In June 2005, Spain became the country with the second greatest number of sites and companies certified by the Ecomanagement and Audit Scheme (EMAS). Indeed, the Spanish hospitality industry led the way in certifications under this standard. An analysis of 115 environmental statements issued by EMAS-certified Spanish hotels finds that the data in the statements are difficult to compare. This study found that the current nature of the studies makes it unfeasible to rank hotels under this standard. The study found little difference in the release of environmental information according to certain specific hotel characteristics, including size, ownership, and location.
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