The Determinants of Green Purchasing in the Hospitality Sector: A Study on the Mediation Effect of LOHAS Orientation

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article, titled “The Determinants of Green Purchasing in Hospitality Sector: A Study on the Mediation Effect of LOHAS Orientation,” deals with an interesting and timely issue.

The authors presented the research problem in a synthetic way, using appropriate literature references. The research concept was correctly formulated and clearly presented. The variables were correctly operationalized. The hypotheses were supported by studies of the subject literature. The research project was clearly presented.

The computational workshop was properly selected and used correctly. Here you can see the paradigm of psychological sciences. Among other things, citing literature according to APA style has been combined with MDPI style. This is interesting, but I am not convinced whether it is correct for publishing reasons.

The obtained results were presented clearly. The authors in the discussion of the results confronted their achievements with the existing literature.

The most important conclusions from the research are presented at the end of the "Discussion" chapter. The "Conclusion" chapter has taken on the character of a summary and "Limitation". I propose changing the "Conclusion" chapter so that the most important conclusions are included in this chapter.

The limitations of the study include the fact that the sample selection was non-probabilistic and therefore the results should not be generalized.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We thank you for your valuable and constructive feedbacks and recommendations. Your comments, feedbacks and recommendations were very effective in increasing the academic as well as structural quality of the manuscript.

We tried to address all of your feedbacks and recommendations as much as possible and we have made the required adjustments in line with your valuable feedbacks. We hope we succeeded to address all your request in a correct and effective way.

In our report below, you can see the summary of our work to address your review notes.

Thank you very much for your valuable support and wish you success in your future works. 

Best Regards

Comment No 1:

Reviewer: The article, titled “The Determinants of Green Purchasing in Hospitality Sector: A Study on the Mediation Effect of LOHAS Orientation,” deals with an interesting and timely issue.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment.

Comment No 2:

Reviewer: The authors presented the research problem in a synthetic way, using appropriate literature references. The research concept was correctly formulated and clearly presented. The variables were correctly operationalized. The hypotheses were supported by studies of the subject literature. The research project was clearly presented.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment.

Comment No 3:

Reviewer: The computational workshop was properly selected and used correctly. Here you can see the paradigm of psychological sciences. Among other things, citing literature according to APA style has been combined with MDPI style. This is interesting, but I am not convinced whether it is correct for publishing reasons.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable comment. Following your feedback, we have checked the citation rules applied for the Sustainability journal and did not see any limitation on mentioning author names with publication years in the text sentences as long as we place the reference number in brackets at the end of the sentences. We checked several articles published in the Sustainability journal and identified the same type of referencing in the text sentences in several manuscripts. Thus, we believe that there is no any contradiction between in-text references and the rules of the journal.

Comment No 4:

Reviewer: The obtained results were presented clearly. The authors in the discussion of the results confronted their achievements with the existing literature. The most important conclusions from the research are presented at the end of the "Discussion" chapter. The "Conclusion" chapter has taken on the character of a summary and "Limitation". I propose changing the "Conclusion" chapter so that the most important conclusions are included in this chapter.

Authors: Thank you for your feedback on the conclusion section. Upon your recommendation, we have re-structured the conclusion section in a way that includes the most important conclusions and contributions of the study, limitations and recommendations for further research studies in a structured way. The revised text is placed under the “Conclusion” part of the manuscript.           

Comment No 5:

Reviewer: The limitations of the study include the fact that the sample selection was non-probabilistic and therefore the results should not be generalized.

Authors: Thank you for your feedback. We have also made some additions regarding the limitation of generalizability due to the sampling methodology in the research methodology section and in the limitations part of the “Conclusion” section.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Please see attached.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We thank you for your valuable and constructive feedbacks and recommendations. Your comments, feedbacks and recommendations were very effective in increasing the academic as well as structural quality of the manuscript.

We tried to address all of your feedbacks and recommendations as much as possible and we have made the required adjustments in line with your valuable feedbacks. We hope we succeeded to address all your request in a correct and effective way.

In our report below, you can see the summary of our work to address your review notes.

Thank you very much for your valuable support and wish you success in your future works. 

