ASSESSING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ADOPTION OF GREEN PRACTICES IN THE NIGERIAN HOTEL INDUSTRY

(1)

The copyright © of this thesis belongs to its rightful author and/or other copyright owner. Copies can be accessed and downloaded for non-commercial or learning purposes without any charge and permission. The thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted as a whole without the permission from its rightful owner. No alteration or changes in format is allowed without permission from its rightful owner.

(2)

ASSESSING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ADOPTION OF GREEN PRACTICES IN THE NIGERIAN HOTEL INDUSTRY

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

2018

LADI MU’AZU

(3)

ASSESSING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ADOPTION OF GREEN PRACTICES IN THE NIGERIAN HOTEL INDUSTRY

LADI MU’AZU (94497)

(4)

(5)

(6)

PERMISSION TO USE

In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for PhD degree from Universiti Utara Malaysia, I agree that the Universiti Library may it freely available for inspection. I further agree that the permission for copying of this thesis in any manner either in whole or in part, for scholarly purpose may be granted by my supervisor or in his absence, by the Dean Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government, College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS). It is understood that any copying, publication, or use of this thesis or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall not be allowed without written permission. It is also understood that due to recognition shall be given to me and to Universiti Utara Malaysia for any scholarly use which may be made of any material from my thesis.

Requests for permission to copy or to make other use of materials in this thesis, in whole or in part, should be addressed to:

Dean (Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government) UUM College of Law, Government and International Studies

Universiti Utara Malaysia 06010 UUM Sintok Kedah Darul Aman

Malaysia

(7)

ABSTRACT

Hotel operations are tremendously resource-intensive and can cause negative impacts on the environment. These impacts could be reduced if hotels continuously impose green practices in their daily operations. However, the concept of green hotels is relatively new and yet to be fully adopted by hotels in Nigeria. Responding to this need, this study aims to identify the determinants of green practices and their relationship to the likelihood of adopting green practices among hotels managers in Nigeria. A 54-item questionnaire using the five-point Likert-type scale was developed based on previous studies. The questionnaires were distributed to 451 hotel managers of four and five-star hotels, yielding a response rate of 80.5% or 363 responses. Using multiple regression analysis, the findings of the study showed that five out of the eight hypothesized relationships were supported. Specifically, resource management, perceived environmental characteristics, stakeholders’ influence, sustainable programs and relative advantage positively determine the likelihood of green practice adoption. These results provide valuable theoretical understanding of green practice adoption in the hotels and offer hotel operators a working scheme to reduce its impacts on the environment, particularly in the context of Nigeria. This study also suggests that future research could examine other factors, such as environmental awareness, that could mediate the actual adoption of green practices.

Keywords: Perceived Innovation Characteristics, Organizational Practices, Perceived Environmental Characteristics, Stakeholders’ Influence, Nigeria.

(8)

ABSTRAK

Operasi hotel seringkali menggunakan sumber secara intensif dan ini boleh menyebabkan impak negatif kepada persekitaran. Impak negatif ini boleh dikurangkan jika pihak hotel mempraktikkan amalan hijau secara berterusan dalam operasi harian mereka. Walau bagaimanapun, konsep ini adalah baru dan masih tidak digunakan secara keseluruhan oleh hotel di Nigeria. Sebagai respon kepada kekurangan ini, kajian ini bertujuan mengenal pasti penentu kepada amalan hijau dan hubungannya dengan kemungkinan mempaktikkan amalan hijau dikalangan pengurus hotel di Nigeria. Satu set kajiselidik yang mengandungi 54 item telah dibina berdasarkan kajian terdahulu. Borang kajiselidik ini diedarkan kepada 451 pengurus hotel bertaraf empat dan lima bintang dan menghasilkan kadar pulangan borang kajiselidik 80.5% atau sebanyak 363 maklum balas. Analisis regresi yang digunakan menghasilkan dapatan yang menunjukkan lima daripada lapan hipotesis yang dicadangkan adalah tersokong. Secara spesifik, pengurusan sumber, persepsi ciri-ciri persekitaran, pengaruh pemegang taruh, program kelestarian dan kelebihan relatif secara positif mempengaruhi kemungkinan melaksanakan amalan hijau. Keputusan kajian memberi kefahaman teori yang bernilai berkaitan dengan perlaksanaan amalan hijau dalam perniagaan hotel dan menawarkan skema kerja kepada pengusaha hotel untuk mengurangkan impak negatif operasi hotel terhadap persekitaran serta kesannya kepada alam sekitar terutamanya di Nigeria. Kajian ini juga mencadangkan supaya kajian akan datang boleh memberi penumpuan kepada faktor-faktor seperti kesedaran alam sekitar yang berkemungkinan menjadi perantara kepada perlaksanaan sebenar amalan hijau.

Kata Kunci: Persepsi Ciri-Ciri Inovasi, Amalan Organisasi, Persepsi Ciri-Ciri Persekitaran, Pengaruh Pemegang Taruh, Nigeria

(9)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah (SWT), who gave me the strength and courage to complete this gigantic work. The completion of this thesis, which marks a milestone in my life, would not have been possible without the assistance and support of many people. Such a journey would never have been completed without their support.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisors: Associate Professor Dr. Basri Rashid and Dr. Noor Azimin Zainol for their assistance, motivation, patience, professional guidance and excellent supervision. Their guidance helped me tremendously in accomplishing this study.

Besides my Supervisors, I would like to thank the rest of my thesis committee members:

Professor Dr. Badaruddin Mohammad and Professor Dr. Azilah Kasim for their insightful comments and encouragement and for the hard questions, which made me to widen my research from various perspectives. To all of them, once again, I say Thank you.

Last but not the least my husband: Mu'azu Umar, whose patience, guidance and understanding made it possible for me to start and successfully end the program. My children and granddaughter: Idris, Maryam, Abba, Moukthar, Aliyu and Zainab deserve an immense gratitude for their support and understanding. May they be inspired to reach greater heights.

In addition, my sisters, friends and colleagues, thank you for supporting me throughout the period of the PhD program.

The study would never have come into existence on its own. The researcher is particularly grateful for all the past studies that provided input in one way or the other into this study.

Alhamdulillah!

(10)

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to my late mother Hajia Mairamu Baba Na Hannun Dama, the greatest teacher of all, who is always in my memory all times. She passed on two weeks into my program, and I pray to almighty Allah to forgive all her sins and make Al-Jannah Fidausi her final abode.

