Virtual hotels, real skills

Developing sustainability competencies through simulation

Abstract

This paper describes the development and implementation of an innovative hotel carbon reduction simulation aimed at developing sustainability competencies in business students. Using the Harvard Business School "Net Zero" simulation, we assess how interactive simulation-based learning opportunities improve students' self-assessment of the eight sustainability competencies with a mixed-methods approach. The research examines critical gaps in knowledge of how simulation-based methods can develop integrated competency sets needed to solve complex sustainability challenges. The simulation assigns around 950 first-year management students as hotel managers tasked with achieving 50% emission reductions over seven years while maintaining financial performance. Students select from 29 sustainability initiatives across Energy, Purchasing, and Management categories, working within realistic constraints of carbon budgets, site-specific emission factors, and dynamic market conditions. Our comprehensive analytical design combines pre-post competency surveys with cluster analysis of strategic approaches, and qualitative analysis of learning reflections. Anticipated outcomes are enhanced competency development across all eight dimensions, with gains in systems-thinking, futures-thinking, and implementation competencies. The research aims to provide empirical proof for developing specific sustainability competences as well as demonstrating scalable approaches of integrating sustainability education into core business curriculum.