TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE........................................................................................................................i
DECLARATION.................................................................................................................ii
APPROVAL PAGE...........................................................................................................iii
DEDICATION....................................................................................................................iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...................................................................................................v
ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................................vii
CHAPTER ONE..................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................1
1.1 Background to the Study........................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the Problem.......................................................................................2
1.3 Objectives of the Study..........................................................................................3
1.4 Research Questions................................................................................................4
1.5 Significance of the Study.......................................................................................4
1.6 Scope of the Study.................................................................................................5
CHAPTER TWO.................................................................................................................6
LITERATURE REVIEW....................................................................................................6
2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................6
2.2 An Overview of Corporate Social Responsibility..................................................6
2.3 Defining Corporate Social Responsibilities...........................................................7
2.4 Characteristics of Corporate Social Responsibilities.............................................9
2.5 Drivers of Corporate Social Responsibility.........................................................11
2.6 Goals of Corporate Social Responsibility............................................................14
2.7 Pitfalls of effective Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria..........................15
CHAPTER THREE...........................................................................................................18
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY......................................................................................18
3.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................18
3.2 Research Design...................................................................................................18

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 3.3 Population of the Study........................................................................................18
3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Technique.................................................................19
3.5 Sources of Data Collection...................................................................................20
3.6 Method of Data Analysis.....................................................................................20
CHAPTER FOUR.............................................................................................................21
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS...................................................................21
4.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................21
4.2 Presentation and Analysis of Data.......................................................................21
4.3 Summary of Research Findings...........................................................................31
CHAPTER FIVE...............................................................................................................33
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION..........................................33
5.1 Summary..............................................................................................................33
5.2 Conclusion............................................................................................................33
5.3 Recommendations................................................................................................34
REFERENCES..................................................................................................................36
Appendix A: Letter of Request for Data Collection..........................................................38
Appendix B: Sample Questionnaire..................................................................................39

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The hotel industry is a global sector (with significant growth expectations)

which caters for a majority of people, and with a majority of employees
working to achieve its objective. In the past, businesses existed without
having much pressure or expectations from the society but instead,
organizations were seen as entities of profit maximization for shareholders.
Today, events point to the fact that such trend has changed and businesses
are expected to be socially responsible and to think beyond profit
maximization, if they must survive (Onwuegbuchi, 2019).

Holme and Watts (2000) defined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as

the continuous commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute
to economic development while improving the quality of life of the
workforce and their families as well as the local community and society at
large.

Corporate social responsibility has become a common practice among most

hotels in Nigeria. It is one of the newest management strategies where
companies try to create a positive impact on society while doing business
(Onwuegbuchi, 2019).

Corporate Social Responsibility activities are no longer only charitable

events but tools for boosting positive image of the company, employee and
customer satisfaction and organizational profitability. Islam (2012)
confirmed that the concept of business has changed from profit making

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 activities to social welfare activities where businesses are not only
responsible to its shareholders but also to all of its stakeholders of which
employees satisfaction forms a nucleus. The main force that drives
companies to adopt corporate social responsibility is CSR’s financial
benefits (Rapti and Medda, 2012).

Ombi 1 community is located in Lafia central, the Southern zone of Lafia,

the capital of Nasarawa State. Ombi 1 is a host community to so many
business organizations including hotels, schools and several other business
establishments. Being a host community to several hostels, this study
therefore tends to assess hotel social responsibility to its host community,
using Hilcon Royal Hotel and Timafeek Hotel, Ombi 1, Lafia as the case
study.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

One of the major responsibilities of manufacturing and service industries is

the assurance of long-lasting cordial relationships between the
establishments and the host communities (Welcomer, Cochran, Rands &
Haggerty, 2013). The host communities are the inhabitants of the districts
where the business activities of the hotels take place. A certain conviction
emanates from the local people who feel that their locality is capable of
accommodating certain business enterprises, and as such, they tend to
believe that their status should be enhanced in a variety of ways through the
emergence of these business enterprises. There is, consequently, a need to
strike a balance between the expectations of the local population and that of
the businesses who are of the belief that the host community will be very
accommodating for their enterprise to prosper.

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 Residents of the host community, as well as the firm itself, are all
stakeholders who are, in one way or the other, affected by either the
activities of the firm, or the grievances of the residents as characterized by
the activities of the firm.

Eweje (2016) wrote that a stakeholder is anyone who has “a stake in or

claim on the firm”, which was further interpreted to include “any group or
individual who can affect or is affected by the corporation”. This clarifies
the scope of stakeholders for the hotel industry to include customers,
employees, suppliers, management, and the local community. Consequently,
Eweje asserts that business success can best be achieved by giving the
interests of the business’ stakeholder’s proper consideration and adopting
policies that produce the optimal balance among them.

Similarly, Welcomer et al., (2013) posited that firms and stakeholders

actively working together in hopes of mutual gain can have a significant
impact on the firm. The foregoing clearly defines the relationship between
hotels and their host communities as that which is expected to be of
immense benefit to both the establishments and the host communities. This
is where corporate social responsibility and sustainable development
practices play prominent roles.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of this study is to assess hotel social responsibility to its
host community. Specifically, the study sought to:

1. Examine the perceptions of hotel managers on the benefits of social

responsibilities and ethics to host communities.

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 2. Examine what the community and organizations get out of social
responsibilities and ethical behavior.
3. Examine how hotels benefit tangibly from engaging in social
responsibilities policies, activities and ethical practices.

1.4 Research Questions

The study was undertaken to provide answers to the following questions;

1. What are the perceptions of hotel managers on the benefits of social

responsibilities and ethics to organization performance?
2. What do the community and organizations get out of social
responsibilities and ethical behavior?
3. How do hotels benefit tangibly from engaging in social responsibilities
policies, activities and ethical practices?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Academically, this research will, not only contribute to the volume of

knowledge on Corporate Social Responsibility, but will help in filling the
gap existing in CSR research in the Nigeria and particularly, Ombi 1
Community, Lafia, Nasarawa State. This study becomes relevant because it
will help us to know how CSR is understood and practiced by hotel
industries in Nigeria.

Professionally, this study will help CSR practitioners in other organizations

to know what hotel industries are doing in the area of CSR and also provide
learning opportunities for them. Such knowledge could help them in
conceptualizing their own CSR strategies.

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 The findings generated in this study are useful in testing the existing theories
under extreme conditions not present in developed economies where most of
the prior studies were carried out. Current and potential investors are
supplied with information to help them make good investment decisions.
The findings and conclusion may enable the regulators to know the nature of
demand placed on hotels industries in Nigeria and ways the organizations
have responded to them.

The study is important to the government, host communities and non-

governmental organizations involved in development programmes. This
study fills literature gap by investigating the effects of CSR on profitability
of Hotels.

1.6 Scope of the Study

Given the broad nature of Corporate Social Responsibility, this study

focuses on the hotels in Ombi 1 community, Lafia, Nasarawa State, with the
view to disclose its social responsibilities to the host community.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Assessment: Refers to the collection of data to describe or better understand

an issue.

Hotel Social Responsibility: the continuous commitment by hotels to

behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving
the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as the local
community and society at large.

Host Communities: are the inhabitants of the districts where the business
activities of the hotels take place.
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