Views of sustainability are evolving for the better in the travel and tourism industry, but Randy Durband, CEO of Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) says there is still room for improvement. Since the start of GSTC’s work in 2007, has the travel and tourism community changed the way it regards sustainable tourism concepts? Indeed, [...]
11 Mandarin Oriental hotels received accredited certification in 2023 by GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies, with a target of certification across all properties by 2025. Reduction of energy intensity per square meter, falling by 22% from a 2012 baseline Responsible sourcing on key high volume food products verified by global assurance partner, LRQA Mandarin Oriental Hotel [...]
Tenerife’s Global Summit, organized by the University of La Laguna and the University of Strathclyde through Turismo de Tenerife, was held in Canary Islands, Spain, from June 19th to 21st under the theme “Tourism: The State of the Art.” It was the third global meeting following the international summits held in 1994 and 2004 [...]
The GSTC Industry Criteria are experiencing their third revision after announcing version 3 in 2016, and we invite all stakeholders to participate in this important process. According to the GSTC Industry Criteria Revision Terms of Reference, the revision schedule is as follows: July 1, 2024: Announcement through publication of these Terms of Reference July [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) is pleased to announce that “Green Hotel Plus” and its Thai version (เกณฑ์ Green Hotel Plus) have gained GSTC-Recognized Standard status, meaning they have been fully recognized as equivalent to the GSTC Industry Criteria. For over 10 years, the Environmentally Friendly Hotel Project (Green Hotel), led by the [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has released its Annual Report for 2023, showcasing the organization’s continued commitment to promoting sustainable tourism practices worldwide. The report highlights key achievements and strategic initiatives undertaken by GSTC over the past year, reflecting its dedication to fostering a more sustainable tourism industry. “As we present our first [...]
B&B HOTELS has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Founded in Brest in 1990, B&B HOTELS is one of the most important economic hotel groups in Europe. It has a network with more than 770 hotels in 17 countries, in Europe, Brazil, and the U.S. Present in large capital [...]
NJV ATHENS PLAZA is the 1st City Hotel in Greece to obtain GSTC Certification by RoyalCert®, a GSTC-Accredited certification body. The GSTC Certification is based on the globally recognized standard for sustainable tourism, the GSTC Hotel Criteria. By achieving this certification, NJV ATHENS PLAZA demonstrates its commitment to protecting the environment, supporting the local [...]
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course sponsored by Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. for their employees and stakeholders, held from the 19th to the 21st of June, concluded successfully. A total of 28 participants successfully attended the training in Tokyo, Japan. The course was led by GSTC Trainer Mami Futagami, Dr. Professor Emeritus at Meijo University. [...]
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course in Siena, Italy, held on June 6th and 7th, 2024, at the headquarters of Confesercenti Siena, concluded successfully. It was the first GSTC Training delivered in the Italian language. Federica Bosco, GSTC Trainer, Vice Chair of the GSTC Italy Working Group, and Sustainable Tourism Manager at ETIFOR Valuing Nature, [...]
The Destination Lab event, which took place in Riva del Garda, Italy, on May 17th, 2024, was a comprehensive day-long study focused on exploring the future of tourism destinations. It aimed to understand the essential components of creating and promoting tourism experiences within a specific territory and envision potential scenarios for the destinations of [...]
From 2022 to 2024, ISEAL led a stream of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) initiatives for landscape and jurisdictional approaches, supporting three sustainability systems and related organizations through pilot project funding. As an ISEAL Community Member, GSTC received funding to measure performance change within sustainable tourism at the destination level. From February to November [...]
When it comes to sustainability, travel can feel like a double-edged sword. On one hand, exploring the world helps to cultivate empathy towards new cultures and can lead to radical change. On the other, the potential emissions from hopping on a plane and touring around a destination is at odds with a cleaner planet. [...]
The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) is an annual tourism and travel trade show organized by the Uganda Tourism Board. POATE 2024 was held in Kampala, Uganda, from May 23rd to 25th, 2024, under the theme “Responsible Tourism.” The event featured sessions on MICE, emerging trends, and green investment growth, among others. Key [...]
This article was written by: Yusuke MIZUSAWA (Megurun Sustainability Coordinator) And edited by: Timothy BUNTING (Megurun Project Manager) and Richard ERDMAN (Megurun Participant Outreach) Transformational Tourism in Yamabushi Country Since becoming a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council in 2020, our team, team Megurun, has worked hard to make real changes to the sustainability of Tsuruoka, [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Hotel Sustainability Training for Industry Professionals, organized in partnership with Agoda and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), successfully concluded on May 31, 2024. This two-day training, held for the first time in Kathmandu, Nepal, aimed to equip hoteliers with the skills and knowledge necessary to implement [...]
During the GSTC Global Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, HNtv INSIDERS caught up with Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Dr. Willy Legrand, Professor at the IU International University of Applied Sciences in Germany. The event aimed to unite global and local tourism professionals engaged in advancing and advocating for [...]
On June 6th, the European Urban Initiative (EUI) launched the Public Consultation of the draft Action Plans of the Urban Agenda (UA) for the EU Thematic Partnerships on Greening Cities and Sustainable Tourism. The Public Consultation of the draft Action Plan of Sustainable Tourism will be open from 6th June until 11th July. A summary [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) launched the new GSTC MICE Criteria last March 2024, which is divided into three sub-sectors: Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. GSTC designed the Early Adopter Program to facilitate the practical implementation of the GSTC MICE Criteria, supporting their development and effective application in the industry. The [...]
In an era where environmental concerns are becoming increasingly central to consumer decisions, the importance of sustainability in business practices cannot be overstated. As companies across the globe strive to align with the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism, certification plays a pivotal role in shaping industry norms and [...]
