The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) is pleased to announce that the Bioscore Standard in English and Spanish has gained GSTC-Recognized Standard status, meaning they have been fully recognized as equivalent to the GSTC Industry Criteria.
Bioscore is a technology company based in Valencia, Spain, that aims to integrate sustainability into hotels, enhancing competitiveness through a research and development (R&D) solution.
The Bioscore standard establishes a set of criteria for the sustainable management of accommodation from a triple impact perspective, that is, considering the environmental, social and governance dimensions. The criteria are divided into 6 management areas: emissions, energy, water, waste, food and beverage and CSR.
The GSTC-Recognized status refers to the standard itself, indicating that a sustainable tourism standard has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Assurance Panel and deemed the content of the standard equivalent to the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism. It shows that the set of standards is based on the four pillars of the GSTC Criteria: Sustainable Management, Socioeconomic, Cultural, and Environmental principles.
GSTC Recognition of Standards does not relate to the process of certification (which is a third-party assessment, through an audit, of a tourism enterprise for conformity to a standard). GSTC Recognition of Standards does not relate to accreditation (formal verification that a certification body operates in a competent and neutral manner according to international standards of how to properly certify, which is the highest level of assurance).
The stated scope of the standard is tourist accommodation (hotels), and geographical coverage is global. The GSTC Recognition is valid until either the standard or the GSTC Industry Criteria are changed. The GSTC Recognition also has a time limitation that by 31 December 2024, Bioscore needs to pursue accreditation, and they are committed to applying for it in the third quarter of this year.
In the words of Víctor Monzón, CEO of Bioscore Sustainability, « The recognition of our standard by the GSTC is good news for Bioscore and for our customers. Working in alignment with such a prestigious organization is a guarantee ».
« We congratulate Bioscore for embracing the Four Pillars of the GSTC Criteria. Adopting a holistic perspective on sustainability showcases Bioscore’s commitment to a comprehensive and global approach,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
Currently, 73 standards have achieved GSTC-Recognized status. The status offers the market proof that these standards adhere to international norms. GSTC Recognition does not ensure that a certification process is reliable, only that the set of standards used to certify are equivalent to the GSTC Criteria. GSTC-Recognized standard owners are encouraged to follow and complete the accreditation process, which assures that the certification process used to apply the standard meets international best practices, transparency, and rigor. A list of GSTC-Accredited certification bodies is available here.
About the GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are three sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, Industry Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators, and MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.
The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for GSTC’s assurance role for Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services, but provides accreditation to those that do. The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.
Information for media and the press: www.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/
About Bioscore
At Bioscore, sustainability is more than just a concept; it is the foundation of all their actions. Their primary goal is to democratize sustainability, making it accessible and adding value to their clients, thereby driving the transition towards sustainable tourism.
Bioscore is dedicated to verification and consulting in sustainability through its own management software and promotes sustainable practices.
More information here: https://bioscore.info/
