu Fagbemi

Catering and Hospitality Studies Department, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi (Ghana)

Article Information

DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS.2025.910000371

Subject Category: Hospitality Management

Volume/Issue: 9/10 | Page No: 4484-4496

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2025-10-12

Accepted: 2025-10-19

Published: 2025-11-12

Abstract

As sustainability becomes a key concern in the global hospitality industry, hotels are increasingly adopting eco-friendly measures. This study investigates the relationship between green hospitality practices and customer satisfaction in hotels within the Upper West Region of Ghana. This study employed a quantitative research approach. The target population for this study consisted of hotel guests and staff members from hotels located in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Simple random and convenience sampling techniques were used to select hotel staff and guests, respectively. Structured questionnaires to collect data from 109 hotel customers and 70 staff members. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were conducted to assess the relationship between green practices and customer satisfaction. Findings indicated that hotels in the Upper West Region are gradually embracing environmentally sustainable practices, particularly those that are practical, affordable, and immediately beneficial. The study revealed that customers have strongly positive perceptions and behavioural intentions toward green hotels. The study found a positive and statistically significant relationship between green practices and customer satisfaction (t = 2.059, p = 0.042 < 0.05). The study recommended that hotel managers should institutionalise clear sustainability policies that prioritise energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water conservation. Regular audits should be conducted to ensure compliance with green standards.

