In the ESG era, the hospitality sector faces an urgent need to transform its governance models. However, a conceptual gap exists regarding the specific mechanisms that drive this transformation. This study addresses this gap through a systematic literature review to propose a novel integrative framework. Unlike previous reviews that analyze sustainable leadership and ESG governance in isolation, this paper positions sustainable leadership as the central mechanism that catalyzes the systemic integration of ESG criteria into the sector’s organizational culture and strategy. The proposed framework articulates how this leadership style facilitates a cultural, strategic, and operational transformation by balancing economic performance with social well-being and environmental protection. Specifically, within the hospitality context, sustainable leadership is shown to be key in fostering organizational resilience, responsible innovation, and participatory governance. The analysis also identifies critical barriers to implementation, such as cultural resistance, the lack of clear metrics, and the need for specialized leadership training. The unique contribution of this article is to offer a conceptual model that articulates the causal relationship between leadership and applied ESG governance, presenting sustainable leadership not merely as a management style, but as the fundamental component for building resilient and legitimate hospitality organizations in the long term.

El artículo explora la importancia de la libertad de expresión en el entorno laboral y cómo su ejercicio adecuado puede contribuir a la creación de entornos seguros y saludables para los trabajadores, ya que en su esencia, la libertad de expresión en el lugar de trabajo representa más que simplemente la capacidad de expresar opiniones personales ya que es un componente fundamental en la creación de un entorno donde las personas se sientan empoderadas para compartir ideas, plantear inquietudes y participar en un diálogo constructivo, basado en el respeto a la diversidad de opiniones, lo que posibilita que la libertad de expresión se considere una solución innovadora para la creación de entornos laborales que no solo cumplan con las obligaciones legales, sino que también promuevan la salud mental, la productividad y la construcción de una cultura empresarial positiva.

This study addresses the need for a comprehensive analysis of the demand for qualified personnel in Spain’s hotel accommodation sector, situating the issue within a context of increasing demand for specialized and highly personalized services in the tourism industry. The objective of this research is to develop a theoretical framework and conduct a preliminary assessment of a model designed to identify and quantify the need for skilled professionals across hotels of different categories and locations. This model considers key factors such as seasonality, required technical competencies, and labour market demands in the tourism sector. The methodology employed combines quantitative and qualitative data analysis from multiple sources, including prior studies, surveys of human resources managers, a review of the academic literature on human resource assessment models in the hotel industry, and a validation survey. Preliminary findings indicate a significant shortage of professionals with advanced expertise in critical areas such as operations management, multilingual customer service, and process digitalization, highlighting the urgent need for a strategic approach to training and talent retention. The conclusions emphasize the importance of adapting workforce planning to the specific demands of Spain’s hotel sector while drawing comparative insights from models in France and the United States. This study proposes strategies to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability in an increasingly globalized market.

This research examines the potential of Battlefield Tourism as a strategic tool for rural development, focusing on the cultural heritage of Extremadura, Spain. Given the specific nature of the regional tourism offer, this paper is presented as a case study to analyze how military historical resources can be integrated into sustainable tourism models. The study employs a mixed-methodology approach, combining a quantitative cross-sectional survey with complementary qualitative analysis of open-ended responses. A sample of 149 municipal managers was analyzed to evaluate their institutional perceptions of military cultural tourism and its potential integration into regional strategic initiatives. Results, supported by χ² tests and Cronbach’s α reliability analysis, suggest that the use of specific terminology associated with cultural heritage, rather than ‘war’ or ‘dark’ tourism, is perceived by local stakeholders as more socially and politically acceptable for rural development plans. Given the sample size and self-selection bias, these perception-based findings highlight the importance of terminological sensitivity for local leaders exploring new tourism offerings. The study concludes that, from an institutional standpoint, framing Battlefield Tourism through professional heritage protocols may facilitate its acceptance as a potential tool for economic diversification in inland destinations facing challenges of depopulation.

