WILLY LEGRAND, PHD

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PUBLICATIONS & RESEARCH

On-Going Research Topics / Projects

Research:

Joining the dots on ESG: The Future of Corporate Success in Tourism?

Summary:

A company’s overall success and resilience in the market is increasingly linked to its environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. Diverse stakeholder groups are asking and expecting accountability, transparency, and the need to proactively address externality issues – and that includes those financing the industry. Where does the tourism industry stands on ESG? What are the barriers and challenges in regards to tracking and reporting ESG performance?   In light of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), what are the consequences for SMEs, the large majority of businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors? What are the current best practices in reporting ESG performance?

Research:

Net Positive in Hospitality: What does it mean?

Summary:

From regenerative to net positive: it is crucial to understand the definitions, set the boundaries for those terms and identify the measurement, metrics and key performance indicators used. IN addition, and similar to the concept and calculations behind the Marginal Abatement Cost Curve how should a company invest capital with the greatest net positive impact?

Research:

Is Resilience the New Sustainability? A Paradigm Shift in Tourism

Summary:

Tourism has, historically, repeatedly recovered from economic crises, depressions and other shocks – at times recovering faster than any other sectors. However, the response to COVID crisis is raising many questions in regards to the ability of the sector to the adapt and plan long-term resiliency in line with sustainability demands and requirements – How can destinations and companies position themselves resiliently and where is the distinction between resiliency and sustainability (environmental, social and financial)?



Decarbonization/ Resilience / Regeneration

Legrand, W. (December 21, 2021) The Decade of Decarbonisation & Restoration: Needed Actions in Hospitality.  HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000141.html

Legrand, W. (October 25, 2021) Hospitality stakeholders: Why is COP26 important? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000135.html

Legrand, W. (Jan 08, 2021) Resiliency and Sustainability in Hospitality in 2021: Paving the Way Forward. Opinion article. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4102396.html

Legrand, W. (Dec 07, 2020) Driving Resiliency and Sustainability in Hospitality: Five Priorities for 2021. HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000084.html

Legrand, W. (Sep 07, 2020) Shared Commitment is Key to a Green Hospitality Recovery. Opinion article. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4100514.html

Legrand, W. (Aug 31, 2020) The (Green) Recovery Imperative: Hospitality Re-Set Or Bouncing Forward? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000070.html

Altenrath, F. and Legrand, W. (March 02, 2020). Sustainability Gives Hotels An Edge In The War For Talent. Or Does It? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000040.html

Legrand, W., Cavagnaro, E., Schønrock Nielsen, R. & Dubrocard, N.  (2020). Sustainability without Limits – Strategic and Operational Innovations in the Hospitality Industry, in Gardini, M., Ottenbacher, M.C., & Schuckert, M. (Eds.) Routledge Companion to International Hospitality Management, Oxford, Routledge. 161-172.

Sloan, P., Legrand, W., and Kinski, S. (2016). The Restorative Power of Forests: The Tree House Hotel Phenomena in Germany, In J. Chen, ed.  Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, 12, 181-189.

Sloan, P., Legrand, W., and Kinski, S. (2016). The Restorative Power of Tree House Hotels: a German Case Study, Global Report on the Transformative Power of Tourism – UNWTO-Affiliate Members Report, 14, 54-57.


Environmental Management / Sustainable Hospitality

Legrand, W. (January 26, 2022) Walking the Talk in Hospitality: From Bold Sustainability Goals to Actions, C-SUITE World Panel Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000142.html

Legrand, W. (May 31, 2021).  Marginal Abatement Costs – Focus Real Estate. White Paper Series on Sustainable Hospitality, HospitalityNet, https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4104665.html

Altenrath, F. and Legrand, W. (September 17, 2021). Hospitality Supply Chains: Massive footprint or a force of good? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000128.html

Altenrath, F. and Legrand, W. (May 27, 2020). Hygiene and Sustainability: How to make both work? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000054.html

