Page 43 - Sustaining Accommodation SMES

5.1 Qualitative Study

1. Scoping Study. This initial phase involved a systematic and exhaus-
tive review of extant scientific literature and relevant strategic pol-
icy documents. The objective was to ascertain the state-of-the-art
knowledge concerning sustainability-related challenges and prac-
tices prevalent among accommodation smes in the Mediterranean
region.
2. Qualitative Interviews. This phase focused on collecting in-depth
data through semi-structured interviews, providing nuanced in-
sights into management perceptions, organisational drivers, and the
specific challenges faced by accommodation sector smes.
3. Online Quantitative Survey. Thefinalphase enabledthe collection of
extensive, scalable quantitative data concerning current sustainabil-
ity practices, performance baselines and organisational readiness for
standards such as iso 21401 across a broader geographical base.

It must be acknowledged that due to resource limitations, the gener-
alizability of the findings across the entire wider Mediterranean region
is somewhat restricted. However, the strategic utilisation of this mixed
approach effectively compensates for this limitation by collecting both
broad quantitative data on implementation levels and detailed qualitative
data on the underlying behavioural drivers and perceived organisational
impacts. The triangulation of data sources was found to be a critical com-
ponent in the acquisition of both quantifiable metrics pertaining to the
readiness level for iso 21401 and in-depth insights into the motivations
underpinning stakeholder behaviour.

5.1 Qualitative Study: Perceptions, Barriers, and Drivers
of Sustainability
The qualitative analysis was an essential element of the methodological
approach, which was multi-faceted in nature. This approach was chosen
specifically to gather rich, in-depth insights that quantitative methods
alone cannot provide. This phase was pivotal in exploring the nuanced
perceptions and motivations of accommodation sector managers regard-
ing their environmental, social, and economic practices, allowing for a
detailed examination of the key issues and barriers that prevent a smooth
transition. The present study employed semi-structured interviews with
the objective of capturing the lived experiences of sustainability within
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (smes). The investigation sought
to translate abstract concepts into concrete operational realities and to

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