Becoming Certified as a Sustainable Hotel/Accommodation

Increasingly, travelers and your fellow travel provider clients are seeking confirmation that sustainability practices are in place (Booking.com Sustainability Report 2021). Also increasingly, travel companies are looking for a product that is not only certified sustainable, but certified sustainable by a Certification Body that is GSTC Accredited (Trivago recommendation).

Being certified by an Accredited Certification Body means that your tourism product or service complies with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. As public concern grows about the harmful effects and the positive impacts of travel and tourism, certification provides you a credible solution to complex environmental and social issues. Businesses certified by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body, meeting all the GSTC Criteria (or a GSTC-Recognized Standard), have the highest level of assurance* and credibility available. With an accredited certification, customers and buyers are assured that the business was certified in a credibly verified procedure in a transparent, impartial, and competent manner.

Logo for businesses certified to the GSTC Criteria

Travel providers should proudly display information regarding their certificate and the certification body that issued it. Doing so informs your stakeholders — from customers to ownership and to your supply chain — that your business is operated with sound management that looks to the future and not merely at today. Businesses certified by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body can display a unique GSTC logo with a traceable code.

Many owners and buyers of hotel spaces use the GSTC framework and highlight those accommodations certified by GSTC Accredited CBs. Here are a few of them:

  • Hilton: “We continue to identify opportunities to achieve GSTC certification for our hotels to ensure the sustainability of our operations.”
  • TUI Group “encourages all hotels offered to its 27 million customers to obtain certification that meets the GSTC Criteria.”
  • easyJet holidays “is focused on supporting tourism destinations by committing to encouraging 100% of its contracted hotels to achieve certification by a GSTC-Accredited Certification body […] by the end of 2025.”
  • AMEX GBT “will highlight hotels and other accommodation partners as “sustainable” that meet GSTC’s standards or, even better, are certified by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.”
  • Booking.com is currently highlighting hotels certified by GSTC-Accredited CBs along with other standards that are Recognized by GSTC.
  • Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) with guidance from the GSTC, has developed the first mandatory national program for accommodations based on the GSTC Criteria and GSTC Assurance program. From 2022 through 2030, all accommodations Türkiye must be certified through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.
  • Singapore Tourism Board announced the launch of the Hotel Sustainability Roadmap. By 2025 its goal is for 60% of hotel room stock to achieve hotel sustainability certification through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.
  • By 2025 all Mandarin Oriental properties will be GSTC-Certified.

How to become certified as a Sustainable Hotel

To become certified, travel and tourism companies and touristic destinations must:

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Several certification bodies are accredited for awarding GSTC certifications for hotels/accommodations.

When choosing a CB, you should consider evaluating two or more certification bodies to find the one that suits your needs most regarding language abilities, experience, or location proximity.

The Certification Body may require you to officially register to receive a commercial offer with the cost and a procedure of certification. Some certification bodies may require hotels/accommodations to enter into a contract with the Certification Body. Contracts should always be read carefully prior to agreement.

Prior to starting the certification process, some certification bodies offer the option to conduct a short evaluation to identify potential areas of concern. Costs may be associated with this step.

Once ready to formally start the certification process, the hotel/accommodation will submit an application. The Certification Body will request information and various business documents to see how the accommodation’s practices and procedures comply with the GSTC standard. The documents should be submitted within the deadline stipulated by the Certification Body.

The Certification Body will review all documentation submitted and compare it to the GSTC Criteria or GSTC-Recognized standard. During this period, the Certification Body will consult the accommodation to clarify any questions about its operations. The length of this process can vary depending on the extent of the accommodation’s documented policies.

The Certification Body will visit the accommodation premises to see how its policies are implemented.

After the Certification Body’s assessment, the hotel should have a chance to view a draft report and voice any factual objections. This period allows the operator to contest or provide any supporting information to support certification. The Certification Body’s report will then be finalized, and shared with the hotel, concluding whether GSTC Certification can be awarded.

Certification is issued once the Certification Body has confirmed that the accommodation meets the GSTC requirements. The CB will award a GSTC certificate valid for three years* with a GSTC-Certified Logo.

* GSTC Certificates issued under the Turkiye program have 1-year validity. 



If the certification application is not approved right away, the assessor will provide the hotel with recommendations and corrective actions. Accommodations can then work with the Certification Body’s dedicated customer service representative to show the Certification Body that these corrective actions have been followed so that the accommodation can achieve certification.

The Certification Body will review the progress and improvements made for any corrective actions that were requested as the accommodation nears the date for renewal of certification. Audit duration and frequency can depend on the accommodation’s size and complexity of operations. Most certification bodies require an annual onsite audit every 1.5 to 3 years.