(11)

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1 Environmental Impact of a Hotel ... 40

Table 2.2 Definitions of Green Practice ... 50

Table 2.3 Benefits of Adopting Green Practices in Hotels ... 60

Table 2.4 Summary of Previous Studies on Green Practice Adoption ... 77

Table 2.5 Water Use per Tourists per Day in Hotels ... 106

Table 2.6 Waste Composition in the Hotels ... 110

Table 3.1 Determining Sample Size of a Given Population... 150

Table 3.2 Total Number of Hotels ... 151

Table 3.3 Perceived Innovation Characteristics (PIC) ... 154

Table 3.4 Organizational Practice (OP) ... 156

Table 3.4 Continue ... 157

Table 3.5 Perceived Environmental Characteristics (PEC)... 158

Table 3.6 Stakeholders’ Influence ... 159

Table 3.7 Likelihood of Adoption ... 160

Table 3.8 Reliability Analysis of Pilot Study ... 161

Table 3.9 Techniques of Analyzing Data ... 164

Table 3.10 Summary of Validity ... 169

Table 4.1 Response Rate of the Survey ... 175

Table 4.2 Analysis of Missing Items ... 177

Table 4.3 Data Coding... 178

Table 4.4 Age Distribution of Respondents ... 179

Table 4.5 Hotel Managers’ Gender ... 180

Table 4.6 Hotel Managers’ Educational Background ... 181

Table 4.7 Hotel Grades ... 182

Table 4.8 Hotel Ownership Style ... 183

Table 4.9 Hotel Managers’ Familiarity with Green Practices ... 184

Table 4.10 Hotel Environmental Policy ... 185

Table 4.11 Motives for Implementation ... 186

Table 4.12 Descriptive Statistics ... 188

Table 4.13 Level of Agreement among Variables ... 188

Table 4.14 Multicollinearity Test Based on Tolerance Value and the VIF ... 192

(18)

Table 4.16 Factor Analysis for Compatibility (COM) ... 194

Table 4.17 Factor Analysis for Complexity (CPX) ... 195

Table 4.18 Factor Analysis for Relative Advantage (RAD) ... 196

Table 4.19 Rotated Component Matrix ... 197

Table 4.20 Factor Analysis for Resource Management (RM) ... 198

Table 4.21 Factor Analysis for Sustainable Programs (SUS) ... 199

Table 4.22 Factor Analysis for Waste Management (WST) ... 200

Table 4.23 Factor Analysis for Perceived Environmental Characteristics (PEC) ... 201

Table 4.24 Factor Analysis for Stakeholders’ Influence (SI) ... 202

Table 4.25 Reliability of Variables (N=363)... 204

Table 4.26 Model Summary ... 210

Table 4.27 Anova ... 210

Table 4.28 Coefficients ... 212

Table4.29 Hypotheses Relationship Decision ... 218

(19)

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.1 Organization of the Thesis ... 31

Figure 2.1 Rate of Adoption ... 70

Figure 2.2 Decision Process for Green Practice Adoption in the Hotel Industry ... 72

Figure 2.3 Adopter Categories (Diffusion of Innovation) ... 73

Figure 2.4 Factors Affecting Energy Usage in the Hotel Industry ... 90

Figure 2.5 Typical Electricity Use for Hotels ... 92

Figure 2.6 End Uses of Water in Hotel (Source: WaterSence, 2015). ... 104

Figure 2.7 Conceptual Framework ... 128

Figure 2.8 Map of Nigeria Showing the Two Research Areas - Abuja and Lagos. ... 135

Figure 4.1 Normality Assumption ... 190

(20)

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A Survey Instrument ... 290

Appendix B Introductory Letter ... 297

Appendix C Communication with Research Scholar ... 298

Appendix D Krecie and Morgan (1970) Table for determining sample size ... 300

Appendix E Missing Value Analysis ... 301

Appendix F Descriptive Statistics ... 302

Appendix G Normal PP Plot ... 304

Appendix H Scatterplot ... 305

(21)

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CO2 Carbon Dioxide

DOI Diffusion of Innovation

FEPA Federal Environmental Protection Agency GDP Gross Domestic Product

GHA Green Hotel Association

HATMAN Hotel and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria HCIMA Hotel Catering and Institutional Management Association HVAC Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning

IHEI International Hotels Environmental Initiatives IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

KMO Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin

NANTA National Association of Travel Agency NGO Non-Governmental Organization

NTDC Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation PEC Perceived Environmental Characteristics PIC Perceived Innovation Characteristics SPSS Statistical Package for Social Scientists TPB Theory of Planned Behavior

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNWTO United Nations World Tourism Organisation

WCED World Commission on Environment and Development WTTC World Travel and Tourism Council

(22)

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.0Introduction

This introductory chapter presents the background of the study on green practice. It emphasizes the importance and benefits of green practices, whilst at the same time pointing out the problems attributed to their implementation in organizations. The problem statement, scope, research questions, research objectives, significance and contribution of the study are presented, terms are defined, theoretical framework is proposed and the chapter concludes with a summary.

1.1Background of the Study

Development and industrialization have taken their toll of the environment, together with the utilization of natural resources to complement modern lifestyles (Reagan, 2006; Han, Hsu & Sheu, 2010). For instance, hotel as an important part of the tourism industry, not only contribute to social and economic development but also consume a major share of resources and produce a commensurate share of waste needing to be managed. As observed by Gaber (2011), the preliminary stages of development and industrialization can intensify environmental damage and environmental disasters resulting from the negligence of corporations have raised public concern. One of the events that propelled this concern in Nigeria was the Shell incident, apparently destroying lands belonging to the Ogoni people (Wheeler, 2002). This is an on-going copnflict involving industrial pollution and waste,

(23)

destruction of fauna and flora, added to global environmental issues such as global warming (Adeyinka, Bankole & Olaye, 2005). This has given rise to a call for more responsible sustainable practices, now referred to as alternative, eco, responsible or green practices, all of them signifying substitution for the conventional ways of operating that is becoming ecologically, socially, ethically and politically unsustainable (Swarbrooke, 1999).

