A multiscale perspective on place attachment and pro-environmental behavior in hotel spaces

Abstract

Although the relationship between place attachment and pro-environmental behavior has been demonstrated in the tourism and hotel contexts, little research has considered the multiscale nature of place attachment. This study uses both questionnaires and semi-structured interviews in a case study of luxury hotels in Chinese tourist cities. The findings show that in both the tourism and hotel contexts, (1) consumers have a higher degree of place attachment to the city than to the hotel in all dimensions; however, not all dimensions generate cross-scale (hotel-city) facilitation. (2) Consumers' place attachment to hotels and place attachment to cities have a mutually reinforcing effect. (3) Consumers’ hotel attachment and city attachment can contribute to pro-environmental behavior in hotels. (4) Green involvement has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between consumers' multiscale place attachment and their pro-environmental behaviors in hotels. This study has theoretical and practical implications.