Accommodations should check with the Certification Body to see when the certification renewal process should begin. It generally is between 4-6 weeks prior to expiration of certification.

GSTC Accredited Certification Bodies for Hotels/Accommodations

Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas is a world leader in testing, inspection and certification services. Since its creation in 1828, Bureau Veritas has been supporting its clients on every continent to continually improve their performance via certification of management systems, product certifications and customized audits. The Group has more than 78,000 employees located in more than 1,500 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions, in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

To be certified by Bureau Veritas, contact BV directly at webchina@bureauveritas.com or visit the following link to get Certified by Bureau Veritas.

Control Union

control unionControl Union Certifications offers a global one-stop-shop for a wide range of certification programmes with a global presence that spans more than 70 countries in six continents. We understand the importance of impartiality and objectivity, and how to professionally manage conflicts of interest. From the beginning, sustainability has been the main focus of our certification services. Control Union Certifications presents a wide range of programmes in agriculture, food, feed, forest products, textiles, bio-energy, and tourism.  In 2016, Control Union Certifications became the first Accredited CB for the GSTC Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators, and currently work with a dedicated sustainable tourism team on GSTC Certification, providing the highest level in terms of credibility within the GSTC Assurance Program. This means that Control Union Certifications can certify hotels and tour operators directly against the GSTC Criteria.

To be certified by Control Union, contact Seth Wang, General Manager directly at sethzy@controlunion.com or visit this link to Get Certified by Control Union.

RoyalCert

RoyalCert is a reputable certification body based in Germany, operating in 25 countries globally. RoyalCert offer assessment and certification services to a wide range of industries, including Tourism Industry, and serving thousands of customers. RoyalCert core strength lies in their experienced auditors, who have over 20 years of auditing expertise. The company is committed to sustainable growth and adheres to high ethical standards, focusing on integrity and customer satisfaction. By partnering with RoyalCert, customers can improve their operations, enhance business performance, and make a positive impact on society and the environment.

To get certified by RoyalCert, contact RoyalCert directly at info@royalcert.com.

United Certification Systems Limited

UCSL United Certification Systems Limited is an independent international certification body with Headquarters in EU and operating globally (except Türkiye). UCSL  is accredited for various volunteer sustainability certification schemes including Hotels & Tour Operators (GSTC), Marine (ASC, MSC), Global Sustainable Enterprise System (GSES) etc. The team of certification body involves numerous experts and professionals with vast local and international experience in the auditing and sustainability sector. UCSL aims to contribute to the UN SDGs, environmental well-being of the planet through provision of excellent services to like-minded sustainable businesses.

Visit the following link to get Certified by UCSL.

Vireo Srl

Vireo Srl is a certification company whose commercial activities consist of providing Italian and foreign companies with environmental certification services. Vireo provides worldwide recognized environmental certification schemes such as FSC, MSC, and GSTC. As a GSTC-Accredited certification body, Vireo certifies hotels, TOs, and destinations as sustainable worldwide. The professional approach and deep knowledge of standards are the key elements that mark Viero’s services. Based in Padova, Italy, Vireo has international experience and works with professional and highly qualified auditors.

To be certified by Vireo Srl, contact Vireo directly at info@vireosrl.it or visit the following link to get Certified by Vireo Srl.

Mauritius Standards Bureau: Blue Oasis

The Mauritius Standards Bureau (MSB) is a non-profit parastatal body in the island of Mauritius that certifies Hotels & Accommodations and Tour Operators operating within the Mauritian jurisdiction and territories, as per the GSTC-Recognized Standard MS 165 (Sustainable Tourism Management System) labelled as the Blue Oasis. MSB holds a prominent regional and international presence, contributing to standardization and conformity assessment bodies. The paramount goal of MSB is to drive industrial advancement and foster economic expansion in Mauritius, by boosting the local tourism industry towards sustainability.

If your Accommodation/Hotel is located in Mauritius, visit the following link to get Certified by MSB.

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Note:

  • The above Certification Bodies have been Accredited for compliance with the requirements of the Manual for GSTC Accreditation. GSTC-Accredited mean that the certification procedures largely meet international standards for transparency, impartiality, and competence.
  • Certification by a Certification Body whose standard is “GSTC Recognized” does NOT carry the same meaning as certification by a Certification Body that is accredited by GSTC. “GSTC Recognized” relates to a published set of standards and NOT to the process of certification or accreditation.
  • List of standards that are recognized by the GSTC as adhering to the GSTC Criteria is available here.

* Note: General assurance levels:

3rd-party certification by an Accredited Certification Body (impartiality is certain)
3rd-party verification (impartiality is not certain)
2nd-party verification (not impartial)
1st-party self-assessment No verification at all