Best Regards

Comment No 1:

Reviewer: The introduction would be stronger with a clearer statement of the specific research gap. While the study offers valuable insights into green purchasing behavior in hospitality explaining more clearly how this research builds on or differs from existing studies on LOHAS orientation would help position the work more effectively.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made some additions to the relevant section in the manuscript. We re-structured the introduction section and explained how this study contributed to the LOHAS literature and differentiates from other previous studies. We compared the investigation areas of the previous studies and explained how this study contributes to the field by shedding light to an unexplored area of investigation.

Comment No 2:

Reviewer: Although the theoretical foundation is solid, slightly expanding on the role of LOHAS orientation in the hospitality sector would enhance the discussion. Further explanation of why LOHAS is especially relevant to hospitality consumers compared to other industries would help clarify the study’s contribution.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made some additions to the relevant section in the manuscript. We have already tried to explain the role of LOHAS orientation in the hospitality sector in the introduction section. In order to explain further why LOHAS orientation is important for the hospitality sector, we have provided important statistics about the environmental impact of the industry to show that LOHAS consumer orientation is a very important segment in order to decrease the contribution of the industry to the environmental deterioration.  

Comment No 3:

Reviewer: The practical implications are useful but could be made more actionable. Providing specific examples of how hospitality businesses can apply the findings to boost green purchasing behavior would add practical relevance. For example, suggesting marketing strategies or communication approaches that align with LOHAS values could be particularly helpful.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made some additions to the relevant section in the manuscript. We included a detailed explanation how marketing communications strategies as well as programs such as sponsorships of events, event organizations, and cause related marketing programs may boost the attraction of consumers and convince them to engage into the green purchase behavior by imposing LOHAS values.  

Comment No 4:

Reviewer: The conclusion could be strengthened by summarizing the study’s key contributions to both academic literature and practical applications. Explicitly stating how this research advances understanding in the field would give the paper a more impactful closing.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made some additions to the relevant section in the manuscript. We expanded the content of the discussion section to include the main contributions of the study in terms of academic literature as well as practical applications. Specifically, in terms of academic literature, we explained how the study confirms the theoretical framework and provides a novelty by shedding light into an unexplored area of investigation in the LOHAS literature. In terms practical applications, we also explained what type of important and valuable insights are provided for the brand and marketing managers.          

Comment No 5:

Reviewer: Additionally, I recommend the authors address limitations and suggestions for future research in separate paragraphs. While the manuscript mentions some limitations, it could provide more detail on how these may affect the generalizability of the findings. Since the study focuses on Turkish hospitality consumers, a brief discussion on the cultural context and how it might influence green purchasing compared to other regions would be valuable. Furthermore, the future research section could be expanded by suggesting more specific directions. For instance, exploring how LOHAS orientation affects green purchasing behavior in other sectors or cultural contexts would provide useful areas for future study.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made some additions to the relevant section in the manuscript. First of all, as your recommended, we addressed limitations and research recommendations in separate paragraphs. In terms of limitations, we expanded the discussion and included several causes of limitations which is expected to prevent the generalization of findings. These limitations are industry wide generalization restrictions since the study focused on hotel purchases, limitations due to the sampling methodology, and restrictions due to the cultural context where the study is conducted. In the future research recommendations, we provided suggestions for future studies in different cultural contexts, other hospitality sectors such as food and beverage, events and other sectors.

Comment No 6:

Reviewer: In some parts of the manuscript, terms like “green purchase behavior” and “environmentally friendly behavior” are used interchangeably. Using one term consistently throughout would improve clarity and help readers follow the arguments more easily.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made required corrections in the manuscript.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

General Rules

Acronyms and Paragraph Continuity: The article appropriately utilizes a few masking acronyms, whereas LOHAS is defined when it first appears. The text structure supports the flow and progression of these paragraphs. Nevertheless, it is recommended that a few longer sentences be rephrased and split to clarify.

Theoretical Framework

The motivation of the work, however original, and how it aims to make a scholarly contribution are commendable, but supplementing practical recommendations for the hospitality industry can amplify its applicability. References: It showed heavy usage of third-party citations, such as "Han (2020) said…" In general, we advise reducing the form of these citations, except that they will remain a reference to academic practice at the end of new sentences.

Images/Images: While the labels of each image (e.g., "Figure 1") are appropriate, it would be advisable to introduce and discuss them a little more for better instruction before as well as after presenting those;

Title

Title: Green Purchasing and LOHAS Guidance in the Hotel Sector—A Preliminary Study of Clarity Aligns with Title It corresponds to the research aims and reflects the content to be written.

