Willy Legrand

IU International University of Applied Sciences | IU

Biodiversity and the science that addresses its conservation, loss, and recovery, including conservation biology and restoration ecology, are high on the contemporary global agenda. While the hospitality industry has taken major steps toward net carbon zero and even net positive business, we argue that it has another significant advance to make. Th...

In this chapter, Gabriel Laeis and Willy Legrand outline the reciprocal relationship of the hospitality industry and climate change. The chapter begins by analysing the role tourism in general and the hospitality industry specifically play in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change exacerbation, discussing current trajectories of scope...

This research focuses on the physical work environment, in particular the possibilities and limitations of biophilic design in hotel office space. Biophilic design has already gained attention in directly influencing the guest experience, but little focus has been given to work space. Traditionally, the hospitality industry places employees’ office...

Risks affecting the hospitality industry are not only related to inflation, war, and geopolitics. Science has proven that climate-related risks and biodiversity loss are a threat to the fabric of society. The convergence of global systemic risks has a name: 'global polycrisis'[1]. In addition, localized events such as wild fires or potential torren...

A company’s overall success and resilience in the market is increasingly linked to its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. Following a brief review of sustainable development and corporate sustainability, the concept and rationale behind ESG is discussed with an emphasis on the criteria and limitations of ESG scores. ESG matter...

There is a large global inequality in carbon emissions. Per capita emissions range from less than 1 metric tonne to more than 35 tonnes1 of CO2e with a global average of roughly 4.5 tonnes per capita2. Aligning the global community to the Paris Agreement requires the per capita average to drop at 2 tonnes by 20503. Affluence and carbon footprint go...

In a finite world, striking a balance between the use of resources and ensuring that basic social standards are met is the crux of development. In business, the same applies: how do we navigate the murky waters of growth without depleting everything else? The global economy, with its fair share of challenges, is ripe for circularity but with little...

“The High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for People and Nature, with over 85 member countries [1], is calling for a 30 x 30 target: a global endeavor by governments to safeguard 30% of the land and ocean areas by 2030 [2]. The initiative comes with growing scientific evidence that large sections of the earth must be conserved in a natural state to addres...

Global standards vs. local realities-how to make it work in hospitality? "Amongst global sustainable hospitality experts there seem to be two co-existing, and sometimes contradictory, concepts for structuring sustainability agendas. On the one hand, there is an appeal to comply with and be guided by recognized global standards and certification sc...

The 24hr Food & Sustainability Hackathon Vol. IV: Tasteful Transformation is organized and presented by the IU International University of Applied Sciences (DE) and the Hotel Management School Maastricht (NL) with additional participation from students at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (DE) and the University of Hohenheim (DE). The id...

You wonder what ecosystem services are and why it matters to the hospitality sector? Everyone is talking about net zero carbon but are they all talking about the same thing? You have heard of hotels engaging in more circularity, adopting nature-based solutions and implementing a carbon offsetting scheme, but what does this all mean? The world of su...

This chapter aims to establish the relation of luxury tourism to sustainability and questions whether tourism in its current form is not itself a luxury. By analysing consumer travel motivation and demands of luxury tourism, we examine the impact of these perceptions and ask whether Anthropocene tourism does not by definition have a negative impact...

From the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism [1] to the Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism [2], the industry is taking on the decarbonisation challenge and giving itself net zero toolboxes. We have officially entered the Decade of Decarbonisation. Has the industry equally and forcefully entered the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem...

Two-weeks of negotiations in November 2015 led to the Paris Agreement. The culmination of 20 years of discussions, concessions and compromises. Is the Paris Agreement an important document to the hospitality industry? Without a doubt. Science-based targets driving the industry decarbonisation efforts are based on the 2°c (1.5°c) threshold as per th...

Slowly but surely, supply chains and procurement practices are taking their rightful place on hospitality's sustainability agendas. For too long, the negative environmental and socio-economic impacts linked to the industry's procurement practices have remained unnoticed, overlooked and, ultimately, accepted. Whether food and beverages (F&B), furnit...