Travel and tourism is noted as one of the major global economic industries, generating 10%

of the world’s GDP, 7% of global exports (WTTC, 2017), and accounting for roughly 5%

of worldwide release of carbon dioxide and all of this causing many environmental impacts (UNWTO, WTTC, 2017). It is predicted that by 2035, emission from worldwide travel and tourism is expected to rise to an estimated 130% (UNWTO, 2008). The increase in greenhouse gases is warming the earth with methane in hotel operations produced from rotten food, having a stronger effect than carbon dioxide (Douglas, 2010). It is estimated that, an average hotel releases between 160 and 200 kg of carbon dioxide per square meter of floor area per year; water consumption per guest per night is between 170 and 440 liters in the average five-star hotel, and produces 1 kg of waste per guest per night (Han, Hsu &

Sheu 2010).

The growth of the industry and its subsequent environmental impacts highlight the importance of the need for sustainable ways of operations to manage processes of sustainability. For instance, hotel as an important part of the tourism industry, not only contribute to social and economic development but also consume a major share of resources and produce a commensurate share of waste needing to be managed (Rodriguez & Cruz, 2007). Hotel operations emit greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons), which are released into the atmosphere (Kirk 1995). Robinot and Giannelloni, (2010)

(24)

resources in the form of water and energy, with many hoteliers ignoring these problems (Tortella & Tirado, 2011).

As a service industry, tourism has been affecting the environment by its amazing growth (Graci & Dodds, 2008), utilizing excessive amounts of energy, polluting water and, air, and with inefficient waste disposal (Bohdanowicz, 2006; Robinot & Giannelloni, 2010; Hsieh, 2012; Nicholls & Kang, 2012). Williams and Ponsford (2008) posit that, natural resources are stressed through the activities of tourism in the form of hotel development. The growth over time has been exerting increased pressure on the environment, with hotels built to cater for millions of travellers. These hotels soon consumed much of the resources that many of the community had relied upon. To date, the issue of transforming the sector towards sustainability has been mainly conceptual, and this is the case in Nigeria, where the trend is yet to be fully accepted (Olamiyu, 2012).

Tourism and hospitality industry earns billions of dollars annually in developing countries and contributes to climate change, due to its dependence on the environment (Scott, Amelung, Ceron, Dubois, Gossling & Simpson, 2008). The physical environment is the most important asset the tourism industry has, and overlooking its protection will result in self- destruction (Knowles, Macmillan, Palmer, Grabowski & Hashimoto, 1999). Beautiful landscapes, warm climates, clean air and pristine beaches are what the industry depends on.

However, it has the potential to destroy the very environment on which it depends if it is not well managed, a typical case of ‘killing the goose that lays the golden egg’.

One of the events that propelled this concern in Nigeria was the Shell incident, apparently destroying lands belonging to the Ogoni people (Wheeler, 2002). This is an on-going conflict involving industrial pollution and waste, destruction of fauna and flora, added to global environmental issues such as global warming (Adeyinka, Bankole & Olaye, 2005).

(25)

This has given rise to a call for more responsible sustainable practices, now referred to as alternative, eco, responsible or green practices, all of them signifying substitution for the conventional ways of operating that is becoming ecologically, socially, ethically and politically unsustainable (Swarbrooke, 1999).

Greater recognition within the hospitality industry could influence the sustainability of operations and lead to significant sustainability improvements in the industry (Mohammad, Arifin, Samsuri & Munir, 2014). However, environmental awareness and issues of climate change, energy consumption and waste are exerting pressure on hotels to adopt green practices (Han et al., 2010), increasing the likelihood of guests staying in environmentally friendly hotels (Hans, Hsu, Lee & Sheu, 2011). Guests believe that the active participation of hotels in green practice is an indispensable condition; it is therefore necessary in attracting and maintaining patronage from environmentally friendly customers (Manaktola & Jauhari, 2007). In essence, the concern for a sustainable environment may become a decisive factor in selecting a hotel (Oliveira, Tricarico, Varella & Velasquez, 2016). According to a study by Timetric’s Global Business Traveler (2013) report, “47% of respondents stated staying in a green certified hotel during a business trip as important, while 7% consider it to be extremely important”. Han et al. (2011) posit that, most tourists are ready to stay in facilities that are committed to green practices, revealing that 75% of frequent travellers in America claim to be environmentally minded, and 54% have a preference to stay in hotels that are environmentally friendly. Mensah (2006) further indicates that 90% of US hotel guests have a preference to stay in hotels that adopt green management practices. Therefore, hotels that are not environmentally friendly may face pressure from consumers to adopt practices friendly to the environment (Masau & Prideaux, 2003). Hotel operators should recognize this trend and adopt practices that are environmentally friendly to improve their

(26)

However, the identification and monitoring of these environmental impacts have to date received little attention. It is very important to predict what the environmental impacts of the hotel industry are and identify how they can be prevented. Furthermore, many of the impacts can be controlled and mitigated by the industry, and thus improving the sustainability of operations. However, sustainability is accomplished only when businesses adopt green practices that utilize a reduced amount of resources; implement recycling activities; and use energy that is renewable (Norton, 2010). Essentially, green practice is a program for, implementing and managing conservational actions in establishments to enhance competitiveness, thereby improving environmental impacts and financial performance (Dodds, 2008). Green practice is equally described as a reliable and workable scheme that hotels can adopt to gain benefits (Park, 2009). Many others adopt it for the simple reason that it creates a positive image for the hotels, as well as combatting environmental degradation (Saadatian, Lim, Mat & Sopian, 2012; Smerecnik & Andersen, 2012).

Hotels adopting green practice search for strategies that will allow their business to improve their environmental performance (Revell & Blackburn, 2007) and position them ahead of their competitors (Manaktola & Jauhari, 2007). In fact, greening can be a company’s order winner (Chan, Chiou, & Lettice, 2012). An empirical report showed a significant reduction of 11 to 15% reduction in energy usage among restaurants that adopted sustainable practices (Business & Environment, 2008). Energy efficiency, responsible use of water, decrease in waste, procuring homegrown or organic products, implementing recycling programmes and installation of water saving devices are practices that are mostly observed as being green (Tzschentke, Kirk and Lynch, 2004, 2008). Hence, it becomes important for hotels to safeguard the environment, and discard their usual ways of operating, by accepting a friendlier practice (Bohdanowicz & Zientara, 2012; Smerecnik & Anderson, 2011).

