Scholarly record
PROSPECTS FOR SUSTAINABLE HOSPITALITY ENTERPRISES IN RURAL AREAS: THE CONTEXT OF EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION
Abstract
The present research contextualizes the hospitality industry within the broader framework of the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities). It emphasizes the importance of hospitality enterprises as maintainers of socio-ecological resilience in local communities, thereby ensuring stable employment, supporting regional development, and preserving the cultural landscape. In regions affected by high employee turnover and strong economic migration, the hospitality industry faces significant socio-ecological sustainability challenges. Frequent personnel changes necessitate ongoing resources for recruitment, training, and integration, resulting in increased material use and energy consumption. The present research aims to analyse employee satisfaction and loyalty-enhancing practices as key factors in strengthening the socio-ecological resilience and regional sustainability of hospitality enterprises. A mixed-methods approach was applied, emphasizing triangulation to ensure the validity and reliability of conclusions. A quantitative survey provided a foundation for assessing employee satisfaction and loyalty, while qualitative interviews with managers gave a deeper understanding of human-resource management practices. The results revealed that socially responsible leadership, participatory decision-making, and open communication foster employee loyalty and a stable human-resource base. Such stability directly improves resource efficiency, reduces the ecological footprint, and strengthens the enterprise-s capacity to implement sustainability initiatives. The conclusions provide practical recommendations for policymakers and hospitality managers on integrating human-resource practices into regional sustainability and resource-efficiency strategies.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References16
Baum T., Kralj A., Robinson R. N., & Solnet D. Tourism workforce research: A review, taxonomy and agenda, Annals of Tourism Research, 2016, 60, pp 1�22. DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2016.03.001 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2016.04.003
Analysis of the Latvian tourism industry. Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia, Riga, 2019, 45-51, retrieved: https://ieej.lv/s3Yzs
Ministry of Economics. Latvian Tourism and Events Industry Export Promotion Strategy until 2027, 2024, retrieved: https://ieej.lv/chUil
Latvian Tourism Development Action Plan for 2021-2027, 2019, retrieved: https://ieej.lv/7fz5X
Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions, Towards more sustainable tourism for EU cities and regions, 2021, retrieved: https://ieej.lv/jt5no
European Commission. European Green Deal, 2019, retrieved: https://ieej.lv/aqhp7
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2015, retrieved: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
Accommodation and food service activities: issues and challenges related to labour mobility 2024, ELA Strategic Analysis, retrieved: https://ieej.lv/9sBQk
Latgale Planning Region Development Programme Strategic Documents 2021-2027. Daugavpils, 2021, retrieved: https://ieej.lv/e99ba
Folke C., Haider L.J., Lade S.J., Norstr�m A.V. The resilience of social-ecological systems. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 2016, 41, 1�25, retrieved: DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102400
Mota L., Leite E., Ghasemi V. Exploring the impact of climate change on lodging establishments: a systematic literature review. Quality & Quantity, 58, 2024, retrieved: https://link.springer.com/article/DOI: 10.1007/s11135-024-01834-9.
Bayad Jamal Ali, G. A. An Empirical Study of Employees� Motivation and its Influence Job Satisfaction. International journal of Engineering, Business and Management, January 2021, 5(2):21-30, retrieved: DOI: 10.22161/ijebm.5.2.3
Bhardwaj A., Mishra S., Jain T.K. An analysis to understanding the job satisfaction of employees in banking industry. Materials today: proceedings, 2021, Volume 37, Part 2, pp 170-174, retrieved: DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2020.04.783
Green Initiative. Sustainability in hospitality: a competitive advantage, not just compliance, 2025, retrieved: https://ieej.lv/2jCoN.
Kne�evic M., Vujko A., Cvijanovic D. Innovative Hospitality Model as a Catalyst for Sustainable Rural Development. Economics of Agriculture, Vol. 72 No. 3 (2025): 2025, retrieved: https://www.ea.bg.ac.rs/index.php/EA/article/view/2465. DOI: 10.59267/ekopolj2503905k
Sitohang, A. M. D., Absah, Y., Harahap, H., & Sibarani, R. The role of green human resource management in promoting sustainable tourism practices, E3S Web of Conferences 486, 2024, retrieved: https://ieej.lv/hHC9z DOI: 10.1051/e3sconf/202457702013
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.