A recently published large-scale survey points out that the vast majority of travelers are keen on staying at hotel properties that engage in sustainability (1). Willingness-to-stay (WTS) is important to the extent in which hotels can capitalize on their sustainability endeavors through transparent communication. However, the same travelers seem to...

The 2021 World Economic Global Risk Report listed ‘climate action failure' as the top risk in regards to impact since 2013 [1] and biodiversity loss in the top 5 risks, both in terms of impact and likelihood [2] Climate change, in particular, is considered a threat multiplier for biodiversity [3] and a 40% drop in natural capital per person has alr...

What actions must be undertaken by hotels and related businesses involved in the tourism value chain to restore ecosystems and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals? 84 university students across four universities, two dozen experts and lecturers collaborate for 24 hours – The Highlights June 2021- Under the tag line “Connect. Inspire. Co...

The hotel real estate sector has its work cut out to fully decarbonize until 2050 – here is some help. Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow this November 2021, a series of breakthroughs can be observed in terms of climate actions. Governments are aligning policies towards a carbon neutral future; advances in technologies are m...

Nature and its ecosystem services are at the center of the hospitality business proposition: from food and beverage offers to guests' enjoyment of natural landscape at a destination. Nature is not only a 'capital' component available to businesses, but a source of solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and protect biodiversity while ensu...

From single-use plastics to building efficiencies, from extended producer responsibility (EPR) to user-pays principle (UPP), regulations are an intricate component of how society governs environmental impacts. Of course, there seems to always a fine balance between reactive and proactive approaches to regulations, between ‘Too late: cleaning up’ an...

Legislation regulates the way we utilize natural resources, avoid pollution and harmful substances, manage waste and protect ecosystems and human rights. Supporting sustainability through the use of proactive legislation is nothing new. Rather than being a constraint to businesses and individuals, proactive legislation can eliminate competitive dis...

At a time when many people are experiencing stress, burnout, and strain at work, a relaxing vacation becomes increasingly important. Remote locations such as Bali, the Maldives, or the Caribbean have experienced a steady increase in popularity: exotic dishes, turquoise water, and white sandy beaches are often tourist magnets. While the corona crisi...

Evidence shows that spending time in nature helps reducing anxiety, improving mental health and well-being, let alone boosting physical health. Nature is good for us; can we be good to nature too? It's no wonder that one recent large-scale survey conducted by Booking.com (2020) identified 'Impact Awakening: The Rise of Responsible Travel' as one of...

Under the motto "It is time to collaborate, form bonds, share knowledge and solve problems", the second edition of the 24 Hour Sustainable Hospitality Hackathon took place at the end of December 2020. The idea behind this hackathon is the virtual working environment of students and experts who care about the same issues (i.e. driving more sustainab...

January 2021-From encouraging longer stays to energy-performance contracting, the hands-on advice and strategic guidance provided by seasoned experts are geared towards future-proofing our industry. The talks in hospitality are about recovery, resilience, recalibration, pivoting or bouncing back; that's right, we've been shaken to our core and it i...

For scientists and, to a certain extent, politicians as well as society at large, 'climate change' is the new metanarrative. The challenge faced by all human society is the new storyline with the potential to unite. Traditional thinking is anchored in a very conservative approach to managing sustainability based on the 3Rs of reducing, recycling an...

Recovery, resilience, recalibration, or bouncing back are a few examples of keywords that are at the center of any discussion surrounding the hospitality industry's economic prospects this past year. However uncertain the economic future may be, major crises of earth systems are unabated to date. While similarities exist between resiliency and sust...

We are currently experiencing an energy crisis of a different kind - an industry-wide feeling of exhaustion, anxiety, stress, frustration, and fear. We are running out of energy. There is no doubt that the effects of the pandemic and resulting restrictions will have an adverse effect on people's wellbeing. Scientists call for action for mental heal...