(27)

Certainly, sustainability has become a critical issue within the global lodging industry, requiring significant behavioral change by business, the public and the government (Han &

Yoon, 2015).

However, there is a lack of knowledge on the available solutions, technologies and procedures involved with the employment of sustainable practices in Nigerian hotels (Rogerson & Sims, 2012). It is necessary to know the factors that are likely to motivate adoption of practices that would reduce their negative impact on the environment. In addition, there is a need to develop tools for measuring and monitoring the implementation of sustainable practices. In general, the quest for a clean environment has international dimensions climaxed in “Our Common Future”, slogan in the Brundtland Report (WCED, 1987), bringing the environmental discussion and the concept of sustainability to the vanguard of international agendas. The sustainability discussion addresses the economic, environmental and social obligation of tourism (Hotel Analyst, 2012). Environmental sustainability is a multidisciplinary subject and its scope has attracted the attention of researchers from various fields of knowledge. From this perspective, green practice in the hotel industry stands out. The definition of sustainability is subjective but generally involves using resources with a future- oriented outlook. Contemporary approaches to sustainability vary and range from attempts to adapt processes to minimize consumption of resources and environmental pollution, to improving relationships with stakeholders (Linnenluecke, Russell, & Griffiths, 2007).

This study therefore, looks environmental sustainability in Nigerian hotels in an attempt to minimize consumption of resources and environmental pollution. According to Cooper (1998), sustainability refers to the processes and practices undertaken by an organization to

(28)

generated (Hawkins & Bohdanowicz, 2011). The most important aspect of any sustainable discussion is within the context of climate change. As climate change is increasingly damaging the environment, it has today become a predominant topic within the travel and tourism industry (Millar & Baloglu, 2008). Sustainability discussion has sensitized the need for a balance between economic and environmental interests in tourism, improving energy savings, recycling, reduction of waste and emissions and improving the livelihood of the community (Swarbrooke, 1999). Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been increasing ever since the Industrial Revolution began, due primarily to burning fossil fuels (Shah, 2015).

The sustainability concept is seen as a magic wand aiming towards more sustainable, environmentally and socially friendly tourism development (Swarbrooke, 1999). An enormous number of activities that collectively exert a substantial effect on global resources (Kirk 1995) characterize hotel operation. These environmental effects contribute to problems that are international in scope (Bohdanowicz, Zientara & Novotna 2011).

The hotel industry in Nigeria is still growing and attracted significant investment of over US$3 billion in the five years to 2015 (BusinessNews, 2015). The industry is growing stronger with the opening of more hotels as local investors go into partnership with foreign investors and take advantage of the revision of the economy to grow their businesses. In Nigeria, in 2016 tourism and hospitality industry contributed NGN5, 124.3bn (USD20.3bn), 4.7% of GDP, and 1,793,000 (4.5%) of employment (WTTC, 2017). In addition, the United Nations World Tourism Organization stated that, between 70 and 75% of international tourists’ expenditure went to hospitality services on an annual basis in Nigeria (Babalola &

Oluwatoyin, 2014, ILO, 2010). The figures show the economic significance of the industry in the business arena. Yet, managing the environment is neglected in Nigeria and the problem has become enormous and difficult to solve (Okanlawon, Odunjo & Soyebo, 2015);

and the activities of man continue to degrade the environment. Several tourist destinations

(29)

in Nigeria may have been a source of environmental pollution through their poor waste disposal, and people are now looking for some forms of sustainable tourism (Oghojafor &

Ogunkoya, 2015). This growth, increasingly calls for ‘greening’ of the hospitality sector and the creation of carbon-neutral hotels.

The greening of the hotel sector or adoption of green practices has attracted much attention from researchers, resulting in a number of theoretical frameworks. Tornatzky and Fleischer (1990) developed the technology, organization and environment (TOE) framework used in conducting research on diffusion of various types of information technology innovation. In this framework, three features of the context that affect the processes by which companies adopt and use technology innovation were identified, namely the technological, organizational and environment contexts (Oliveira & Martins, 2011). Another theoretical model is the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (hereafter the diffusion or dissemination theory of Rogers (1995), which asserts that, factors for the adoption of green practices in an organization are perceived innovation characteristics (compatibility, complexity, relative advantage). Other factors include perceived environmental characteristics (government /regulations, competition); organizational practices; and stakeholders’ influence. These factors play a significant part in persuading an organization to implement environmental initiatives (Rogers, 1995).

Several sustainability studies have been carried out; for example, Best and Thapa (2011) adapted the diffusion theory to study the adoption of sustainable practices in accommodation in the Caribbean. Le, Hollenhorst, Harris, McLaughlin and Shook (2006) used the dissemination theory to investigate the influence of perceived innovation, environmental, and organizational characteristics on the probability of hotels adopting environmentally

(30)

sustainability has become a subject of discussion in academia, the environment in Nigeria remains unsustainable (Okanlawon, Odunjo, & Soyebo, 2015) and no research has yet attempted to investigate the phenomenon (Bello, Bello & Yusof, 2014). Gaps remain between academia and practical industry.

As studies on environmental practices have mainly focused on manufacturing firms, due to their greater exposure to environmental issues in the form of inputs and outputs, study needs to extend to green issues in the services sector, which has often been described as destroying the environment ‘silently’ (Álvarez-Gil et al., 2001). In order to fill the gap, this study examines the factors that affect hotels’ adoption of green practices, specifically in Nigeria.

Environmentally friendly practice has attracted research interest (Ayuso, 2006; Bader, 2005;

Bohdanowicz, 2006; Chan, 2008; Chan & Lam, 2003; Kasim, 2009; Lee, Hsu, Han & Kim, 2010; Mensah, 2007; Robinot & Giannelloni, 2010; Smerecnik & Andersen, 2011), and all these studies described how the industry operates by taking environmental resources and transforming them for sale in consumer markets. Ironically, this also requires the security and conservation of these resources for sustained competitiveness. However, a fundamental investigation of the relationship between green practice and likelihood of adoption in the hotel industry in Nigeria remains untouched in the literature. Studies have been conducted in different countries, especially in the developed ones with different predictors of green practice adoption; these however have yet to be examined in the Nigerian context. Therefore, the need to test the diffusion variables in Nigeria becomes inevitable. This study fills the gap by proposing an integrated model of dissemination theory with stakeholders’ influence.

