How managerial ties affect hotels’ proactive environmental practices in China: The contingent role of institutional environments

•This study investigates the effect of managerial ties on hotels’ adoption of proactive environmental practices (PEPs).•This study examines the moderating role of institutional factors (i.e. legal development and regional pollution).•This study uses a primary survey based on a multiple-informants approach and two secondary datasets on Chinese hotels.•This study reveals that political ties inhibit a hotel’s adoption of PEPs whereas business ties facilitate PEPs.•The effects of political ties and business ties on PES are significantly affected by the unique institutional environment in China.