Keywords

Green practices, customer satisfaction, behaviour, hotels

Downloads

References

1. Agarwal, S., & Kasliwal, N. (2017). Going green: A study on consumer perception and willingness to pay towards green attributes of hotels. International Journal of Emerging Research in Management &Technology, 6(10), 16-28. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Aksu, A., Albayrak, T., & Caber, M. (2022). Hotel customer segmentation according to eco-service quality perception: the case of Russian tourists. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 5(3), 501-514. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Amicarelli, V., Aluculesei, A. C., Lagioia, G., Pamfilie, R., & Bux, C. (2022). How to manage and minimize food waste in the hotel industry: An exploratory research. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 16(1), 152-167. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Aquino, E., Lee, Y. M., Spawn, N., & Bishop-Royse, J. (2018). The impact of burnout on doctorate nursing faculty's intent to leave their academic position: A descriptive survey research design. Nurse education today, 69, 35-40. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Banerjee, S. B., Iyer, E. S., & Kashyap, R. K. (2013). Corporate environmentalism: Antecedents and influence of industry type. Journal of Marketing, 67(2), 106-122. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Berkhout, F., & Rowlands, I. H. (2017). The adoption of green electricity by small and medium- sized enterprises in the UK: Results from a survey. Business Strategy and the Environment, 16(6), 415-431. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Çavusoglu, S., Demirag, B., Jusuf, E., & Gunardi, A. (2020). The effect of attitudes toward green behaviors on green image, green customer satisfaction and green customer loyalty. Geo Journal of Tourism and Geosites, 33, 1513-1519. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. D’Acunto, F., Liu, L., & Weber, M. (2020). Green marketing and consumer attitudes toward sustainable products. Journal of Marketing Research, 57(5), 881-897. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Faust, C. (2018). Green hotels: Defining sustainable hospitality practices. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, 6(1), 15–25. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Garay, L., & Font, X. (2012). Doing good to do well? Corporate social responsibility reasons, practices, and impacts in small and medium accommodation enterprises. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 31(2), 329-337. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Gupta, V., Sajnani, M., Dixit, S. K., Mishra, A., & Gani, M. O. (2023). Are consumers influenced by the use of green practices in five-star hotels: an assessment of guest's revisit intentions, inclusive ratings and hotel performance. International Journal of Tourism Cities, 9(1), 159-181. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Hilton. (2015). Hilton sustainability performance report. Hilton Worldwide. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group). (2015). Green Engage sustainability report. IHG Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Kim, Y., & Lee, J. (2012). The impact of green practices on firm performance in the hotel industry: Managerial perceptions and evidence from Korea. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20(6), 953–971. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Lee, J. S., Abdul Wahid, N., & Goh, E. (2012). The role of perceived hotel motives in consumer evaluation of green hotels. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 36(4), 509-527. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Mensah, I. (2016). Environmental management practices among hotels in Ghana: A case of Greater Accra Region. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 55, 87-98. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Merli, R., Preziosi, M., Acampora, A., & Ali, F. (2019). Why should hotels go green? Insights from guests experience in green hotels. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 81, 169-179. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Moreo, P. J. (2018). The effects of green practices on guest satisfaction in the hotel industry. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 18(3), 283-294. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Mustapha, A., & Naibbi, A. I. (2017). Environmental sustainability and tourism development in Ghana. African Journal of Environmental Studies, 5(2), 98–113. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Nakipova, G., Arynova, Z., Kunyazov, E., Berezyuk, V., Zhunusova, A., & Syzdykbayeva, B. (2021). Influence of human capital on the development of tourism industry. Journal of Environmental Management & Tourism, 12(6 (54)), 1694-1706. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Okumus, B., Taheri, B., Giritlioglu, I., & Gannon, M. J. (2020). Tackling food waste in all-inclusive resort hotels. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 88, 102543. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Prakash, S., Sharma, V. P., Singh, R., Vijayvargy, L., & Nilaish. (2023). Adopting green and sustainable practices in the hotel industry operations-an analysis of critical performance indicators for improved environmental quality. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 34(4), 1057-1076. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Ristova, C. (2020). The environmental impact of hotels: the future is green. SocioBrains, International scientific refereed online journal with impact factor, 66, 245-251. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Safaeva, S. R., Alieva, M. T., Abdukhalilova, L. T., Alimkhodjaeva, N. E., & Konovalova, E. E. (2020). Organizational and economic aspects of the development of the international tourism and hospitality industry. Journal of Environmental Management & Tourism, 11(4 (44)), 913-919. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Statista Research Department (2025). Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP worldwide 2019-2035. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com. Accessed: March, 9, 2025. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Supriadi, B., Astuti, W., & Firdiansjah, A. (2017). Green product and its impact on customer satisfaction. IOSR Journal Of Business And Management (IOSR-JBM), 19(8), 35-42. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Tan, L. L. (2023). Understanding consumers’ preferences for green hotels–the roles of perceived green benefits and environmental knowledge. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 6(3), 1309-1327. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Tang, C. H. H., & Lam, D. (2017). The influence of green certification on eco-conscious travelers’ hotel stay decisions. Tourism Management, 59, 1-8. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Thai, K. P., & Nguyen, Q. H. (2022). How green hotel practices stimulates customer citizenship behavior? examining the role of green hotel mage and customer satisfaction in Vietnam. Geo J. Tour. Geosites, 40, 274-282. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Thommandru, A., Espinoza-Maguiña, M., Ramirez-Asis, E., Ray, S., Naved, M., & Guzman-Avalos, M. (2023). Role of tourism and hospitality business in economic development. Materials Today: Proceedings, 80, 2901-2904. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Tran, N. K. H. (2025). Green hotel practices and their effect on green brand loyalty: a study in Vietnam. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 1-21. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Yu, Y., Li, X., & Jai, T. M. (2017). The impact of green experience on customer satisfaction: Evidence from TripAdvisor. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 29(5), 1340-1361. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Yusof, Y., Awang, Z., Jusoff, K., & Ibrahim, Y. (2017). The influence of green practices by non-green hotels on customer satisfaction and loyalty in hotel and tourism industry. International Journal of Green Economics, 11(1), 1-14. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Zhang, L., Wu, J., Liu, H., & Zhang, X. (2020). The value of going green in the hotel industry: evidence from Beijing. Real Estate Economics, 48(1), 174-199. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

Metrics

Views & Downloads

Similar Articles