STRATEGIC DRIVING OF THE THAI MICE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY TOWARD GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD ISO 20121:2024: INTEGRATING GREEN DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES AND DYNAMIC ECONOMIC STRUCTURES

Authors

  • Panchamaphorn Tamnanwan Faculty of Service Industry, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus

Keywords:

MICE Industry, ISO 20121:2024, Green Dynamic Capabilities, PLS-SEM, Necessary Condition Analysis

Abstract

This strategic study analyzes the transitional structure of the International Standard for Event Sustainability Management Systems (ISO 20121:2024) and its integration with Thailand's national development policies. It also evaluates micro-level organizational behaviors within the Thai hospitality sector using an advanced mixed-methods, two-phase approach. The first phase employs a qualitative research design utilizing in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, while the second phase applies a quantitative methodology combining Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA). 

Policy analysis and phase-one qualitative findings reveal that the macro-level strategy of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), implemented under the TCEB Go framework and the Thailand Sustainable Event Management Standard, systematically aligns with the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, thereby stimulating widespread sustainability awareness across the supply chain. Empirical statistical results from a sample of 5-star hospitality enterprises in the second phase indicate that Green Dynamic Capabilities exert a strong and statistically significant positive influence on Eco-Innovation (β = 0.649, t = 5.94, p < 0.001), which subsequently translates into positive economic performance. However, Eco-Innovation does not exhibit a significant direct impact on tangible environmental performance in the short term because of systemic time-lag effects. Furthermore, NCA outcomes demonstrate that Green Dynamic Capabilities (GDC) and Eco-Innovation (ECI) function as indispensable bottleneck factors, requiring strict adherence to predefined minimum threshold scores to overcome operational limitations and elevate the Thai MICE industry into a global beacon of sustainable legacy. 

References

Acar, A. Z., Acar, P., Aslan, M., Yaylalı, İ., & Yılmaz, O. K. (2025). The role of eco-innovation and environmental management accounting in fostering performance effect by green dynamic capabilities in the hotel industry. Sustainability, 17(21), 9487. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219487

Antwi-Boateng, C., Mensah, H. K., & Asumah, S. (2023). Eco-intellectual capital and sustainability performance of SMEs: The moderating effect of eco-dynamic capability. Cogent Business and Management, 10(3), 2258614. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2258614

Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108

Birt, L., Scott, S., Cavers, D., Campbell, C., & Walter, F. (2016). Member checking: A tool to enhance trustworthiness or merely a nod to validation? Qualitative Health Research, 26(13), 1802–1811. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732316654870

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706QP063OA

Chen, Y.-S. (2008). The driver of green innovation and green image - Green core competence. Journal of Business Ethics, 81(3), 531-543. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9522-1

Chirieleison, C., & Rizzi, F. (2020). ISO 20121 standard (event sustainability). In Encyclopedia of sustainable management. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02006-4_137-1

Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum.

Correia, A., Shahzad, M. F., Martins, J. M., & Baheer, R. (2024). Impact of green human resource management towards sustainable performance in the healthcare sector: Role of green innovation and risk management. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1), 2374625. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2374625

Creswell, J. W., & Tashakkori, A. (2007). Developing publishable mixed methods manuscripts. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1(2), 107-111. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689806298644

Dias, Á., Costa, R., Pereira, L., & Santos, J. (2021). Implementation of eco-innovation in hotels. Tourism, 69(1), 7-20. https://doi.org/10.37741/T.69.1.5

Dijkstra, T. K., & Henseler, J. (2015). Consistent partial least squares path modeling. MIS Quarterly, 39(2), 297-316. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2015/39.2.02

Dul, J. (2016). Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA): Logic and methodology. Organizational Research Methods, 19(1), 10-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428115584005

Dul, J., van der Laan, E., & Kuik, R. (2020). A statistical significance test for Necessary Condition Analysis. Organizational Research Methods, 23(2), 385-395. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428118795272

Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312

García-Fernández, J., Martelo-Landroguez, S., Vélez-Colón, L., & Cepeda-Carrión, G. (2018). An explanatory and predictive PLS-SEM approach to organizational culture, performance and customer loyalty: The case of health clubs. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 9(3), 438-454. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-09-2017-0100

Gioia, D. A., Corley, K. G., & Hamilton, A. L. (2013). Seeking qualitative rigor in inductive research. Organizational Research Methods, 16(1), 15-31. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428112452151

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (3rd ed.). Sage.