The stakeholder is integrated into the diffusion model to increase the likelihood of adoption.

An empirical survey conducted in Taiwan revealed that pressure from various stakeholders had a substantial and positive impact on green practices adoption (Weng, Chen & Chen, 2015). Stakeholders play an important role in the organizational environment and are widely

(31)

involved in research on environmental issues (Etzion, 2007). Stakeholder pressure is perceived as the most noticeable factor influencing a business’s environmental policy (Buysse & Verbeke, 2003; GonzalezBenito & Gonzalez-Benito, 2006). According to the stakeholder theory, organizations carry out activities to satisfy their main stakeholders. The study by Cespedes-Lorente, Burgos-Jimenez and Alvarez-Gil (2003) showed the power of stakeholders positively relating to the adoption of green practices in the Spanish hotel industry. Further, the outcomes of their research indicate that the more apparent the economic legitimacy of green practices by firms, the greater the probability that such practices will be adopted. Mensah (2013) carried out a study in one of Nigeria’s neighbours, Ghana; his findings revealed stakeholders such as directors had a more significant influence on the greening of hotels. Another study recognized the significance of stakeholders’

demands as motivation for increased proactive green practices, indicating that stakeholders are significantly influential in corporate environmental decisions (Gonzalez-Benito &

Gonzalez-Benito, 2010). Reed (2008) emphasized that participation by stakeholders facilitates processes to achieve objectives and develop appropriate solutions to environmental problems. As indicated by Kasim (2006), sustainable tourism requires a collective and conscious effort from all stakeholders. In addition, the participation of stakeholders in business decisions is considered an ethical obligation and a strategic means for the adoption of green practices (Cennamo, Berrone, & Gomez-Mejia, 2009). A study conducted by Teng, Horng and Hu (2015) showed stakeholders positively influence hotels’

environmental decisions. Chan and Wong (2006) noted that, the pressure of environmental interests and demands of stakeholders have a critical influence on hotels’ implementation of green practices significantly influencing their sustainability decisions. Rasi, Abdekhodaee and Nagarajah (2013) suggest that stakeholders lead to improved proactive environmental practices supporting their hypothesis that all the stakeholders examined in their study clearly

(32)

contributed to significant changes for environmental improvement establishing a link between stakeholders’ involvement and environmental competitiveness.

This study not only provides an efficient way to examine the effects of green practices but also suggests the best means for hotels to adopt green practices. Although previous studies have provided some evidence of the influence of various factors on green practices, to date few no far-reaching examination of drivers of green practice has yet been performed in the Nigerian context. Hence, it becomes imperative to obtain a complete view of the impact of hotel stakeholders on the adoption of green practices. The researcher believes that hotel managers would be interested in knowing what the key drivers are in establishing green practices. Thus, the study adopts the stakeholder theory (Freeman, 2010) to study the influences of stakeholders on green practices.

1.2Problem Statement

Currently, global climate change, ozone depletion, pollution, over- utilization of resources and increasing amounts of solid waste are issues facing the globe. Hotels, as part of the leisure industry, exert a substantial impact on the environment (Kasim, 2006). Due to these effects, considerable uncertainty exists regarding the long-term implications of such negative environmental impacts (Rogerson & Sims 2012). There is an urgent need to address the problem. Nigeria, like any of the industrialized nations, has suffered from environmental issues caused by the activities of firms to achieve economic growth, which has resulted into environmental degradation (Nabegu, Mustapha & Naibbi, 2017). Thus, the necessity to balance the pace of development in order to ensure that the economic benefits are not negated by the cost of environmental changes has long been recognized by the government through enactments of environmental regulations (FEPA, 1988) hence, the need to ensure hotels adopt green practices to minimize their environmental impact and ensure conservation of resources.

(33)

Need to reduce hotels’ environmental footprint

Recently, the resource-guzzling global hotel industry has had to assess itself and tackle its environmental impact. Brazen use of resources at the cost of the environment is no longer an option in the time of climate change. The concern and demand for greening have led the industry across the globe to move towards resource efficiency with the use of renewable energy, efficient water management and plans to reduce energy usage wherever possible.

However, these efforts go beyond just energy usage. Today, sustainability in the accommodation section of the hotel is vital. Hotels that actually want to implement sustainable programmes and are concerned with more than just ‘green washing’ are taking steps to evaluate their housekeeping operations. The tourism business accounts for 5% of the total carbon dioxide emissions worldwide, and the housekeeping department of the hotel is the most visible area where the enormous environment footprint is noticeable (Green Hotelier, 2015). Despite the fact that the hotel industry is growing in importance, it is susceptible to environmental degradation and climate change (Kasim, 2009), even though it is considered the least contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (Gössling & Weaver, 2009).

Nevertheless, when taken together, they may exert significant pressure on global resources (Bohdanowicz & Martinac, 2007; Gössling, 2002; Kirk, 1995). Having established the need for environmentally friendly practices in hotels, and responding to the demands of the customers, this study looks into factors that affect the adoption of green practices and contribute to a sustainable environment.

Due to its operating characteristics and services provided, the hotel consumes large amounts of resources (Bohdanowicz, 2006), producing volumes of waste (Bohdahnowcz, 2011) and emissions of gases into the air (Kirk, 1995). Emission of greenhouse gas is an important issue when discussing sustainable practices in the hospitality industry. Carbon dioxide and

(34)

from rotten food waste, is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. In addition, the use of generators releases carbon dioxide (Akin, 2016); many organizations in Nigeria, including hotels, provide their own electricity by means of fossil-fuel powered generators, because of limited electricity supply from the national grid (Oyedepo, 2012). This type of generator generally affects the environment (Kate & Torrie, 1998), not only through emissions but also by noise. According to Akin (2016), Nigerians burn 40 million barrels of refined oil daily for both domestic and industrial purposes. It can therefore be inferred that, environmental sustainability would be easier to achieve if the use of generators was limited.

Therefore, these negative contributions towards the environment should not be ignored.

Adopting and implementing green practices is essential in all the operations of a hotel, leading to greater sustainability in the industry. The literature suggests that, hotels have the highest negative impact on the environment of all commercial buildings (Han, Hsu & Sheu, 2010), annually releasing an estimated 160 to 200kg of carbon dioxide per square meter and consuming 170 to 440 liters of water, with 1kg of waste per guest each day. These resources are depleted and the industry seems not to be doing anything or putting effort into resolving the issue.

