Abstract
The pursuit of sustainability in European tourism has positioned eco-certifications as essential instruments for promoting responsible management within the hospitality sector. Under the framework of the European Green Deal, which aims for climate neutrality by 2050, hotels face increasing pressure to reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining competitiveness. This study analyzes the role of eco-certifications in guiding sustainable hotel management practices across Europe. Eco-certifications have contributed to greater efficiency in resource management, improved brand reputation, and enhanced guest trust. However, the coexistence of multiple labels with heterogeneous criteria undermines comparability, coherence, and credibility. Furthermore, many hotels, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, face financial and technical barriers to certification. Territorial disparities are also evident, with regions heavily dependent on tourism, such as the Canary Islands, showing low adoption rates of recognized eco-labels despite their environmental vulnerability. The findings underscore the need to harmonize certification standards, strengthen auditing mechanisms, and link certification processes more closely with public policy incentives. Ultimately, eco-certifications should evolve from voluntary marketing tools into integrated management systems that support continuous environmental improvement, stakeholder engagement, and long-term resilience in the European hospitality industry. All of this is further influenced by the ecological awareness of the tourists we receive. Is the tourist truly aware of what an eco-certification entails? Do they even recognize these labels? Is this type of investment actually profitable for hotel businesses? Combined with the lack of standardization among certification schemes, these factors represent a significant challenge for the new generation of tourism agencies.
Presenters
Priscilla Rocio BautistaPostdoctoral Researcher, Instituto Universitario de la Empresa, Universidad de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain Violeta De Vera
Universidad de La Laguna Marta Arbelo Pérez
Universidad de La Laguna Sara Arbelo
PhD Student, Economía, Contabilidad y Finanzas, Universidad de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Tourism and Leisure Industries
KEYWORDS
Turisim Ecolabels sustainable
