346
A. Oxenswärdh
Hotel managers were chosen from among the variety of hotels concerning the
structure and size of their businesses. All ten hotels are situated in the main city
of Gotland, Visby, five of them are part of the bigger, international hotel chains
and five others are independent, private owned facilities. The selected hotels in this
study has number of rooms, between 30 and 149. The interviewed hotel managers
had responsibility over the issues of sustainability at the hotel. The average age
of managers was between 30 and 40 years, most of them had university degree in
economics or management and were fluent in at least two languages. Three of the
managers originated from the island of Gotland and seven were from different part
of mainland Sweden.
The amount of personal in the hotels varied strongly seasonally, and could be all
from 16 in low season, up to 100 in high season.
The criteria used for the BnB selection were: BnB providers had to be residents
of the island, owners of the BnB, and currently in business. Of all the BnB owners
interviewed, one is run by one person and nine couples. The average age of participants was 50 and above, most of them had a college education, and were fluent in
at least one foreign language (mostly English). Three participants, all female, were
returning Gotlanders, meaning that they moved back to Gotland where they family
originated and established their BnB in their family home. Four participants were
foreigners who recently moved to Gotland and purchased a house. One participant
was Swede but with no familial tides to Gotland.
The amount of personal varied even among BnB owners within seasons between
1 and 4 persons, but in the seven of ten accommodations did consist only the owners,
usually a married couple. The number rooms varied between one to 30 rooms.
13 Analysis
This exploratory study discusses how BnB entrepreneurs and hotel managers on
the island of Gotland reflect on issues of sustainability, what kind of solutions they
implement in their establishments, and what the potential policy impacts could be.
More specifically this study focusses on two distinct parts: (1) owners’ and managers’
motivations and choices for sustainable practices at their accommodations, and (2)
the factors that hinders to realize their sustainability goals. Below, the most salient
findings of this research are presented and analysed. In the following, in Table 1, the
results of interviews with both BnB hosts and hotel managers are presented dealing
with their awareness of sustainability in their businesses. The statements have been
analysed against and by using the four sustainability aspects: economic, ecological,
social and cultural sustainability.
A. Oxenswärdh
Hotel managers were chosen from among the variety of hotels concerning the
structure and size of their businesses. All ten hotels are situated in the main city
of Gotland, Visby, five of them are part of the bigger, international hotel chains
and five others are independent, private owned facilities. The selected hotels in this
study has number of rooms, between 30 and 149. The interviewed hotel managers
had responsibility over the issues of sustainability at the hotel. The average age
of managers was between 30 and 40 years, most of them had university degree in
economics or management and were fluent in at least two languages. Three of the
managers originated from the island of Gotland and seven were from different part
of mainland Sweden.
The amount of personal in the hotels varied strongly seasonally, and could be all
from 16 in low season, up to 100 in high season.
The criteria used for the BnB selection were: BnB providers had to be residents
of the island, owners of the BnB, and currently in business. Of all the BnB owners
interviewed, one is run by one person and nine couples. The average age of participants was 50 and above, most of them had a college education, and were fluent in
at least one foreign language (mostly English). Three participants, all female, were
returning Gotlanders, meaning that they moved back to Gotland where they family
originated and established their BnB in their family home. Four participants were
foreigners who recently moved to Gotland and purchased a house. One participant
was Swede but with no familial tides to Gotland.
The amount of personal varied even among BnB owners within seasons between
1 and 4 persons, but in the seven of ten accommodations did consist only the owners,
usually a married couple. The number rooms varied between one to 30 rooms.
13 Analysis
This exploratory study discusses how BnB entrepreneurs and hotel managers on
the island of Gotland reflect on issues of sustainability, what kind of solutions they
implement in their establishments, and what the potential policy impacts could be.
More specifically this study focusses on two distinct parts: (1) owners’ and managers’
motivations and choices for sustainable practices at their accommodations, and (2)
the factors that hinders to realize their sustainability goals. Below, the most salient
findings of this research are presented and analysed. In the following, in Table 1, the
results of interviews with both BnB hosts and hotel managers are presented dealing
with their awareness of sustainability in their businesses. The statements have been
analysed against and by using the four sustainability aspects: economic, ecological,
social and cultural sustainability.