“Guided by ESG, measured through corporate disclosures, and designed for business performance’’
The Hospitality Business and ESG research line focuses primarily on economics and finance within the hospitality sector. It addresses the upcoming challenges that will impact the valuation of companies in the sector, with a particular emphasis on financial and non-financial disclosures. Therefore, the research encompasses topics related to Corporate Responsibility with ESG scope. The goal of this research line is to strengthen HTH's expertise in researching financial and economic issues in the hospitality sector, particularly at a time when important developments are taking place, such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which aligns ESG reporting with financial reporting. By gaining insight into these emerging challenges and the sector's interdependence on operations and business models, real estate and investment decisions, the research aims to make a meaningful contribution to the hospitality sector through strategic initiatives and forward-thinking approaches.
As long as corporate disclosures remain blind to the costs of polluted air, soil and water, poverty wages, unhappy locals and a suffering local economy, we will still be managing decline rather than prosperity. The true shift is when we align the metrics with the future we claim to want, including resilient economies.
ESG as value driver, protects against risks and drives financial performance across various corporate mechanisms, which enables us to develop new business models and internal processes with new competencies, methodologies and systems that facilitate adaptation and ethical growth.
Corporate Responsibility with an ESG scope is not only a matter of legal compliance, but also a competitive advantage with economic criteria.
Mission
To lead in applied research on corporate financial and non-financial performance and ESG transformation by providing actionable insights that help hospitality organisations thrive by targeting High-Impact, Low-Capex Interventions.
This lectorate (chair) focuses on how organisations can improve embedding ESG and CSR principles into their operations, while creating both corporate responsibility and economic value, reinforcing the notion that ESG is not a cost-center, but a value driver. From regulatory shifts (such as the EU's CSRD-ESRS) to reputational risks, the goal is to strengthen business resilience and governance through applied research, foresight, and engagement with real-world challenges, utilising various traditional and digital tools, including financial and non-financial reports, to measure and improve performance.
Aligning profit with planetary responsibility
We believe that true business performance and continuity require more than financial gain; it demands care for the environment and society, ensuring sustainable growth and VALUE CREATION in a world with finite resources. By guiding organisations to integrate ESG into their strategies, we help them move beyond profit orientation, build trust, attract responsible investment, and contribute to a stronger LOCAL economy.
Objectives
- Translate ESG trends into local and sector-specific business strategies;
- Develop tools and frameworks for future-proofing hospitality business operations;
- Examine how data (financial and non-financial) can be strategically used to strengthen business resilience across every stage of the value chain;
- Publish accessible research and stimulate dialogue between academia, business, and society.
Principles
- Embrace complexity and systems thinking to address interconnected challenges;
- High situational awareness and a multidisciplinary approach;
- Collaborate across disciplines and industries;
- Foster ethical governance and responsible business practices through education and research.