Legrand, W., and Dubrocard, N. (2020), Fresh Water and Wastewater Management in Mediterranean Hotels & Resorts: Owner-Operator Issues in Tüzün, I. K., Ergul, M. & Johnson, C. (Eds.) Sustainable Tourism Practices in Mediterranean. Oxford: Routledge, 122-136.  ISBN 978-1-138-097377

Legrand, W. (January 21, 2019) Hotel Industry CEOs On Sustainability Entering The 2020s: The Window Of Opportunity For Hotels Is Now! Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4096577.html

Legrand, W. (December 16, 2019) Hotel Sustainability: Top 3 Technologies to Implement in 2020. HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000033.html

Legrand, W. (December 11, 2019) Sustainability goals… is the window of opportunity for hotels closing? 2020 C-SUITE World Panel Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000028.html

Legrand, W., Winkelmann, D., Sloan, P. and Simons-Kaufmann, C. (2014). Empirical Investigation on Environmental Management Systems in German Hotels. In J. Chen, ed.  Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, 10. 1-20.

Legrand, W., Sloan, P., Wagmann, C. and Rheindorf, L. (2014), From Output to Input: The Road from Energy and Carbon Emissions to Principles of Sustainable Hotel Design, in Jauhari, V. (Ed.) Managing Sustainability in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry: Paradigms and Directions for the Future. Waretown NJ: Apple Academic Press, 41-73. ISBN 978-1-926895-72-7

Legrand, W. And  Sloan, P. (2014). “Hospitality and Sustainability: History, Dimensions and Developments”, In Pantelidis, I. (ed.) The Routledge Handbook of Hospitality Management, Oxford: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-67177-4

Legrand, W. and Sloan, P. (2014). Sustainability and the Hospitality Industry: Dimensions, Developments and Outlook, in Zhou, Z., (Ed.) Volume on Hospitality and Tourism, Series on Western Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences, ACPSS Members,  China Renmin University Press


ESG, Legislation & Finance

Altenrath, F. and Legrand, W. (March 17, 2021). Sustainability-driven legislation: setting the right conditions for hospitality? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000094.html

Legrand, W. (March 29, 2021) Sustainability-Driven Legislation – Setting The Right Conditions For Hospitality? A Review Of Viewpoints, HospitalityNet. https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4103666.html

Legrand, W. (Jan 18, 2021) Growing Green – Funding, Investment and Finance in Eco-Hospitality: A Review. Opinion article. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4102531.html


Food & Sustainability

Legrand, W., Hindley, C., & Laeis, G.C.M. (2020). Food biodiversity, local sourcing and consumers: gastronomy as a critical interface, in Hunter, D., Borelli, T. & Gee, E. (Eds.) Biodiversity, Food and Nutrition: A New Agenda for Sustainable Food Systems, Oxford, Earthscan/Routledge. Part 3, Chap 8. 221-235. Access here: https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/108172

Legrand, W., Sloan, P., Fett, M., & Manten, T.  (2019). The Roles of Terroir, Food and Gastronomy in Destination Authenticity, in Dixit, S. K., (Ed.) The Routledge Handbook of Gastronomy Tourism, Oxford, Routledge. 260-271. ISBN 978-1-138-551558


Global vs Local Approaches

Altenrath, F. and Legrand, W. (January 22, 2022). Global standards vs. local realities – how to make it work in hospitality? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000145.html


Luxury & Sustainability

Legrand, W. (2021).  Luxury tourism in remote destinations: An inquiry into sustainability. In J. Chen, ed.  Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, 16, Emerald Publishing Limited, 65 – 81. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1745-354220200000016006

Hindley, C., Legrand, W., & Laeis, G.C.M (2022). The Pandemic of Tourism: How tourism has become an unsustainable luxury, in Kotur, A. & Dixit, S.K. (Eds.) The Emerald Handbook of Luxury Management for Hospitality and Tourism, Bingley UK, Emerald Publishing Limited. 479-496.