Abstract

The abstract clearly states the objectives, methodology, and main results. Nevertheless, to support academic worth, we recommend breaching the fundamental limitations and avenues for further research so that this gives a complete outline of both sections to anyone who decides to read it.

Introduction

Scope, Focus: The introduction succinctly touches on environmental issues and then places the hospitality sector within this landscape. The use of statistical data and impact information will help make the course more relevant.

The Introduction: Identifying Gaps in the Literature and Structure At the end of your introduction, it can be helpful to have a short paragraph briefly outlining what will follow in the essay. This is to allow the reader to know how different elements of content can be organized and flow with it. Comprehensive Review Update: The theoretical framework is well established and current and kitty boom (timeliness/relevance). The section provides the significant concepts in a structured and easy-to-read manner, such as an overview of benefits, challenges & application contexts.

Research Method

The authors need to have provided a more detailed exposition of the nature, type, and methodology used in their research—specifically, the incorporation of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). A flowchart is missing. Insert a return to research steps. For more details, make sure you include the chapter about it and also another page with questions that could come inside this point.

Sample and Limitations: The sample is well-described and consists of Turkish consumers. Nevertheless, because of the convenience sampling method, this limitation should be explicitly mentioned in the methodology section so as to affect all results.

Results and Discussion

Results are Aligned with Objective: The results should meet the objectives and provide a clear answer to show the proper research questions.

Discussion and Triangulation: The triangulation of results with literature enlightens the critical review, which makes the discussion. Nonetheless, some of the more recent manuscript studies (2023–2024) might want to be added to add modernity and topicality.

Critical Reflection and Contextualisation: The analysis provides a sufficient level of critical reflection, including aspects like parallelism and contradictions to other research on green purchasing behavior/personal norms.

Conclusion

Contribution, Limitations, and Future: It neatly summarizes what has been found in light of the theoretical or applied contribution. A more detailed limitation of the study section is to include some suggestions for other hospitality sectors where this work could benefit as well in different cultural contexts.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The quality of the English is acceptable; however, in some parts, it could be better written in a more fluid language.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We thank you for your valuable and constructive feedbacks and recommendations. Your comments, feedbacks and recommendations were very effective in increasing the academic as well as structural quality of the manuscript.

We tried to address all of your feedbacks and recommendations as much as possible and we have made the required adjustments in line with your valuable feedbacks. We hope we succeeded to address all your request in a correct and effective way.

In our report below, you can see the summary of our work to address your review notes.

Thank you very much for your valuable support and wish you success in your future works. 

Best Regards

Comment No 1 (General Rules):

Reviewer: Acronyms and Paragraph Continuity: The article appropriately utilizes a few masking acronyms, whereas LOHAS is defined when it first appears. The text structure supports the flow and progression of these paragraphs. Nevertheless, it is recommended that a few longer sentences be rephrased and split to clarify.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. We have sent the manuscript to English editing service in order to improve the language quality. We hope it is better now.

Comment No 2 (Theoretical Framework):

Reviewer: The motivation of the work, however original, and how it aims to make a scholarly contribution are commendable, but supplementing practical recommendations for the hospitality industry can amplify its applicability. References: It showed heavy usage of third-party citations, such as "Han (2020) said…" In general, we advise reducing the form of these citations, except that they will remain a reference to academic practice at the end of new sentences.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment.

Although we do not have such “Han (2020) said….” type of citations in the text, we heavily used the following type of in-text citations:

Example: Proposed by Stern et al. (1995), the values-beliefs-norms theory, incorporates both values and beliefs to explain the prosocial behavior [26].

Example: Han (2020) identified a lack of factors in fully explaining the eco-friendly behavior and proposed the theory of green purchase behavior by including other prosocial and pro-environmental factors which are expected to fill this gap in explaining the phenomena [18].

Example: As it is identified by Eagly & Chaiken (1993), attitude is a type of psychological tendency to generate a positive or negative approach towards an entity through an evaluation process [39].

Upon your recommendation, we have made the required changes in the text and reduced such citations as much as possible.