“COVID-19 has exposed many of the weaknesses in our industry in terms of risk and hazard management, contingency, and resiliency plans but also in the way we blindly deal with our environment. Crises, as damaging as they may be, trigger opportunities in product, service, and systems innovations. Investing now in climate resilience is an enormous ec...

“Over the past 20 years, the hospitality industry has experienced a continuous increase in various 'stamps of approval', especially at the sustainable front. A few large certification bodies with extensive criteria catalogues dominate the market but hoteliers and consumers alike are still struggling to differentiate the reputable and credible ones...

The 2020 pandemic has catastrophic consequences on societies but particularly on the travel and hospitality sectors. The ways the industry currently deals with the crisis offer a glimpse into the crisis management endeavours in building a business case for disaster and climate resiliency. Climate emergency is not dissimilar to the coronavirus threa...

“Just when it seemed as if single-use plastics were slowly becoming a thing of the past, COVID-19 hit the industry. The second half of 2019 had seen more and more industry leaders making public pledges to abandon a product group that had become the infamous representative of an old and immoral, linear economy. A few months later, the former sustain...

The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 71/246 designating the 18th of June as Sustainable Gastronomy Day (United Nations, n.d.). This clearly indicates a perceived need to review and redefine the processes of and behind twenty-first century gastronomy. For decades and in response to the globalisation and industrialisation of...

“Covid-19 is climate change on warp speed” (Wagner, Mar.10, 2020). The current pandemic has catastrophic consequences on the hospitality sector. The ways the industry currently deals with the crisis (for example, see: COVID-19 - Survival Guide for the Hospitality Industry) offers a glimpse into the crisis management endeavors in building a busines...

The hospitality industry has long been suffering from failing to attract and bind talent. The labour turnover rate is shocking: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, hospitality employees quit their job two to three times more often compared to other industries. Researchers have painted a similar picture with employee turnover rates of...

Both clichés and greenwashing are amongst the biggest traps to fall into when communicating sustainability. A "let's save the world" claim and tacky towel policy stickers are superficial and unappealing and could be a turn-off to the small group of environmentally and socially-conscious consumers. Green certification and lengthy, detailed corporate...

There seem to be two schools of thought in regards to achieving greater sustainability. One is based on a behavioural change to tackle societal and environmental challenges. More precisely in managing resources with moderation, restraint, and constraint (e.g. Reduce-Reuse-Recycle mantra). The other approach focuses on developing and implementing te...

As we enter a decisive decade for sustainability, is the window of opportunity for hotels closing? Following a decade of growth which brought jobs and fostered local and regional development, the tourism and hotel industry has repeatedly outperformed the global economy. More than 3,000 new hotels opened their doors in 2020 alone. However, the indus...

Some dedicated entrepreneurs have made sustainability an integral part of their business venture. The hotel brands below have been selected for their endeavours towards mitigating impacts in times of climate emergency and biodiversity collapse. 5 hotel brands that do sustainability best. https://tophotel.news/tophotelnews-influencer-climate-emerge...

What (or who) helps hospitality companies improve faster? Consumer-led campaigns on plastic straws have pushed many hospitality companies to consider alternatives or simply ban single-use plastics. So far, however, the vast majority of guests still choose their hotels mainly by location and price. Using levers such as taxation or legislation, gover...

The hotel industry must reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per room per year by 66% by 2030, and 90% by 2050 (see ITP, 2017). However, looking at 10 of the largest hotel companies, only one sets a goal that is in line with the science-based targets. Decarbonization has long become an integral part of risk assessment in other industries. Cons...

Terroir, an expression originally referred to only in viticulture and agriculture, has undergone a broadening of meaning and use in recent years. Formerly, it described primarily viticultural products in specific regions where local geographical features impart special physiological properties making them unique. Today, pressure from the general pu...

A word to introduce the Hotel Yearbook 2020 Special Edition on Sustainable Hospitality The " Hotel Yearbook Special Edition – Sustainable Hospitality 2020” is now available for free download. It has been an honour for me to act as the guest Editor-in-Chief again for this second edition. The contributors (from 16 different countries) offer a wide...