The hotel industry in Nigeria is rapidly growing (Dantata, 2011; Eja, Agbor & Inyang, 2013) generating concern about its impact on the environment. In the US, the growth of hotels is raising concern for the environment, and worldwide buildings including hotels account for 17% of fresh water withdrawals, 33% of carbon dioxide emissions, and 40% of material and energy use (Green Building Council, 2015). Of all the different kinds of commercial buildings, hotels have the largest undesirable influence on the environment. Large international chains, which constitute a high percentage of the world’s hotels, are especially problematic (Sloan, Legrand & Chen, 2013). This attitude has become an environmental issue for the hospitality industry in Nigeria, with a similar expansion of hotels. Likewise,

(35)

Adesina and Ngozi (2013) stated that Nigerian hotels are beset with environmental problems concerning the extreme use of natural resources, waste disposal issues, noise and energy issues. According to Kuuder, Bagson, Prempeh, Mumuni, Adongo and Amoako (2013), some of these adverse effects on the environment accompany the proliferation of hotels.

Hence, there is a need to ensure hotels adopt green practices to minimize their environmental impacts and ensure conservation of resources.

Low level of environmental awareness

Nigerian hotel operators seem not to be aware or practise green adequately, a topic that has received little interest in the African continent (Rogerson & Sims, 2012). According to Andah (2016), lack of green education on climate change and few environmental laws, inadequate organized structure and poor capacity on climate change in the Ministries of Environment; and conflicting national policy on climate change hinder the greening of the hotel industry. Ramayah, Lee and Mohamad (2010) echo that, in spite of the increasing rate of environmental awareness, the readiness to act towards saving the environment is still low, especially in developing countries. Okanlawon et al. (2015) posit that, green practice is yet to be embarked upon because of government insensitivity towards it. Against this backdrop, this study centers on assessing the factors that affect the likelihood of adoption of green practice in the Nigerian hotel industry. In order for a hotel to be able to contribute to green tourism, like every other business, it needs to have a clear environmental policy. Nicholls and Kang (2012) established that, the existence of a written environmental policy is linked with higher levels of adoption of green practices. This study is of great importance as there is much pressure on hotels to become green and the hotels in Nigeria cannot remain unmindful of implementing green practices.

(36)

Limited studies on green practice

Even though numerous researchers have pointed to innovation as a key to green adoption, studies regarding sustainability efforts of hotels in Nigeria are rare; environmental efforts in hotels throughout the country are insignificant and lag behind those of the developed countries (Olamuyi, 2012). The problem in essence is that the tourism sector in Nigeria is unable to find its feet on the Africa regional tourism map (Bello, Bello & Yusof, 2014). The authors conclude that it is difficult to substantiate the environmental activities of hotels due to limited data. Limited data on the understanding of green practice results in the emergence of an important gap in the realization of greening the industry (Nabegu, Mustapha & Naibbi, 2017). Therefore, this research seeks to analyze Rogers’ model to assess the most suitable factors for the adoption of green practices in the Nigerian hotel industry.

According to Nabegu et al. (2017), guidelines for managing the adoption and subsequent application of green practices in hotels in the country are fragmented, causing concern. In view of this gap, there is an urgent need for fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of the tourism business process in Nigeria, to bring about dramatic improvement in environmental performance. To the best of the researcher’s knowledge, limited studies have examined environmentally friendly practices in hotel businesses in Nigeria. The objective of this study is to examine the Nigerian hospitality industry in the context of those factors that can make the hotels environmentally friendly. Additionally, scarce information regarding implementation of green practices in the hotel industry in Nigeria, and the impacts that hotels exert on the environment, calls for urgent action to mitigate these effects (Rogerson & Sims, 2012).

Many empirical studies on green practices have been conducted in advanced countries in Europe, Asia and North America (Mensah, 2007) with a few in the developing world (El Dief & Font, 2010; Best & Thapa, 2011). Despite the numerous studies by various scholars

(37)

on environmental management, Myung, McClaren and Li (2012) stated that only 5.7% of this research was conducted in Africa from 2000 to 2010 compared to Europe (29%), USA (23%), Asia (23%) and Australia (7.6%). Tzchentke, Kirk and Lynch (2008) expressed the same opinion. An empirical investigation on the influential factors of green practice adoption in Nigerian hotels has been neglected, and focusing on waste disposal and pollution (Chukwuemeka, Osisioma, Onwuka & Ugwu, 2012; Ukpong & Udofia, 2011; Babalola, Ishaku, Busu & Majid, 2010; Ogwueleka, 2009). Therefore, there is need to investigate the likelihood of adoption of green practices in the Nigerian hotel industry, for the development of the economy.

Despite the level of adoption globally, few hoteliers in Nigeria are well informed of the necessity to implement this innovative idea. Hence, this gap deserves further investigation;

the outcomes of the previous studies may not be generalizable to Nigeria because of cultural and contextual differences. Such neglect has been unfortunate because perceived benefits directly influence hoteliers’ decisions whether to become involved in or stay out of the practice (Álvarez et al., 2001; Enz & Siguaw, 1999). Hence, this study intends to study factors that would encourage the adoption of green practices in Nigerian hotels.

Poor refuse disposal

Refuse disposal is a main environmental problem of hotels in Nigeria and the country at large (Nwigwe, 2008). At times, tourist sites are neglected, and recreational facilities, particularly parks and playgrounds, are transformed into dumping grounds (Igbojekwe, Okoli, & Ugo-Okoro, 2013). Despite the trend towards recycling, waste is produced without adequate provision for disposal (Morakinyo, Iwuala, Nwoke & Ukomma, 2011). Waste is dumped indiscriminately into rivers and major streets, and burnt openly polluting the air and contaminating the rivers (Aluko, 2010). Environmental laws enacted by the Nigerian

(38)

that, environmental issues are neglected. In fact, the implementation of green practices remains elusive (Chettiparamb & Kokkranikal, 2012) leaving much of the tourism industry

“alarmingly unsustainable” (Higgins-Desbiolles, 2010, p. 117).

