The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has revised the GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification of Hotel/Accommodation & Tour Operator. Version 4.0, now titled the GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies – Industry: Hotel/Accommodation & Tour Operator, was approved on November 1, 2024. The Manual is available on the following webpage: GSTC Accreditation Documents.
Given the dynamic nature of the industry, periodic updates and revisions are essential to maintain relevance and address emerging trends and challenges. For a 100-day period between December 29, 2023 and April 6, 2024, the GSTC invited stakeholders, including GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies and Recognized Standard Owners to contribute their comments and suggestions for the revision during the consultation. On July 7, two online workshops were held with a broader group of stakeholders to review the first draft, which was prepared based on the feedback received during the consultation.
The main changes to the GSTC Accreditation Manual are summarized below:
- Structure of the Accreditation Manual:
- The structure of the accreditation manual was revised to include general certification process requirements in the main document. Scope-specific requirements are detailed in relevant annexes per certification scope.
- Normative References:
- Updates have been made to the normative references to ensure alignment with the latest standards and practices.
- Simulation of Conformity Assessment:
- A new clause was introduced to outline the simulation of conformity assessments for CBs that have not yet conducted any audits for actual clients.
- Risk Assessment:
- Risk assessment methodology has been revised to clarify and extend relevant risk factors.
- Nonconformities:
- Requirements for addressing nonconformities have been revised.
- Auditor Qualifications:
- Additional qualifications for auditors have been specified.
- Technical Review and Certification Decisions:
- Updates to the technical review process and the certification decision-making procedures have been implemented to streamline operations.
- Certification Requirements and Sampling Procedures:
- Modifications to certificate requirements have been made, including the addition of specific sampling procedures for multi-site, group, and Tour Operator (TO) certifications.
- Evaluation Tools and Certification Ineligibility:
- Clarification on the requirements for evaluation tools has been provided.
- Certification of Multi-Site Organizations:
- The certification requirements for multi-site organizations were updated to mandate auditing of all sites throughout the three-year certification cycle.
A report with detailed information will be posted on the following page within a few days: GSTC Accreditation Documents. It will include a summary of the public consultations, key modifications to version 3.1 of the GSTC Accreditation Manual, and every individual comment received during the process of revision. This report aims to ensure transparency in the revision process, demonstrate the thoroughness of the updates made, and underscore GSTC’s commitment to maintaining high standards of quality in the accreditation for certification body on certifying the accommodation/hotel and tour operator.
The revised Accreditation Manual v4.0 will come into effect on November 1, 2024 with a 1 year transition period. During this time, the new manual will be gradually integrated into the planned assessment process. For more detailed information on the transition requirements, please refer to the ‘Transition Requirements on the GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies-Industry: Hotel/Accommodation & Tour Operator v.4.0’.
GSTC would like to thank everyone for their contribution and involvement during the review process.
Learn more about Accreditation for Certification Bodies to Certify to the GSTC Criteria or to a GSTC-Recognized Standard here.
