Adding sustainable value: integrating sustainability via a multi-disciplinary learning method in hospitality education

Purpose – This paper addresses the issue put forward by Bynum Boley and Remington-Doucette by proposing a multi-disciplinary method, as an applicable learning method to integrate all three dimensions of sustainability in Hospitality education. The purpose of this paper is to request feedback of the industry partners and colleagues present at the conference to a proposed educational method that is possibly suitable in the design of a minor in sustainability for hospitality management. Design/ Methodology/ Approach – The educational method designed focuses on solving sustainability problems of the “real world” and extends the research on integrating sustainability in higher hospitality management education. Findings – Through the analysis of sustainability in Hospitality education and through adding the concept of the triple bottom line6 for value creation to the quadrants of the Hospitality Value Chain, an integration of sustainability in the system of hospitality education is considered and explored. Since sustainability is an everlasting process, education needs to be on the forefront in creating future change agents2. This possibly requires an alternative view on developing knowledge and skills of hospitality and tourism students via a multi-disciplinary approach/learning method. Practical implications – The designed learning method can be put in practice and used for further research on implementation of sustainability in higher hospitality education. The originality of this research –The originality of this research consist of the fact that this form of sustainable education is in its primary stage and not much debated yet.