Hotel managers' voices on circular economy: unveiling barriers, enablers and strategic solutions

Purpose Drawing on institutional theory, this paper aims to identify the key themes that reflect hotel managers' general perceptions regarding circular economy (CE) practices, pinpoint the main facilitators and barriers to CE adoption and propose strategic interventions for effective implementation within the hotel sector. Design/methodology/approach Our research employed a qualitative research design. In addition, semi-structured video conference interviews were conducted with 20 hotel managers in Antalya, Türkiye. Data were analyzed using Leximancer software to identify key themes and concepts related to CE practices. Findings The analyses revealed eight themes in descriptions of CE. These are the “cost efficiency,” “innovation and technology,” “corporate social responsibility,” “customer awareness and demand,” “knowledge and training,” “financial constraints,” “governmental support” and “infrastructure and supply chain”. Enablers are linked with “governmental support,” “cost efficiency,” “corporate social responsibility,” “customer awareness and demand” and “innovation and technology” while barriers faced by hoteliers are “knowledge and training,” financial constraints” and “infrastructure and supply chain.” Practical implications The findings suggest that hotel managers should prioritize staff training, incremental resource-efficiency practices and collaboration with policymakers to overcome financial and infrastructural barriers to CE adoption. Originality/value This empirical piece contributes to the pertinent literature by providing empirical insights into the perceptions and motivations of hotel managers in a developing market context. It offers practical guidance for industry leaders seeking to transition from linear to circular business models also aligning their operations with global sustainability goals.