Nature-based Solutions

Legrand, W. (June 22, 2021).  Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Hotel Real Estate. White Paper Series on Sustainable Hospitality, HospitalityNet, https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4105089.html

Legrand, W. (May 25, 2021) The solutions nature provides: how can hotels contribute and benefit? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000113/126001116.html


Certification, Communication

Legrand, W. (Feb 09, 2021) Responsible travel: How do we make booking sustainable hotels easier? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000088.html

Legrand, W. (July 13, 2020) The Future of Sustainability Certification: Micro-Certification? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000057.html

Altenrath, F. and Legrand, W. (January 24, 2020). How can sustainability be communicated beyond clichés and greenwashing? HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality. Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000036.html


Social Entrepreneurship

Sloan, P, Legrand, W., and Simons-Kaufmann, C. (2014), A survey of social entrepreneurial community-based hospitality and tourism initiatives in developing economies: A new business approach for industry. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 6(1), 51-61.

Sloan, P., Simons-Kaufamnn, C., Legrand, W. and Perlick, N. (2015). Township Tourism in South Africa – A Successful Tool for Poverty Alleviation? In J. Chen, ed.  Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, 11. 153-168.

Legrand, W. (2016). Problem-solving and Social Innovation through Social Entrepreneurship. In J. Varney, ed. Highlights from the 2016 Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship Enterprises Roundtable, Cornell Hospitality Report, 16(17), 4-5.


Sustainability & Consumers

Legrand, W. (Aug 03, 2021) The price of hotel sustainability: willing-to-stay and willing-to-pay?  Access: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000126.html

Lohninger, E., Legrand, W. and Delgado-Krebs, R. (2021), “Glass Igloo Hotels: An Investigation of Consumers’ Willingness to Pay”, Chen, J.S. (Ed.) Advances in Hospitality and Leisure (Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, Vol. 17), Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 85-102. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1745-354220210000017005

Legrand, W. and Schønrock Nielsen, R. (2018).  Towards a responsible experience economy – ethics through aesthetics in tourism. In J. Chen, ed.  Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, 14, Emerald Publishing Limited, 173-182

Legrand, W. and Schønrock Nielsen, R. (2017).  Climate-Conscious Identity and Climate-Adaptive Innovations in Hospitality. In J. Chen, ed.  Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, 13, Emerald Publishing Limited, 63 – 78


24hr Sustainable Hospitality Hackathon

Legrand, W., Laeis, G. & Han, D.  (Lead Organizers) (January 20-21, 2022).  24hr Food & Sustainability Hackathon Vol. IV: Tasteful Transfomation. IU International University of Applied Sciences (DE) & Hotel Management School Maastricht (NL). Full Report: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4108616.html

Legrand, W., Laeis, G. & Hoefnagels, A. Dongen, J.v., Varga, P.,  Boerwinkel, M., Han, D.  (Lead Organizers) (June 2-3, 2021).  24hr Sustainable Hospitality Hackathon Vol. III: Regeneration Now. IU International University of Applied Sciences (DE), Hotel Management School Maastricht (NL), Ecole Hotelière de Lausanne (CH), The Julius Maxmilian University of Würzbrug (DE). Full Report: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4104790.html

Legrand, W., Laeis, G., Hoefnagels, A., Dongen, J.v., Boerwinkel, M., & Broers, E. (Lead Organizers) (December 17-18, 2020).  24hr Sustainable Hospitality Hackathon Vol. II: A World of Change in Hospitality. IUBH International University of Applied Sciences & Hotel Management School Maastricht. Full Report: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4102442.html

Legrand, W., Laeis, G., Hoefnagels, A., Dongen, J.v., Abreu e Silva, S.G., & Emmons, W.  (Lead Organizers) (June 4-5, 2020).  World’s First 24hr Sustainable Hospitality Hackathon: A World of Change in Hospitality. IUBH International University of Applied Sciences & Hotel Management School Maastricht. Full Report: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4099112.html