Additionally, there is little understanding of the underlying elements that defines adoption, despite the importance of tourism to the national economy. According to Igbojekwe, Okoli, and Ugo-Okoro (2013), Nigerians are largely uninformed about the essential elementsce of tourism. Various studies have been undertaken on environmental management systems over the years (Mensah, 2006; 2007; Penny, 2007; Kuuder, Bagson, Prempeh, Mumuni, Adongo,

& Amoako, 2013; Mungai & Irungu, 2013; Bohdanowicz, 2006; Park, 2009), but with few regarding the sustainability efforts of hotels in Nigeria. Recent reports on the green agenda in the African continent indicate that South Africa, Kenya and Ghana top the table in promoting projects with environmental sustainability. Nigeria therefore lags behind its counterparts as far as going green is concerned. Thus, it becomes absolute for the researcher to inquire in this area. The few available studies on green practice adoption focus on manufacturing industries (Lin & Ho, 2011), with limited research on environmental initiatives in the hotel industry (Manaktola & Jauhari, 2007; Han & Kim, 2010). The service sector continues to be less drawn to research (Hutchinson, 1996) and the dearth of studies in this area is evident despite the importance of the environment for tourism (Butler, 1998).

Demand for sustainable practices

Changes in the demand for green facilities stem from the level of awareness and concern for the environment (Han & Kim, 2010; Han, Hsu, Lee & Sheu, 2011; Manaktola & Jauhari, 2007) as most tourists increasingly search for eco-friendly rather than conventional hotels (Han et al., 2011:346; Han & Kim, 2010; Manaktola & Jauhari, 2007). Similarly, Mensah (2006) reported that 90% of hotel guests in the United States favoured lodging in hotels that adopt green management practices. Therefore, hoteliers must adjust and adapt to these

(39)

demands in order to attract more tourists, as well as being competitive and lucrative (Bader, 2005). Thus, hotels that are unsustainable are confronted with pressure from consumers to adopt green practices (Masau & Prideaux, 2003).

This study also considers stakeholders as a factor in the likelihood of adoption because, they are important when it comes to taking decisions in an organization, and could influence management towards adopting green practices (Henriques & Sadorsky, 1996; Kasim, 2007;

Graci, 2009; Kasim & Ismail, 2012; Rasi, Abdekhogaee & Nagarajah, 2013). Furthermore, various researchers consider that lack of or ineffective stakeholder involvement is a major barrier to greening the industry. Thus, this study examines the factors for green practice adoption in hotels using dissemination theory. Studies applying dissemination theory in the hospitality industry appear to be rare. One explanation being that most studies were mainly concerned with the adoption of the Internet (technology) (Hua, Morosan, & DeFranco, 2015;

Scaglione, Schegg, & Murphy, 2009). This research is important because if hotels fail to adopt green measures, there will be a continued negative impact on the environment which will subsequently lead to depletion of the natural resources. Therefore, assessing the likely factors for adoption in the hotel industry in Nigeria in a single framework is necessary to have a complete view of the relationships.

Due to the earlier mentioned issues (the increasing trend of ecological degradation affected by hotels) and the identified gaps, this study seeks to examine the relationship between the likelihood of adoption of green practices and dissemination theory constructs that impact the espousal of green practices. Nigerian concern for a safe environment is not holistic;

equally, those engaged in climate change issues did not call for incorporation of these problems into the public’s awareness of environmental attitudes. Those concerned with

(40)

this study contends that greater efforts should be made to address environmental issues in Nigerian hotels by taking a holistic approach which this thesis aims to achieve.

The implication for Nigerian hotels if the issues remain as they are the likelihood of losing the benefits from these opportunities. The consequence of this is apparent in the satisfaction of their environmentally conscious guests, therefore the prerequisite to address the espousal of green practices in Nigerian hotels through this study.

1.3Research Questions

Based on the foregoing problem statement and with reference to the call for more studies on the application of green practices in Nigerian hotels, and the gaps in the literature, this study intends to ascertain the conditions that are likely to influence the adoption of green practice in the Nigerian hotel industry. The study has the following specific questions:

1. Which perceived innovation characteristics (compatibility, complexity, relative advantage) relate to the likelihood of adoption of green practices in Nigerian hotel industry?

2. Which organizational practices (resource management, sustainable programs, and waste management) relate to the likelihood of adoption of green practices in the Nigerian hotel industry?

3. What is the relationship between perceived environmental characteristics and likelihood of adoption of green practices in the Nigerian hotel industry?

4. What is the relationship between stakeholders’ influence and likelihood of adoption of green practices in the Nigerian hotel industry?

(41)

1.4Research Objectives

This study is premised on green practice adoption in the Nigerian hotel sector. The objective is to examine the determinants of its adoption. Specifically, the study examines the likelihood of adoption in the hotel sector, in order to disclose its contribution to responsible tourism. To achieve the main aim of identifying factors that influence the likelihood of adoption, the following specific objectives are constructed:

1. To assess the relationship between perceived innovation characteristics (compatibility, complexity, and relative advantage) and likelihood of adoption of green practices in Nigerian the hotel industry.

2. To assess the relationship between organizational practices (resource management, sustainable programs, and waste management) that influence the likelihood of adoption of green practices in the Nigerian hotel industry.

3. To assess the relationship between perceived environmental characteristics and the likelihood of adoption of green practices in the Nigerian hotel industry

4. To assess the relationship between Stakeholders’ influence and the likelihood of adoption of green practices in the Nigerian hotel industry

1.5Scope of the Study

This research is limited to assessing the relationship between green practices and the likelihood of adoption by hotels in Nigeria among managers of four and five star hotels. The variables considered in this study are perceived innovation, organizational and environmental characteristics, and stakeholders’ influence. Perceived innovation characteristics are considered in this research with three dimensions (compatibility, complexity and relative advantage). Organizational practices have three dimensions

(42)

competition, while likelihood of adoption is considered the dependent variable. It is in concord with other studies that used it as a dependent variable (e.g. Lin & Ho, 2011; Weng

& Lin, 2011; Smerecnik & Andersen, 2011).

1.6Theoretical Framework

The likelihood of adoption of green practices in the hotel industry can be explained from different perspectives. The underpinning literature for this study is on the Ddiffusion of Innovation Theory (Tomatzky & Klein, 1982; Rogers, 1983, 1995; Tomatzky & Fleischer, 1990), which comprises reports of studies on the factors likely to influence the adoption of green practices in the Nigerian hotel industry. Other theories used in explaining likely adoption are the Resource- Based View Theory and Stakeholder Theory.

