Corporate social responsibility activities in hotel businesses: A research in Kütahya

Corporate social responsibility is the practice in which businesses strategically fulfill their responsibilities to society and the environment in which they operate. While businesses aim to increase their profitability on the one hand, they also fulfill their responsibilities to society and the environment on the other. In the hotel industry, where services are produced and consumption is intense, various social responsibility initiatives are developed. The aim of this research is to determine the extent to which hotel businesses operating in Kütahya province engage in corporate social responsibility activities and to identify these activities. The posts of the hotel businesses on social media and websites between 01.01.2020 and 28.02.2025 were examined. The research employed categorical content analysis. In this research, the corporate social responsibility activities of hotel businesses with Tourism Operation Certificates in Kütahya province were examined. According to the research results, hotel businesses have operated primarily within the scope of economic responsibility. They carried out most of the activities in 2024. It was determined that 21 (70%) of the activities were carried out by 4-star hotels, and that 10 (30%) were most frequently carried out in 2024. Businesses undertook activities affecting disadvantaged groups, the physical environment, and society.