Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Among Hotels in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South South Nigeria

This study analyses the corporate social responsibility practices of hotels in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South South Nigeria, and examines their implications for brand reputation and community relations. The hospitality sector's operations directly impact host communities through employment, environmental resource use, and social influence, making CSR a strategically important dimension of hotel management. A mixed-method research design is adopted with questionnaires administered to 160 hotel guests, community representatives, and hotel management staff across 16 hotels in Port Harcourt. CSR activity dimensions assessed include environmental sustainability initiatives, community employment and sourcing preferences, charitable contributions, and transparency in social reporting. Findings reveal that while 74 percent of hotels engage in some form of CSR activity, these are predominantly reactive and unstructured, with only 28 percent having a documented CSR policy. Environmental CSR activities, particularly energy and water conservation measures, are the most commonly implemented. However, community-facing CSR, including local procurement and apprenticeship programmes, is reported by fewer than 35 percent of sampled hotels. Guest awareness of hotel CSR activities is low, limiting the potential reputational benefits. The study recommends development of strategic CSR frameworks aligned with community needs in Port Harcourt, integration of CSR reporting into annual hotel performance reviews, and communication of CSR activities through hotel digital channels to enhance brand differentiation. Keywords: corporate social responsibility, hotel management, brand reputation, Port Harcourt, sustainability