The Spanish tourism sector is experiencing an unprecedented boom. However, this macroeconomic success coexists with a growing crisis of burnout and job insecurity. While the macroeconomic effects of minimum wage policies are widely debated, the micro-level psychosocial reality of employees operating within these cost-pressured environments remains largely unexplored. This research uses the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) framework to descriptively explore the current state of employee well-being in the Spanish hotel sector, operating within the macroeconomic context of recent minimum wage increases. Specifically, the study evaluates how environments characterized by high cost-containment pressures are associated with exacerbated labour demands and depleted resources, a pattern consistent with burnout, thus analysing the implications for social sustainability. Our data come from a survey of 384 hotel employees in Spain and were analysed using the Labour Demands–Resources (JD-R) framework and bootstrap methods. The results reveal that employees report very low agreement that their workloads are reasonable and manageable (mean = 1.8/5) and perceive limited development opportunities (mean = 1.9/5), despite acknowledging the importance of well-being for sustainability (mean = 4.8/5). Work intensification is particularly acute in regions with high seasonality and among cleaning staff. Furthermore, sustainability awareness moderates the negative impact of workload on employee engagement. The study concludes that within high-pressure hospitality environments, macroeconomic wage improvements can be offset by a decline in job quality, threatening the long-term social sustainability of the sector. We advocate for more nuanced policies and a shift in human resource management strategy toward genuine investment in human capital.

In the 20th century, the legacy of two devastating world wars generated an enormous historical heritage linked to conflict, giving rise to the global phenomenon of war tourism. This prominence stems from the presence of countless vestiges such as streets razed by gunfire, landing beaches, trench lines, and bunkers. Battlefield Tourism (BT) has experienced remarkable growth in Europe, establishing itself as a specialized segment with increasing levels of institutionalization, professionalization, and academic interest. Traditionally, some literature has associated these visits with dark tourism (DT) due to the presence of death, suffering, or historical violence at the sites (Stone, 2006). However, more recent and comprehensive analyses demonstrate that this classification is often insufficient or incorrect. This study argues that BT is closer to cultural tourism (CT) than to dark tourism, aligning with heritage and educational studies that emphasize memory, identity, and the cultural landscape rather than the commercialization of morbid fascination (Foley & Lennon, 2000). The research evaluates the viability of BT as a catalyst for rural development in Extremadura (Spain), a region characterized by its pursuit of socioeconomic sustainability through tourism innovation (Cánoves, 2017). The methodology utilizes a prospective exploratory analysis with an integrated qualitative and quantitative paradigm. Primary data were gathered using a structured instrument deployed via Google Forms to municipal leadership across 388 municipalities in 15 tourist areas. A representative sample of 149 valid responses was secured, yielding a statistical margin of error of ±5% at a 95% confidence interval. Advanced statistical techniques, including Pearson’s Chi-square tests and Cronbach’s Alpha, were applied to test research hypotheses concerning the conceptual differentiation between war tourism and dark tourism. The findings indicate that 61.7% of local stakeholders were unfamiliar with the term DT , whereas 70.9% were familiar with WT, largely due to awareness of regional initiatives like battle reenactments. Statistical contrast reveals a significant relationship between prior knowledge of DT and the willingness to exploit sensitive heritage, such as "Slavery Museums" (p<0.001) or "Disaster Museums" (p<0.001). Regarding terminology, 42.6% of respondents prefer "military cultural tourism" and 48.3% favor "historical-cultural tourism," reflecting a clear rejection of the word "war" in Spanish society. The main conclusion is that local councils support the exploitation of war heritage within a cultural framework, viewing it as a strategic opportunity for socioeconomic development in inland rural areas. This approach generates a multiplier effect, diversifying local economies and offering new jobs (Cánoves et al., 2014). By revaluing historical memory (Smith, 2015) and integrating military heritage into sustainable territorial planning, rural regions like Extremadura can enhance their competitive advantages and mitigate depopulation. Ultimately, Military Cultural Tourism (MCT) provides a path to transform historical trauma into a tool for regional advancement and educational enrichment.