FACTORS OF ECO-FRIENDLY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN HOUSEKEEPING: INSIGHTS FROM BUDGET HOTELS IN NCR

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore and classify eco-friendly management practices in the housekeeping operations of budget hotels. The research seeks to identify key factors, group them into meaningful thematic dimensions, and provide theoretical, practical, and policy-level insights into sustainable hospitality practices. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employed factor analysis using a Rotated Component Matrix to reduce variables and extract underlying components. Eleven components were identified and further synthesized into four thematic dimensions: recycling and cleaning innovation, environmental awareness and institutional measures, water conservation and compliance, and energy and resource management. Findings: The results revealed that eco-friendly housekeeping practices extend beyond operational measures such as energy saving, waste reduction, and water conservation, to include systemic strategies like policy adoption, certification, and staff awareness. These dimensions demonstrate that budget hotels, despite resource constraints, can effectively contribute to global sustainability goals through low-cost and high-impact initiatives. Limitations: The study was limited to budget hotels in the NCR region, which may restrict the generalizability of results to other hotel categories or geographical contexts. Guest perspectives and long-term impacts of green initiatives were not included, suggesting scope for future research. Originality/Value: This research is among the few studies focusing on eco-friendly housekeeping practices in budget hotels. It develops a structured framework of sustainability dimensions that advances theory, offers practical guidance for managers, and provides policy-level direction to support the green transformation of the hospitality sector. Keywords: Determinant factors of Eco- friendly Practices; Housekeeping; Budget hotels; Sustainable development; Delhi (National Capital Region)