During a previous summer course, students visited a hospitality property in Benoa, Bali, accompanied by academic facilitators from Udayana University.

Rather than participating as hotel guests, students assumed the role of sustainability auditors.

Before beginning the site assessment, participants were introduced to a structured auditing framework that focused on three key dimensions of sustainable tourism:

• Environmental sustainability

• Community engagement

• Cultural sustainability

Students were provided with assessment tools and observation guidelines before being invited to evaluate the property independently. This approach encouraged students to move beyond passive observation and engage in critical analysis.

As they toured the property, participants assessed various operational areas, including guest facilities, accommodation units, waste management systems, infrastructure maintenance, and environmental practices. The exercise required students to document observations, identify strengths, recognize shortcomings, and consider practical recommendations for improvement.

One of the most valuable aspects of the audit was the opportunity to observe how sustainability principles intersect with everyday hotel operations.

Students explored questions such as:

• How are resources managed within hospitality facilities?

• What systems are in place for waste handling and disposal?

• How does infrastructure maintenance contribute to sustainability outcomes?

• What challenges limit the implementation of more sustainable practices?

• How can hotels balance environmental responsibility with operational realities?

The visit revealed that sustainability is rarely defined by a single initiative. Instead, it is shaped by hundreds of operational decisions that occur behind the scenes. Students quickly realized that sustainability extends beyond visible environmental campaigns. It can be reflected in maintenance standards, resource efficiency, staff awareness, procurement decisions, waste management procedures, and long-term planning strategies.

In this sense, the audit became an exercise in systems thinking a skill increasingly valued within sustainability, environmental management, tourism, and business education. The learning experience also provided important context for understanding Bali’s wider sustainability landscape.

As one of the world’s most recognized tourism destinations, Bali offers a unique environment for studying both the opportunities and challenges associated with sustainable tourism development.

The island has become known for initiatives related to:

• Ecotourism development

• Green hotel practices

• Sustainable destination management

• Marine conservation programs

• Community-based tourism

• Waste reduction initiatives

• Corporate sustainability programs

At the same time, Bali continues to face many of the same sustainability challenges experienced by tourism destinations globally, including waste management, environmental degradation, resource consumption, and visitor pressures.

This combination makes Bali an exceptional educational setting. Students are able to examine sustainability not as an idealized concept, but as an evolving process involving governments, businesses, universities, local communities, and international visitors. The island’s philosophy of Tri Hita Karana which promotes harmony between people, nature, and spiritual wellbeing further enriches discussions surrounding sustainable development and responsible tourism management.

Following the audit, students reconvened to present their findings and compare observations. Interestingly, different groups often reached different conclusions despite evaluating the same property. Some students focused heavily on environmental indicators and infrastructure conditions, while others paid closer attention to community engagement and operational management. These differences became valuable teaching moments.

Rather than seeking a single “correct” answer, students were encouraged to justify their assessments, defend their observations, and reflect upon how sustainability can be interpreted from multiple perspectives. This process mirrors professional sustainability auditing practices, where evaluation frequently involves balancing quantitative indicators with contextual understanding.

The discussion also reinforced an important lesson: sustainability is not a destination that organizations simply achieve. It is an ongoing process of monitoring, adaptation, and continuous improvement.

Experiences such as the Green Hotel Sustainability Audit illustrate why field-based learning remains a cornerstone of the Sustainable Development and Ecotourism Summer Course. For students studying environmental science, tourism, hospitality management, business, international development, sustainability, or related disciplines, these activities provide opportunities to bridge academic theory with practical application.

Participants develop skills in:

• Critical observation

• Sustainability assessment

• Applied research

• Systems thinking

• Professional communication

• Problem identification and analysis

• Sustainable tourism evaluation

More importantly, they learn to engage with sustainability as practitioners rather than observers.

As preparations continue for the upcoming upskill's Sustainable Development and Ecotourism Summer Course, activities such as the Green Hotel Sustainability Audit remain among the program’s most impactful learning experiences.

Through a combination of academic lectures, field studies, community engagement, environmental projects, and interactions with local practitioners, students gain a deeper understanding of how sustainable development is implemented within one of the world’s most dynamic tourism destinations.

Because sustainability cannot be fully understood from a classroom alone. It must be observed, questioned, evaluated, and experienced in the places where development, tourism, communities, and the environment meet every day.