EMSs are well recognized in the hotel industry worldwide, but for various reasons, many hotels especially SMHs are unwilling to adopt these systems. As there have been few studies of the barriers to EMS implementation in the hotel industry, this study investigated those factors that hinder the adoption and implementation of an EMS in SMHs. The survey results showed that the level of environmental awareness of SMHs in Hong Kong was low. More than 60% of the SMHs surveyed had minimal understanding of an EMS such as one based on ISO 14001, and most did not plan to implement an EMS in the near future. This study also identified nine barriers that can hinder the adoption of an EMS by an SMH. In descending order, they are (a) implementation and maintenance costs, (b) lack of knowledge and skills, (c) lack of a sense of urgency, (d) ambiguity of EMS standards, (e) lack of qualified verifiers/consultants, (f) lack of motivation and professional advice, (g) conflicting guidance, (h) outcome uncertainty, and (i) inconsistent support.