Research Information System
in: Accounting, Finance, Sustainability, Governance and Fraud, Springer Nature, pp.171-189, 2026
Rest areas, as tourism-related businesses, play a crucial role in travel mobility, particularly along highways. However, they also contribute significantly to environmental issues such as high energy and water consumption, carbon emissions, and wastewater production. This chapter discusses sustainable environmental management practices that can minimize these negative impacts in rest area businesses. Given the increasing demand for rest areas worldwide, adopting corporate sustainability practices has become essential. However, the hospitality literature offers limited research on these businesses. This chapter first provides a conceptual foundation for rest areas and environmental management, then examines best practices from various global examples, focusing exclusively on highway rest stops. Effective environmental management in rest areas starts with sustainable construction, including eco-friendly buildings and energy-efficient systems. Sustainable operational practices, such as waste reduction, on-site energy generation, and employee and customer engagement, are crucial for long-term success. While technological advancements aid sustainability, human adoption remains key. Public sector support is vital, as high costs often limit businesses from implementing sustainable solutions alone. Incentives, regulations, and cost-effective measures like LED lighting and water-saving devices can enhance sustainability efforts. Given the rising travel demand, long-term collaborations among public institutions, NGOs, and industry stakeholders are necessary to promote eco-friendly rest area businesses.