Despite the recent recession, the economic growth of recent decades has created a group of so-called ‘Global-Elites’ (CeMoRe, 2010). Small in number, but high in net worth and influence they are influential in the creation of, and desire for consumption, often portrayed as luxury, privilege, prestige, and 'class'. The tourism industry has also benefited from growth, with demand predicted to double by the year 2020, reaching an estimated $14.95 billion (World Tourism & Travel Council, 2010). Much of this growth has been at the top end, as Keissling et. al. (2009) note an unprecedented rise in demand for the luxury hotel sector over the past decade. The global elite’s leisure consumption practices require considerable research attention, and yet research into luxury services, such as hotels and associated hospitality services, is greatly undeveloped. Atwal and Williams (2008) note the ability of consumption as a means for consumers to make statements about themselves, and nowhere is this more true than in the world of the Global-Elite, who seemingly having no desire to curb current travel activities (Elliott & Urry, 2009). This may be due to the uncertainty that is felt about future travel opportunities, with environmental decline of natural and heritage attractions paralleled by numerous threats to travel such as peak oil and political instability. However, in recent years, there has been increased interest in the study of ethical consumption in the tourism arena (e.g. Novelli, 2005; Sharpley, 2006; Lansing & Vries, 2006; Yeoman et. al., 2006). Although there appears to be incompatibility between the concepts of luxury and concerns around ethical consumption and sustainability, this research posits that while current transitions (around travel and tourism) continue towards further unsustainability (Cohen, 2010), ethical consumption may provide an avenue for social distinction and status differentiation in the world of the Global-Elites. In order to adequately understand the behavioural intentions of the Global-Elites, the synergy between consumer values, luxury dimensions and ethical consumption needs to be explored. This research examines the influence of consumer values, as a more universal measure of intent, in relation to ethical consumption in luxury hotels. This research argues that by reducing the uncertainty related to the degree to which consumers (Global-Elites) value ethical consumption, deeper insights into these apparently incompatible spaces and places for ethical consumption will be obtained. Furthermore, luxury hotels will be able to assess the suitability of marketing and communicating such strategies to their customers.

In today's globalized world traveling has become an integral part of many people's lives. Whether traveling for pleasure, entertainment, or business, you always have to find a place to stay during your travels. There are many options - sleeping on a park bench, on a sofa at some stranger's house, in a tent, in a small hotel room or in a luxury apartment in one of the world's famous hotel chains. One such chain is Hyatt. Yet, Hyatt is one of the last worldwide hotel chains not represented in the Czech Republic. Why is this so? Is there still a potential for a new luxury hotel chain to enter this market? And if so, which entering strategy shall the chain choose? The aim of the thesis is to answer these questions.

Los sistemas de gestión ambiental son prácticas que vienen siendo utilizadas por un gran número de hoteles de lujo como estrategia para la satisfacción de clientes y la conservación medio ambiental. Los hoteles en la actualidad están apostando a ser más sostenibles mediante tecnología y la innovación con el propósito principal de cuidar del medio ambiente y obtener grandes beneficios económicos para el sector. El sector hotelero tiene una gran responsabilidad en el consumo de recursos naturales y existe un reconocimiento de las personas en la necesidad de sostenibilidad dentro del mundo, como es el crecimiento de los sistemas de gestión ambiental en la industria hotelera. Por lo que, los hoteles de lujo mediante los sistemas de gestión ambiental contribuyen no solo a generar beneficios ambientales, sino también económicos y sociales. Las prácticas ambientales son importantes y las más complejas de ellas es el Sistema de Gestión Ambiental, por lo que el objetivo de esta investigación es identificar los beneficios económicos que genera un sistema de gestión ambiental instituido en los hoteles de lujo y analizar la percepción que se tiene por parte del turista, así como las ventajas que genera en el sector hotelero en la búsqueda del equilibrio entre el crecimiento económico y la protección de los recursos naturales. Se utilizará como metodología la revisión integradora para encontrar explicaciones teóricas provenientes de los trabajos de investigación existentes en el ámbito de gestión ambiental sostenible en hoteles de lujo. / management systems are practices that have been used by a large number of luxury hotels as a strategy for customer satisfaction and environmental conservation. Hotels are currently betting on being more sustainable through technology and innovation with the main purpose of caring for the environment and obtaining great economic benefits for the sector. The hotel sector has a great responsibility in the consumption of natural resources and there is a recognition of people in the need for sustainability within the world, as is the growth of environmental management systems in the hotel industry. Therefore, luxury hotels through environmental management systems contribute not only to generate environmental benefits, but also economic and social ones. Environmental practices are important and the most complex of them is the Environmental Management System, so the objective of this research is to identify the economic benefits generated by an environmental management system instituted in luxury hotels and analyze the perception that is It has on the part of the tourist, as well as the advantages it generates in the hotel sector in the search for a balance between economic growth and the protection of natural resources. The integrative review will be used as a methodology to find theoretical explanations from existing research works in the field of sustainable environmental management in luxury hotels. / Trabajo de investigación