Hair, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., Sharma, P., & Liengaard, B. (2024). Going beyond the untold facts in PLS–SEM and moving forward. European Journal of Marketing, 58(13), 81-106. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-08-2023-0645

Hart, S. L. (1995). A natural-resource-based view of the firm. Academy of Management Review, 20(4), 986–1014. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMR.1995.9512280033

Henseler, J., Hubona, G., & Ray, P. A. (2016). Using PLS path modeling in new technology research: Updated guidelines. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 116(1), 2-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-09-2015-0382

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8

International Organization for Standardization. (2015a). ISO 14001:2015 Environmental management systems. https://www.iso.org/standard/60857.html

International Organization for Standardization. (2015b). ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems. https://www.iso.org/standard/62085.html

International Organization for Standardization. (2022). ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Consolidated ISO Supplement. https://www.iso.org/sites/directives/current/consolidated/index.html

International Organization for Standardization. (2024). ISO 20121:2024 Event sustainability management systems—Requirements with guidance for use. https://www.iso.org/standard/86389.html

Khalil, N., Abdullah, S. N. C., Haron, S. N., & Hamid, M. Y. (2022). A review of green practices and initiatives from stakeholders’ perspectives towards sustainable hotel operations and performance impact. Journal of Facilities Management, 22(4), 653-682. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-03-2022-0025

Leonidou, L. C., Leonidou, C. N., Fotiadis, T., & Aykol, B. (2015). Dynamic capabilities driving an eco-based advantage and performance in global hotel chains. Tourism Management, 50, 268-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2015.03.005

Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1986). But is it rigorous? Trustworthiness and authenticity in naturalistic evaluation. New Directions for Program Evaluation, 1986(30), 73-84. https://doi.org/10.1002/EV.1427

Liu, Y., & Lei, W. (2020). Towards sustainable practice in the event industry: Insights from practitioners. Event Management, 25(3), 213-226. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599519X15506259856462

Mair, J., Trendafilova, S., & Werner, K. (2024). Environmental sustainability in event management: A critical commentary. Event Management, 28(3), 477-484. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599524X17046754077334

Maxwell, S. E., & Cole, D. A. (2007). Bias in cross-sectional analyses of longitudinal mediation. Psychological Methods, 12(1), 23-44. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.12.1.23

Munir, T., Jamal, R. M. A., Watts, S., & Macawile, R. M. C. (2025). Green competitiveness determinants: Dynamic innovative capabilities in hotel-tourism industry. Anatolia, 36, 634-645. https://doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2025.2458846

Næss, H. E. (2021). Is ISO20121 certification a detour or gamechanger for eco-striving sport events? A conceptual typology. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, 659240. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.659240

Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council. (2022). The Thirteenth National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023–2027). https://www.nesdc.go.th

Orlitzky, M., Schmidt, F. L., & Rynes, S. L. (2003). Corporate social and financial performance: A meta-analysis. Organization Studies, 24(3), 403-441. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840603024003910

Osei, F. (2025). Green innovations, stakeholder pressures and environmental performance in the hotel industry. Tourism and Hospitality Management, 32(2), 153-166. https://doi.org/10.20867/THM.32.2.1

Porter, M. E., & van der Linde, C. (1995). Toward a new conception of the environment-competitiveness relationship. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 9(4), 97-118. https://doi.org/10.1257/JEP.9.4.97

Rennings, K. (2000). Redefining innovation—Eco-innovation research and the contribution from ecological economics. Ecological Economics, 32(2), 319-332. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-8009(99)00112-3

