Hedonic pricing theory states that the price of a room is determined by a set of characteristics (e.g., structural, location, and environmental) of the establishment. Set within the framework of this methodology, and using raw data from the Quality, Productivity, and Competitiveness in the Hospitality Industry for Andalusia project, this article discusses the impact on room pricing of hotels implementing environmental sustainability measures based on a sample of 232 hotels (3-, 4-, and 5-stars) in Andalusia (Southern Spain). This sample is statistically representative of hotel accommodations in the region. A distinguishing feature of this study is the creation of a variable derived from the replies given by hotel managers to a questionnaire designed by the authors. The questionnaire presented questions about the measures the managers implemented in their establishments to improve environmental sustainability. The use of this variable in the semilogarithmic hedonic model suggests that the prices of hotel rooms are 5.15-percent higher for each environmentally sustainable measure implemented in the hotel; in some cases, the price increase could be as much as 36.05 percent. Other variables that were also introduced in the model yielded estimates consistent with those obtained in previous studies.

This article analyzes the main determinants of pro-environmental concern of European tourists when they make holiday decisions. Tourist environmental concern depends not only on individual and travel-related attributes, but also on the characteristics of the tourists’ place of residence. Thus, this article simultaneously applies micro and macro approaches using hierarchical linear models, which can estimate variations in tourists’ environmental concern because of between-country and within-country differences. Specifically, the heterogeneous pattern across European countries in the level of environmental concern is mainly explained by between-country economic, cultural, and environmental differences. Within-country variability in the level of pro-environmental concern is mainly explained by individual and travel-related variables, and particularly by the characteristics of the destination. The results demonstrate that environmental concern varies depending on whether the destination is booked via a last-minute offer or not, whether it is a traditional or emergent destination, and whether the trip is abroad or domestic.

Can the implementation of eco-innovation measures improve apparent labour productivity in hotel establishments? Based on data from a sample of 173 hotel establishments with three or more stars, this article suggests that these measures improve apparent labour productivity. We define the variable “eco-innovative” as an indicator of environmental management and introduce it in a widely-used production function with a set of control variables that represents some characteristics of the hotels for which we have information. The econometric results indicate that the implementation of additional eco-innovative practices increases labour productivity on average by 8.15%. However, the results also suggest that this increase occurs as a function of a certain level of investment in these types of environmental measures, after which level the variation in apparent labour productivity may become negative. The results obtained have managerial implications that should encourage hotel managers to reconsider their level of commitment to the implementation of eco-innovative practices.