Effective use of resources in tourist facilities - focus on energy efficiency

Purpose – The purpose of the research is to examine the awareness of hoteliers on energy efficiency and environmental protection. The authors wanted to know whether the hotel companies in the inner regions of Istria and Kvarner implement or plan to implement energy efficiency measures in order to use their resources more rationally. Design - Every hotel company should act responsibly towards the environment, i.e. be an active participant in sustainable development while preserving natural resources. This represents a great challenge, but also a great economic cost for each individual company. Methodology / Approach – Empirical research was conducted using a simple questionnaire adapted to the target group (tourism management, facility management). The study was conducted in December 2013, in the tourist destinations of Kvarner and Istria, on a sample of 15 hotels. The first part of the questionnaire is close-ended (with offered answers: yes, no, sometimes), while the second part of the survey is descriptive, or open-ended. The method of data collection was self-completion questionnaire, returned by e-mail or personally collected by the researchers at the hotel manager. The collected questionnaires were encrypted and statistically analysed. Another often used method of data collection was one-to-one interview. Findings – It is indicative that there is an increasing awareness of people employed in tourism about the fact that energy efficiency represents both the future and the necessity of business. In contrast, there is a lack of energy management, as well as of planning and investment in the energy efficient technologies. Concrete energy efficiency measures are poorly implemented into business. Originality of the research – This research provides reliable and actual qualitative and quantitative data about the problems of energy efficiency development, as well as the energyand cost saving in the regions of Istria and Kvarner.