Environmental Management Systems in Hotel Operation

The tourism is one of the most important economic sectors in the country. Hotels are providers of tourist services that cause significant impacts modifying the social and environmental areas. This qualitative research based on exploratory and descriptive methods aims at identifying by market initiatives and literature review, if the Brazilian hotel operators are adopting environmental management practices in their business even as certified environmental management systems. The research also aims at highlighting some benefits arising from environmental management programs to the hotel operation in Brazil. We conclude that environmental management programs are not widespread in Brazilian hotel sector. Only some hotel managers are awake for environmental issue as a market opportunity or a mandatory factor in the administrative and operational schedules for ensuring longevity and successful for the hotel organization.