IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jchals/v16y2025i1p9-d1574228.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Challenges and Solutions for Corporate Social Responsibility in the Hospitality Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Ajay Khatter

    (William Angliss Institute, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

Abstract

The hospitality sector’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) is dynamic and constantly evolving. This article examines CSR implementation in the hospitality industry and investigates the growing prevalence of CSR initiatives. This research examines the implementation and challenges of CSR in the hospitality sector through a qualitative literature review methodology. The study highlights trends such as community engagement, ethical labour practices, and sustainable resource utilisation while identifying barriers like financial constraints and stakeholder resistance. Moreover, it examines the determinants that influence these patterns, including consumer inclinations, governmental policies, and industry recognition of the social and ecological repercussions. This research enhances the field of theory by consolidating and expanding upon current knowledge regarding CSR, building on Archie Carroll’s Pyramid theory’s focus on economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities and R. Edward Freeman’s Stakeholder Theory’s emphasis on business ethics and corporate governance. Modifications are made to these frameworks to adhere to the precise requirements of the hospitality industry. This research presents an alternative perspective on the intricate relationship between environmental sustainability, social accountability, and financial prosperity within the hospitality sector. This study questions the idea that CSR is either a mandatory obligation or an optional behaviour. Key findings reveal that integrating CSR into business strategies enhances operational efficiency, stakeholder trust, and financial performance. By building on established theoretical frameworks, this research provides actionable insights. It contributes to the global discourse on sustainability, offering a nuanced perspective on the hospitality industry’s evolving role in advancing environmental, social, and financial prosperity.

Suggested Citation

  • Ajay Khatter, 2025. "Challenges and Solutions for Corporate Social Responsibility in the Hospitality Industry," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:16:y:2025:i:1:p:9-:d:1574228
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/1/9/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/1/9/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. R. Edward Freeman, 2010. "Managing for Stakeholders: Trade-offs or Value Creation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 96(1), pages 7-9, August.
    2. Baoliang Hu & Tao Zhang & Shuai Yan, 2020. "How Corporate Social Responsibility Influences Business Model Innovation: The Mediating Role of Organizational Legitimacy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Christopher Wickert, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility Research in the Journal of Management Studies: A Shift from a Business‐Centric to a Society‐Centric Focus," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(8), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Yi Hsu & Thi Hong Gam Bui, 2022. "Consumers’ Perspectives and Behaviors towards Corporate Social Responsibility—A Cross-Cultural Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Josefa García Mestanza & Alfonso Cerezo Medina & Marco Antonio Cruz Morato, 2019. "A Model for Measuring Fair Labour Justice in Hotels: Design for the Spanish Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-20, August.
    6. Olivia Aronson & Irene Henriques, 2023. "Shared Value Creation in Equivocal CSR Environments: A Configuration Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(4), pages 713-732, November.
    7. Tahniyath Fatima & Said Elbanna, 2023. "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Implementation: A Review and a Research Agenda Towards an Integrative Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(1), pages 105-121, February.
    8. Md. Abdul Kaium Masud & Md. Harun Ur Rashid & Tehmina Khan & Seong Mi Bae & Jong Dae Kim, 2019. "Organizational Strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility: The Mediating Effect of Triple Bottom Line," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-18, November.
    9. Rafael Martínez-Peláez & Alberto Ochoa-Brust & Solange Rivera & Vanessa G. Félix & Rodolfo Ostos & Héctor Brito & Ramón A. Félix & Luis J. Mena, 2023. "Role of Digital Transformation for Achieving Sustainability: Mediated Role of Stakeholders, Key Capabilities, and Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-27, July.
    10. Pfajfar, Gregor & Shoham, Aviv & Małecka, Agnieszka & Zalaznik, Maja, 2022. "Value of corporate social responsibility for multiple stakeholders and social impact – Relationship marketing perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 46-61.
    11. Ivo Hristov & Andrea Appolloni, 2022. "Stakeholders' engagement in the business strategy as a key driver to increase companies' performance: Evidence from managerial and stakeholders' practices," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1488-1503, May.
    12. Ajay Khatter, 2023. "Challenges and Solutions for Environmental Sustainability in the Hospitality Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-10, July.
    13. Anna Viktorovna Shkalenko & Anton V. Nazarenko, 2024. "Integration of AI and IoT into Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies for Financial Risk Management and Sustainable Development," Risks, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, May.
    14. Yufeng Cheng & Kai Zhu & Quan Zhou & Youssef El Archi & Moaaz Kabil & Bulcsú Remenyik & Lóránt Dénes Dávid, 2023. "Tourism Ecological Efficiency and Sustainable Development in the Hanjiang River Basin: A Super-Efficiency Slacks-Based Measure Model Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, April.
    15. Letizia Carrera, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility. A strategy for social and territorial sustainability," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Abdulaziz Alhumud, Abdullah & Leonidou, Leonidas C. & Alarfaj, Weam & Ioannidis, Alexis, 2025. "The impact of digital CSR disclosure on customer trust and Engagement: The moderating role of consumer deontology and law obedience," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    2. Lee, Ruby P. & Wei, Susan, 2023. "Do employee orientation and societal orientation matter in the customer orientation—Performance link?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    3. Hasanul Banna & Md Imtiaz Mostafiz & Farhad Uddin Ahmed & Shlomo Y. Tarba, 2024. "Social Innovation and the Financial Risk of EMNCs - The Contingent Role of Institutional Legitimacy," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 64(3), pages 489-525, June.
    4. Andra Modreanu & Sorin-George Toma & Marin Burcea & Cătălin Grădinaru, 2024. "Perceptions and Attitudes of SMEs and MNCs Managers Regarding CSR Implementation: Insights from Companies Operating in the Retail Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-29, May.
    5. Tim Heubeck & Annina Ahrens, 2025. "Governing the Responsible Investment of Slack Resources in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Performance: How Beneficial are CSR Committees?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 198(2), pages 365-385, May.
    6. D'Adamo, Idiano & Mammetti, Marco & Ottaviani, Dario & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2023. "Photovoltaic systems and sustainable communities: New social models for ecological transition. The impact of incentive policies in profitability analyses," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 1291-1304.
    7. Gastón Reyes, 2023. "The All-Stakeholders-Considered Case for Corporate Beneficence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(1), pages 37-55, November.
    8. Zeeshan Mukhtar & Abdul Rasheed, 2024. "Corporate Governance and Ownership Structure Effect on Corporate Social Performance: Evidence from Non-Financial Industries of Pakistan," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 13(1), pages 527-541.
    9. Jiaqi Luo & Mingxiao Bi & Haibo Kuang, 2021. "Design of Evaluation Scheme for Social Responsibility of China’s Transportation Enterprises from the Perspective of Green Supply Chain Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, March.
    10. Xianliang Shi & Genzhu Li & Ciwei Dong & Yefei Yang, 2020. "Value Co-Creation Behavior in Green Supply Chains: An Empirical Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-26, July.
    11. Khwaja Naveed & Fahad Khalid & Cosmina L. Voinea & Nadine Roijakkers & Cosmin Fratostiteanu, 2023. "Board gender diversity and corporate environmental commitment: A subnational perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4970-4990, November.
    12. Camila Kolling & José Luis Duarte Ribeiro & Donato Morea & Gianpaolo Iazzolino, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and circular economy from the perspective of consumers: A cross‐cultural analysis in the cosmetic industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1226-1243, May.
    13. Jiawen Chen & Linlin Liu, 2020. "Eco-Efficiency and Private Firms’ Relationships with Heterogeneous Public Stakeholders in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-18, September.
    14. María Elena Murrieta-Oquendo & Iván Manuel De la Vega, 2022. "State and Dynamics of the Innovative Performance of Medium and Large Firms in the Manufacturing Sector in Emerging Economies: The Cases of Peru and Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-23, December.
    15. Fraser, Jocelyn & Kunz, Nadja C. & Batdorj, Bulgan, 2019. "Can mineral exploration projects create and share value with communities? A case study from Mongolia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-1.
    16. Qi Wang & Qunli Tang & Yingting Guo, 2024. "Spatial Interaction Spillover Effect of Tourism Eco-Efficiency and Economic Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-19, September.
    17. Naz, Farah & Bögenhold, Dieter, 2024. "From pursuit of self-interest to pursuit of happiness: Complementary or contradictory readings of “wealth of nations” and “theory of moral sentiments”?," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 864-871.
    18. Taner, Oznur Oztuna, 2024. "Sustainable Food and Agriculture Production: Reducing Food Waste through Technological Advancements and Assessing its Economic Impact," Research on World Agricultural Economy, Nan Yang Academy of Sciences Pte Ltd (NASS), vol. 5(3), September.
    19. Lea Fobbe, 2020. "Analysing Organisational Collaboration Practices for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, March.
    20. Mehtab Alam & Fu-Ren Lin, 2022. "Internalizing Sustainability into Research Practices of Higher Education Institutions: Case of a Research University in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-30, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:16:y:2025:i:1:p:9-:d:1574228. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.