Rogers (2003) defines an innovation as an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption. As sustainability is spreading all the way through numerous industries (Esty & Winston, 2009), the Diffusion of Innovation Theory offers a suitable method for examining hotel sustainability (e.g., Deng-Westphal et al., 2015;

Smerecnik & Andersen, 2011). Hsu et al. (2007), and Smerecnik and Andersen (2011) discovered that the diffusion of innovation includes relative advantage, compatibility, simplicity, trialability and visibility.

Studies on sustainability innovation have primarily investigated such topics as the diffusion of environmental sustainability policies (Bergstrom & Dobers, 2000; Foxon & Pearson, 2008; Tsoutsos & Stamboulis, 2005), innovations adopted in geographical regions (Geltz, 2008; McEachern & Hanson, 2008; Vasi 2006, 2007), and consumer adoption of sustainabilityinnovations (Labay & Kinnear, 1981). The diffusion of sustainability is yet to be systematically investigated in the hotel industry. Dissemination theory was used because it was discovered to be the most suitable theoretical model for the study of factors

(43)

influencing integration of sustainability in tourism businesses. Dibra (2015) gave his reasons as follows: Because the idea of sustainable tourism began after the 1990s, it can now be regarded as an innovation. As such, Rogers’ theory serves as appropriate theoretical model to study the possibility of adopting sustainable practices. Secondly, the theory is widely used in the study of the adoption of new ideas or technology (Anis, 2009); therefore, the innovation model can be hypothesized to provide a more important explanation for the decision to adopt green practices. Thirdly, the dissemination theory considers change as a product of development that could be adapted to suit the needs of individuals and groups.

Development is the main principle of the dissemination theory (Robinson, 2009), and this trend is pertinent in tourism. For hotels to compete favourably and appeal to the tourist market, they have to constantly create some form of innovative improvement in their services and products, because competition can only succeed with continuous development (Ritchie & Crouch, 2005). Continuous development itself is a pre-requisite for dissemination theory (Robinson, 2009). Fourthly, the theory is a well-developed one, generally recognized and extensively applied (Lee, 2006; Thout, Vaugeois & Maher, 2010; Hashim et al., 2010).

Best and Thapa (2011) adapted the dissemination theory to study the adoption of green practices in the Caribbean accommodation; Le, Hollenhorst, Harris, McLaughlin and Shook (2006) used it to investigate the influence of perceived innovation, environmental and organizational characteristics on the probability of hotels adopting environmentally friendly practices. Smerecnik and Andersen (2010) utilized Rogers’ dissemination theory to evaluate the adoption of innovations in American ski resorts.

Since its publication in 1962, Rogers in 1971, 1983, 1995 and 2003 continued to improve the model. In addition, by 2003 the theory was being used in several scientific disciplines

(44)

only in various disciplines, but has also been tested in different countries (Rogers 1995, 2003; Anis, 2009; Robinson, 2009). The model does not discriminate and can explain the phenomenon under study, and for this reason will be a useful tool.

Few studies have tested the key diffusion variables in the context of environmental sustainability in hotels (e.g., Le et al., 2006), especially in Nigeria. In this way, Rogers’

model of dissemination theory is sufficient to study the likelihood of adoption of green practices in the hotel industry (Dibra, 2015).

1.7The Study Framework

Several factors play a role in the likely adoption of green practices in hotels. Hotels differ in their requirements, approaches and level of awareness towards green practices. This is why understanding the determinants of likely adoption cannot be accomplished outside an appropriate framework. As stated in Social Exchange Theory, people or hotels evaluate products, processes and services based on financial implications. An individual who perceives the benefits of adoption is likely to evaluate that exercise positively, while someone who looks at it as expensive and not beneficial will evaluate it negatively (Yoon, Chen & Gursoy, 1999).

In the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, an innovation is evaluated according to the perceived attributes of the product (Rogers, 2003). When an innovation is perceived to be compatible with an existing standard, it is likely to be evaluated positively and will be rapidly adopted however (Mndzebele, 2013; Tornatzky & Fleischer, 1990), innovations that are highly complex, require much effort to study and diffuse, and ideas that are incompatible with the values and norms of the system will be rejected. This perception leads to evaluating the innovation negatively. New services, processes or ideas that are simpler to comprehend are adopted rapidly than inventions that entail acquisition of new skills and understanding

(45)

(Rogers, 2003). Specifically, Huy, Rowe, Truex and Huynh, (2012) and El-Gohary (2012) point out that, as benefits (relative advantage) become known, the likelihood of adoption becomes real. Benefits include financial benefits, suitability and satisfaction with the new idea.

The knowledge of related benefits plays an important role in influencing its adoption by hotels. Awareness of benefits and reasons governing the use of natural resources engender more favourable attitudes towards adoption. Hotels that recognize safeguarding natural resources as a normal obligation are likely to adopt green practices that allow the organization to reduce its undesirable impact on the environment. The external environment of an organization includes its competitors (current and prospective), its customers (present and would-be) and its buyers (existing and potential) (Mowday, Steers & Porter, 1979). This study used three dimensions to capture the environmental context variable: government support, competitors’ pressure and customers’ demand. Different stakeholders view green practice differently, because of differences in the way they visualize a phenomenon (Weng, Chen & Chen, 2015). The requirements for change in an establishment may differ and their approaches towards adoption may be different; thus, the management of an organization is liable to encourage sustainably for the benefit of stakeholders in order to ensure their rights and participation in decision -making (Mensah, 2014).

Stakeholders’ support for conservation of the environment depends on the tangible benefits that would be realized, and how well all these factors influence the likely adoption of green practices is drawn from a survey of aspects of adoption. Stakeholder Theory infers that stakeholders influence company decisions following this theory, the study considers green practices as a set of management practices that businesses implement responding to pressure

ASSESSING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ADOPTION OF GREEN PRACTICES IN THE NIGERIAN HOTEL INDUSTRY

ASSESSING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ADOPTION OF GREEN PRACTICES IN THE NIGERIAN HOTEL INDUSTRY

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

2018

LADI MU’AZU

ASSESSING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ADOPTION OF GREEN PRACTICES IN THE NIGERIAN HOTEL INDUSTRY

LADI MU’AZU (94497)

PERMISSION TO USE

ABSTRACT

ABSTRAK

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

DEDICATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF APPENDICES

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION