The sustainable business model of a hotel – the case of the W Barcelona

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study is to determine the sustainable model of a hotel, in this case, of the hotel W Barcelona. By analyzing their decision-making process and the implementations made in their operational value chain, improvements were found, and recommendations given. In order to achieve those objectives, review of academics and scientific researches were achieved to provide support and evidences of the right path to follow for corporates to reach their sustainable goals. Personal researches were assessing thanks to the collection of primary data through in-depth exploratory and semi-structured explanatory interviews, with a studied group selected intentionally, composed by Executives Chefs of W Barcelona or specific responsible in Marriott International. In addition, a quantitative data research was led in form of a test hypotheses survey with a studied group of 100 people strong and selected randomly through the employees of W Barcelona. Those data were quantified and analyzed, as statistical relationships identification, in order to emphasize the results and conclusions. The results have been providing the evidence of a lack of communication and a not-enough consciousness of the positive effect sustainability may have on the identity of an enterprise. However, the findings identify a willingness to do well and constant improvements in the value chain. Additional recommendations were given as part of the conclusions. The first part of the results can be generalizable findings about the sustainable model for the hotels and can be applied in other properties. However, if results can be shared, the study was focused on the W Barcelona and variations may occur depending on the brand, the size and the location of the property.