Analyzing employee perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on sustainable practices: a study of five-star hotels in India

Purpose Given the pace of global environmental degradation, companies and individuals alike are exploring ways and means of protecting the environment. In this context, the attitudes of hoteliers and their employees toward sustainability are key to the successful implementation of these practices. This paper aims to consider the impact of attitude development and COVID-19 on the sustainability performance of hotels. The study also explores contributions made by hotels to environmental sustainability and society more generally. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on interviews and survey questionnaires completed by employees of five-star hotels in India, and qualitative methods were used to process the data. Findings The findings of this study confirm the devastating impact of COVID-19 on both economic and societal sustainability in what otherwise would be a profitable sector of the economy. Practical implications The study has implications for hoteliers, the government, environmental agencies and for employees and could assist with the formulation of recovery packages by government and in the development of new standard operating procedures to enable hotels to step-up on the self-recovery path. Originality/value The paper provides an analysis of the direct effects of the pandemic on financial sustainability and its mediating impact on the efforts of hotels to attain sustainable environment.