AN INSIGHT INTO GREEN PRACTICES AND ECO-LABELS IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

As green economy is gaining more and more attention both in the business environment and in terms of public policies, the hotel industry has to align to a series of sustainable development indicators. The article presents a thorough literature review on the green practices implemented in the hotel industry, as well as hotel managers' perception on the possible barriers in implementing the principles of green economy. Furthermore, the paper focuses on the level of implementation of the main eco-labels that may be awarded in the hotel industry, recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. As officially-certified green hotels represent less than 10% of the accommodation units existing worldwide, the paper offers an interesting starting point for researching the factors that may determine hoteliers to invest in the development of a sustainability management system.