ElBelehy, C., & Crispim, J. (2025). Social sustainability in Egypt hospitality and tourism supply chains. Business and Society Review, 130(S1), 222–262. https://doi.org/10.1111/basr.12337

This article examines social sustainability (SS) practices in Egypt’s Hospitality and Tourism (H&T) supply chains (SCs), an area still underdeveloped in many developing countries. Drawing on Institutional Theory (IT) and Stakeholder Theory (ST), the study identifies existing SS practices, key influencing factors, and differences among SC members. Using a mixed-method approach—interviews with managers from major hotels (Hilton Heliopolis and Radisson Blu) and a survey of 187 industry practitioners—the research found that SS implementation is mostly limited to compliance and brand policies, lacking a strategic approach. Among eight categories, only “Health and Safety” was widely applied, while “Fair Labor,” “Equal Opportunity,” and “Human Rights” showed weak adoption. Institutional pressures (mimetic, normative, and coercive) were key enablers, whereas barriers included low awareness, limited cooperation, and insufficient government support. The study recommends stronger regulatory enforcement and education programs to enhance fair labor practices and employee participation across the Egyptian H&T sector.