Xie, Guoyun

Sustainability-related issues have been drawing considerable attention in the resort and hotel industry. This research explores the meaning of a "sustainable resort" and to identify the opportunities and challenges of developing a "sustainable resort" as well as the opportunities and challenges of engaging employees in this process, through a case study of a family resort in Central Ontario, Canada. A significant finding is that a "sustainable resort" in the context of a family business highlights cultural sustainability, which emphasizes on keeping family roots and passing on family legacy, as well as addresses economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The nature of the selected case, a traditional family resort, provides some valuable insights on the issues of sustainability and employee engagement in the resort and hotel industry. To improve sustainable outcomes for the resort, a holistic approach of collaborating with different key stakeholders, particularly emphasizing employee engagement as a core strategy, is proposed.

Author Keywords: employee engagement, family resort, resort and hotel industry, sustainability, sustainable development