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This paper analyses how regenerative tourism practices can advance the environmental resilience of island destinations by minimizing tourism's negative impact and moving towards net-positive outcomes. The urgency of the research study is evident in the natural and anthropogenic dangers and disasters already faced by most destinations and the increasing need for environmental resilience. The economic dependence of many island destinations on the tourism industry means ways to mitigate climate change without threatening the tourism industry are vital. This explorative study argues the concept of regenerative tourism with its focus on co-creation is an effective and implementable strategy to give more back than taken and renew and regenerate the destination. The example of New Zealand (NZ) with a thematic analysis of semi-structured in-depth interviews with expert stakeholders in the NZ tourism landscape focuses on environmental pressures impacting environmental resilience and the role of regenerative tourism practices. The data show a move from a mainly short-term economic focus to a concentration on and awareness of the need to develop long-term environmental resilience through stakeholder collaboration and regenerative policies. These findings although specific to NZ provide insights for other island destinations through the clear benefit to both visitors and residents of an increased focus on the aim of net-positive rather than net-zero in improving the environment.

A company's overall success and resilience in the market is increasingly linked to its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. Following a brief review of sustainable development and corporate sustainability, the concept and rationale behind ESG is discussed with an emphasis on the criteria and limitations of ESG scores. ESG matters are mostly limited to global hotel chains but critical to an entire industry that seeks to decarbonize its operations until 2050 while also tackling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There is a potential misalignment of the ESG criteria to achieve the ambitious SDGs based on the narrow, environmentally based view on sustainability in the hotel sector. A set of recommendations is designed to align the SDGs to ESG requirements and expectations supported by industry examples within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and resiliency imperative.

The search for luxurious hospitality experiences increasingly coincides with the imperative to mitigate negative impacts in the pursuit of greater sustainability. This is a task often understood as being complex particularly in the context of luxury hospitality which often resonates with conspicuous consumption. This chapter uses a case study approach to analyze the complex relationship between luxury tourism and sustainability. The study focuses on the development of “luxury” from a materialistic perspective toward an experience economy and relates this to the concept of sustainability and agreements relevant to the tourism industry. The environmental impact of luxury hospitality is then discussed. The case study on properties in Costa Rica, South Africa, the Maldives, Vietnam, and French Polynesia focuses on philosophy, facilities, energy and waste consumption, food and beverage, conservational and educational activities, and alignment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The focus is on the properties and shows limitations in that it is not applicable to the whole tourist journey and experience. All properties understand luxury as based on experiences and involvement in nature. Measures to mitigate environmental impact and foster conservational and educational activities are mainstream practices. Comparing the cases with academic literature on luxury, sustainability, ecotourism, and environmental policies underline that sustainability-driven luxury hospitality shows valuable steps toward a more sustainable product but is ultimately faced with the dilemma of taking into consideration and ultimately mitigating the impacts of the entire travel value chain.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 as well as the European Union Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) are two established management tools to evaluate, report and improve the environmental performance of businesses. The purpose of this chapter is the development and testing of a model on motivations, benefits, barriers and preconditions to the implementation of environmental management system (EMS) in the German hotel sector. One hundred and thirty six hotels have been identified as having implemented either ISO 14001 or EMAS (or both) in their operations. An analysis showed various correlations between motivations and perceived benefits of implementing an EMS, whereas no correlation could be measured between preconditions and barriers. Finally the preconditions, barriers, motivations and benefits were examined based on various characteristics of the hotels surveyed, which revealed significant differences among the different subgroups, such as chain-operated hotels and independently owned properties, or between luxury properties and budget operations.

A growing number of hospitality companies choose to publish the performance in areas pertaining to sustainability separately from the annual financial reports. Additionally, effective environmental communication can become an advantageous differentiation factor and create a positive brand image. However, mandatory reporting is, at the time of writing this paper, only required for financial information. Unlike financial reporting, however, the communication of sustainability efforts or results is largely unregulated. A great diversity can be noted with regard to the way environmental and social justice information is gathered, written, and disseminated. This research aimed to discover current practices in regards to sustainability reporting from international chains and assess the meaningfulness of the information being reported and the level of comparability between companies’ reports and results. Recommendations on future reporting are made for enhanced benchmarking, thus making data being communicated to stakeholders more transparent.

Experiential tourism has surged before the COVID-19 pandemic, and all signs are pointing out to a rapid increase postpandemic. However, it is no longer a question of whether to provide an experience or not, but rather which experience to provide. Travellers are demanding, and the forced pause in travel is fueling the concept of revenge travel but with consumers seeking unique experiences with nature as the center stage. The concept of glass igloo hotel (GIH) taps into the unique experience within a natural setting, offering guests the opportunity to reconnect with panoramic views of the natural surroundings. This research investigates consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for such experience at a GIH. Results collected from 127 participants present hypothetical WTP which appears to be lower than actual rates published at some existing GIHs. Specific attributes sought after by guests in regards to the GIH experience were also investigated. The closeness to nature, view from the igloo, and proximity of the bathroom are particularly important. And while the igloo hotel experience offers the possibility to disconnect form the modern world, the availability of Wi-Fi was deemed important nevertheless. The research was conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic which may yet further influence the WTP for such an experience.

The Paris Agreement signed by 195 countries and the European Union in December 2015 provides a global framework for mitigation and adaption strategies in face of climate change. The hospitality industry is hungry for resources, in particular energy, but also directly affected by changes in the environment – whether operating a ski resort in the Alps or a coastal retreat, whether a restaurant sourcing its food locally or organically, the effects of climate change are felt first-hand. Thus, the agreement has direct implications on the future of the industry. The authors argue that a new era of climate-adaptive hospitality is starting. The chapter is conceptual in nature. The author’s assumption is that the construction of climate-conscious identity is caused by the public opinion on climate change on the one hand and climate-adaptive solutions that affect guest during their vacations, on the other hand. The development of a climate-consciousness among guests and employees is crucial to create a climate-adaptive hospitality industry. A definition for the concept of ‘climate-adaptive innovation’ is suggested.

This chapter aims to establish the relation of luxury tourism to sustainability and questions whether tourism in its current form is not itself a luxury. By analysing consumer travel motivation and demands of luxury tourism, we examine the impact of these perceptions and ask whether Anthropocene tourism does not by definition have a negative impact on the environment. A new concept of luxury has developed clearly illustrated by a move from Maslow’s (1943) ‘esteem’ to the top tier of ‘self-actualisation’ as reflected in Pearce and Lee (2005) Travel Career Ladder and top tier of personal fulfilment. This move has led to a decline in physical trophy collection, but rather the desire for luxury is taking on a new definition more about a perception of environmental connection, personal fulfilment and finding a brand or experience that shares similar values to the consumer. The commodification of nature has led to new forms of tourism concentrating on connecting to places, people and causes. An analysis of tourism growth impact in the Global North and South, and neo-colonisation in tourism highlights the contradictions within sustainable goals and tourism. It is increasingly difficult to categorise tourism as sustainable or unsustainable, luxury or non-luxury, but rather this chapter questions whether tourism itself has become an unsustainable pandemic and an indefensible luxury.