Richter, N. F., Schubring, S., Hauff, S., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2020). When predictors of outcomes are necessary: Guidelines for the combined use of PLS-SEM and NCA. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 120(12), 2243-2267. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-11-2019-0638

Russo, D., & Stol, K.-J. (2021). PLS-SEM for software engineering research. ACM Computing Surveys, 54(3), 1-38. https://doi.org/10.1145/3447580

Salama, W., Suliman, M. A., Hassanin, M., Khairy, H., Al Asrag, A. S. A., & Fahmy, N. S. (2024). Catalyzing green competitiveness in hotel and tourism businesses: Leveraging digital dynamic capability and green creativity. Environment and Social Psychology, 9(9), 2978. https://doi.org/10.59429/ESP.V9I9.2978

Schaltegger, S., & Burritt, R. (2018). Business cases and corporate engagement with sustainability: Differentiating ethical motivations. Journal of Business Ethics, 147(2), 241-259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2938-0

SGS. (2024). ISO 20121 certification services. https://www.sgs.com

Shmueli, G., Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., Cheah, J.-H., Ting, H., Vaithilingam, S., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). Predictive model assessment in PLS-SEM: Guidelines for using PLSpredict. European Journal of Marketing, 53(11), 2322-2347. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-02-2019-0189

Singh, N., Park, Y.-H., Tolmie, C. R., & Bartikowski, B. (2014). Green firm-specific advantages for enhancing environmental and economic performance. Global Business and Organizational Excellence, 34(1), 6-17. https://doi.org/10.1002/joe.21580

Spector, P. E. (2019). Do not cross me: Optimizing the use of cross-sectional designs. Journal of Business and Psychology, 34(2), 125-137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-018-09613-8

Teece, D. J. (2007). Explicating dynamic capabilities: The nature and microfoundations of (sustainable) enterprise performance. Strategic Management Journal, 28(13), 1319-1350. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.640

Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509-533. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199708)18:7<509::AID-SMJ882>3.0.CO;2-Z

Teng, Y.-M., & Wu, K.-S. (2025). Integrating green transformational leadership, green HRM, and green innovation to enhance sustainable performance in hotels: Insights from PLS-SEM, NCA, and cIPMA. Oeconomia Copernicana, 16(4), 1565-1614. https://doi.org/10.24136/oc.3797

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. (2024). Annual Report 2024. https://www.businesseventsthailand.com

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. (2025). TCEB GO Strategy. https://www.businesseventsthailand.com

United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https://sdgs.un.org

United Nations Environment Programme. (2023). Global Environment Outlook. https://www.unep.org

Wahba, S., Al Asrag, A. S. A., Hassan, A., & Abdel Majeed, A. A. (2024). Green dynamic capabilities and green creativity in hospitality and tourism industry: The moderating role of green transformational leadership. Journal of Association of Arab Universities for Tourism and Hospitality, 26(1), 71-88. https://doi.org/10.21608/JAAUTH.2024.270189.1550

World Economic Forum. (2024). Travel & Tourism Development Index. https://www.weforum.org

World Tourism Organization. (2024). Tourism and Sustainable Development. https://www.unwto.org

Zanella, M., Ashraf, N., & Mahmood, Z. (2025). Carbon accounting for sustainability management: Case study of MICE events. Journal of Accounting and Organizational Change, 22(1), 89-103. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAOC-08-2024-0259

Zhou, W., Espahbod, S., Shi, V., & Nketiah, E. (2025). Understanding consumers’ adoption behavior of driverless delivery vehicles: Insights from the combined use of NCA and PLS-SEM. Sustainability, 17(13), 5730. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135730

Downloads

Published

2026-08-03

How to Cite

Tamnanwan, P. (2026). STRATEGIC DRIVING OF THE THAI MICE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY TOWARD GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD ISO 20121:2024: INTEGRATING GREEN DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES AND DYNAMIC ECONOMIC STRUCTURES. Social Science Journal of Prachachuen Research Network, 8(2), 12–26. retrieved from https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/prn/article/view/303898

Issue

Section

Research Articles