The " Hotel Yearbook Special Edition – Sustainable Hospitality 2020” is now available for free download. It has been an honour for me to act as the guest Editor-in-Chief again for this second edition. The contributors (from 16 different countries) offer a wide range of views, observations and opinions on the topic of sustainability from all angle...

Tourism and hospitality has experienced strong diversification over during the past few years One of the latest trends in the field of nature-based tourism is the phenomena of tree house hotels. The unique character of these hotels appeals not only to childhood memories but fulfils desires of adventure and novelty, romanticism and uniqueness. The r...

The Paris Agreement signed by 195 countries and the European Union in December 2015 provides a global framework for mitigation and adaption strategies in face of climate change. The hospitality industry is hungry for resources, in particular energy, but also directly affected by changes in the environment-whether operating a ski resort in the Alps...

In this paper, we investigate the connection between ethics and aesthetics with a supporting case from the international tourism industry. Researchers in sustainable tourism have ignored, resisted or simply been reluctant to include the aesthetic perspective in the analysis of sustainable development, social responsibility or climate adaptation. Th...

In this paper, we investigate the connection between ethics and aesthetics with a supporting case from the international tourism industry. Researchers in sustainable tourism have ignored, resisted or simply been reluctant to include the aesthetic perspective in the analysis of sustainable development, social responsibility or climate adaptation. Th...

I am very happy to announce that the "Hotel Yearbook 2018 – Sustainable Hospitality” is now live and can be downloaded beginning immediately- it is free! The full edition can be downloaded here: https://www.pineapplesearch.com/content/37000021.html It has been an honour to be the guest Editor-in-Chief for this first edition - with more than 100,00...

The Paris Agreement signed by 195 countries and the European Union in December 2015 provides a global framework for mitigation and adaption strategies in face of climate change. The hospitality industry is hungry for resources, in particular energy, but also directly affected by changes in the environment - whether operating a ski resort in the Alp...

A discussion between: Willy Legrand (lead author of Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry: Principles of Sustainable Operations 3rd. ed.) and Nicolas Dubrocard (Independent Efficiency Consultant & Auditor and Founder of ADSTourism) Recorded on May 17, 2017, IUBH School of Business Management, Germany Nicolas: I think sustainability is dead, t...

Tourism and hospitality have experienced strong diversification during the past few years. One of the latest trends in the field of nature-based tourism is the phenomenon of tree house hotels. The unique character of these hotels appeals not only to childhood memories but fulfills desires of adventure and novelty, romanticism, and uniqueness. The r...

It is understood that education is critical for promoting sustainability and improving the capacity of managers to address business issues in the context of the environment and society. Learning does not stop after leaving high school, college or university. For everyone involved closely or remotely with the hospitality industry, this third edition...

This issue of Research in Hospitality Management is special in two ways: it is the first issue of Research in Hospitality Management to be published in open access, and it is entirely dedicated to sustainability. The choice for open access has been dictated by the desire of the editorial team to reach a wider public and initiate the process of rank...

Social entrepreneurship refers to identifying or recognizing a social problem and using entrepreneurial principles to organize, create and manage a venture to achieve a desired social change. Business entrepreneurs typically measure performance in profit and return, whereas social entrepreneurs measure performance in terms of benefit to society. So...

Tourism is one of South Africa's fastest growing sectors. Pro-Poor Tourism (PPT) is an approach to tourism development that results in increased net benefits for poor people. It enhances the linkages between tourism businesses and poor people, so that tourism's contribution to poverty reduction is increased. The South African Township Tourism Organ...

The issues surrounding the provision, preparation and development of food products is fundamental to every human being on the planet. Given the scarcity of agricultural land, environmental pollution, climate change and the exponential growth of the world’s population where starvation and obesity are both widespread it is little wonder that explorin...

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 as well as the European Union Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) are two established management tools to evaluate, report and improve the environmental performance of businesses. The purpose of this chapter is the development and testing of a model on motivations, benefits, barriers...