Comment No 3 (Theoretical Framework):

Reviewer: Images/Images: While the labels of each image (e.g., "Figure 1") are appropriate, it would be advisable to introduce and discuss them a little more for better instruction before as well as after presenting those.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made some additions to the relevant section in the manuscript.  We included additional explanations before each figure of the theoretical models presented and described the content of each model.

Comment No 4 (Title):

Reviewer: Title: Green Purchasing and LOHAS Guidance in the Hotel Sector—A Preliminary Study of Clarity Aligns with Title It corresponds to the research aims and reflects the content to be written.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback.

Comment No 5 (Abstract):

Reviewer: The abstract clearly states the objectives, methodology, and main results. Nevertheless, to support academic worth, we recommend breaching the fundamental limitations and avenues for further research so that this gives a complete outline of both sections to anyone who decides to read it.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made some additions to the relevant section in the manuscript.  We extended the abstract section to include the content of the conclusion section which includes the fundamental limitations and recommendation for further research studies. In the conclusion section, we separated these two parts and re-structured it.

Comment No 6 (The Introduction):

Reviewer: Scope, Focus: The introduction succinctly touches on environmental issues and then places the hospitality sector within this landscape. The use of statistical data and impact information will help make the course more relevant.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made additions to the introduction section and included statistical data related to the contribution of hospitality industry to the environmental deterioration. In this perspective, we included statistical data regarding the share of hospitality industry in the global waste production, carbon emission production as well as average per user water consumption. As you recommended, the inclusion of the statistical data made the course more relevant.

Comment No 7 (The Introduction):

Reviewer: Identifying Gaps in the Literature and Structure at the end of your introduction, it can be helpful to have a short paragraph briefly outlining what will follow in the essay. This is to allow the reader to know how different elements of content can be organized and flow with it. The theoretical framework is well established and current and kitty boom (timeliness/relevance). The section provides the significant concepts in a structured and easy-to-read manner, such as an overview of benefits, challenges & application contexts.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made additions to the introduction section and included information related to the gaps in the literature and we outlined in detail the flow of sections and contents in the manuscript.

Comment No 8 (Research Method):

Reviewer: The authors need to have provided a more detailed exposition of the nature, type, and methodology used in their research—specifically, the incorporation of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). A flowchart is missing. Insert a return to research steps. For more details, make sure you include the chapter about it and also another page with questions that could come inside this point.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have expanded the explanation of the research methodology, specifically the incorporation of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The type and methodology explanation is in the text, beginning of the research design section. We also explained in detail and in sequential flow order the steps of the research in the text. All steps are clearly defined in the new text.

Comment No 9 (Sample and Limitations):

Reviewer: The sample is well-described and consists of Turkish consumers. Nevertheless, because of the convenience sampling method, this limitation should be explicitly mentioned in the methodology section so as to affect all results.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made additions to the both methodology section and limitations section under conclusion part. We clearly indicated the limitation related to the generalizability of results due to the sampling methodology.

Comment No 10 (Results and Discussion):

Reviewer: Results are Aligned with Objective: The results should meet the objectives and provide a clear answer to show the proper research questions.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have included the research questions addressed at the end of the introduction section and in the discussion section we bridged the findings of the study (results of the hypothesis tests) with the associated research questions listed in the introduction section.  

Comment No 11 (Discussion and Triangulation):

Reviewer: The triangulation of results with literature enlightens the critical review, which makes the discussion. Nonetheless, some of the more recent manuscript studies (2023–2024) might want to be added to add modernity and topicality.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we have made additions to the discussion section and improved the richness of content with the inclusion of latest research studies from 2022-2023 and 2024 for each area of investigation. The section seems much more solid and up to date now.

Comment No 12 (Critical Reflection and Contextualization):

Reviewer: The analysis provides a sufficient level of critical reflection, including aspects like parallelism and contradictions to other research on green purchasing behavior/personal norms.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment.

 

Comment No 13 (Conclusion):

Reviewer: Contribution, Limitations, and Future: It neatly summarizes what has been found in light of the theoretical or applied contribution. A more detailed limitation of the study section is to include some suggestions for other hospitality sectors where this work could benefit as well in different cultural contexts.

Authors: Thank you for your valuable feedback and comment. Upon your recommendation, we provided suggestions for future studies in different cultural contexts, other hospitality sectors such as food and beverage, events and other sectors.

 

 

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have substantially improved the article as per the requested revisions.