Les Grands Magasins du Louvre naissent en 1855 à l’ombre du Grand Hôtel du Louvre, dans un quartier en expansion suite aux travaux de Haussmann, deux ans seulement après la création du Bon Marché. Leur création est fortement liée au projet et au réseau des frères Pereire qui souhaitent développer le commerce et le tourisme de luxe à Paris. Les Grands Magasins du Louvre s’imposent rapidement comme l’un des principaux grands magasins, voire même le plus important par le chiffre d’affaires dans les années 1870-1880, ainsi que par l’espace occupé. En effet, d’abord enclavé par l’hôtel, le magasin conduit par ses deux gérants, Chauchard et Hériot, va engloutir toutes les boutiques environnantes, et s’emparer de l’hôtel en 1875. Ils adoptent ainsi le slogan les « plus vastes magasins du monde ». Ce premier pied dans l’hôtellerie va inciter ses dirigeants à poursuivre leur expansion dans ce domaine en exploitant trois hôtels supplémentaires, le Terminus Saint-Lazare, l’hôtel d’Orsay et le Crillon. Les Grands Magasins du Louvre sera donc le seul grand magasin à avoir investi dans un autre secteur que le commerce pour diversifier ses activités. A la fin du XIXème siècle, le magasin semble connaître son apogée étendant son influence sur le territoire national comme à l’étranger et s’approvisionnant en marchandises du monde entier. Mais la Première Guerre mondiale et surtout la crise économique des années 1930 lui porte un coup dur dont il ne se relèvera pas. En 1939 il dépose une première fois le bilan, avant que cette fermeture soit interrompue par la guerre. Il continuera à survivre après le Second conflit mondial, avant de disparaître définitivement en 1974. / The Grands Magasins du Louvre was born in 1855 in the shadow of the Grand Hôtel du Louvre, in an expanding area following the works of Haussmann, only two years after the creation of the Bon Marché. Their creation is strongly linked to the project and the network of the Pereire brothers who wish to develop trade and luxury tourism in Paris. Louvre shops are quickly becoming one of the leading department stores, and even the most important by turnover in the 1870s and 1880s, as well as occupied space. Indeed, at first locked by the hotel, the store led by its two managers Chauchard and Hériot will engulf all the surrounding shops, as well as the hotel in 1879. They adopt the slogan of "the largest stores in the world". This first foot in the hotel industry will encourage its leaders to continue their expansion in this area by operating three additional hotels, the Terminus Saint-Lazare, the hotel d'Orsay and Crillon. The Grands Magasins du Louvre will therefore be the only department store to have invested in a sector other than commerce to diversify its activities. At the end of the nineteenth century, the store seems to know its heyday extending its influence on the national territory and abroad and sourcing goods from around the world. But the First World War and especially the economic crisis of the 1930s brought him a hard blow which he will not recover. In 1939 it first filed the balance sheet, before the closure was interrupted by the war. It will continue to survive after the Second World War, before finally disappearing in 1974.