The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that GCL International Ltd has gained the GSTC-Accredited Certification Body status with the scope of certifying hotels/accommodations to GSTC Hotel Criteria.
Operating from its base in central London, United Kingdom, GCL International Ltd manages a network of overseas offices in 5 continents, serving over 50 countries; with over 600 personnel across the world, it offers assessment and certification to a range of internationally recognized standards as well as inspection, verification, and training services.
Achieving the GSTC-Accredited status means that a Certification Body has been verified to be conducting proper certification of businesses, such as hotels or tour operators, in a competent and neutral manner, following processes and procedures detailed in the GSTC Accreditation Manual. Some of the requirements in the GSTC Accreditation Manual include: Legislation; Transparent and impartial certification procedure; Competent personnel capable of conformity assessment in the sustainable tourism field; Compliance with the ‘ISO/IEC 17065:2012 Conformity Assessment Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes, and Services’; and more.
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.
Certification by an Accredited Certification Body can be referred to as “accredited certification”.
Attesting to that, those businesses certified by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body can display a unique GSTC logo with a traceable code. The purpose of the GSTC Accreditation is to provide a higher level of assurance and reward genuine practitioners of sustainable tourism, which builds confidence and credibility with consumers.
«Accreditation in the hospitality and tourism industry should hold much greater significance,» states GSTC CEO Randy Durband. «Many eco/green/sustainable labels for tourism businesses operate without external oversight, leaving their credibility uncertain. The GSTC Accreditation Manual and process provide the most reliable evaluation in the sector.»
«As we celebrate 30 years of excellence since achieving UKAS accreditation, we are proud to add GSTC accreditation to our ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. This milestone reflects our vision to drive positive change in the tourism industry while continuing to serve our clients with integrity and innovation.
We look forward to shaping a more sustainable future together despite the challenges of uncertainty and the deregulation of sustainability and environmental policies,” said Douglas Page-Symonds, CEO of GCL International Ltd, London, United Kingdom.
The GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification of Hotel/Accommodation & Tour Operator provides detailed technical requirements for certification of Hotel/Accommodation and Tour Operator. Certification Bodies are required to comply with ISO 17065 Conformity Assessment (Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services) and GSTC specific requirements. Among these requirements are impartial and competent certification procedures, auditor experience and qualifications, certification decision making, rigorous surveillance of certified businesses, and proper promotion of their services.
Hotels that follow sustainability standards that wish to stand out with reputable certification as a sustainable hotel, should seek sustainable hotel certification by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.
Tour Operators that want to demonstrate through their adherence to sustainability standards are encouraged to seek sustainable tour operator certification by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.
Destinations that are managed in accordance with sustainability standards can aim for destination certification by one of the GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.
About GCL International Ltd
GCL International, based in the United Kingdom, provides internationally accredited conformity assessment services across five continents. The organization is accredited by a range of internationally recognized accreditation bodies. GCL International offers assessment, inspection, verification, certification, and training services. The company engages highly skilled professionals worldwide to deliver its services, establishing a global benchmark for quality and integrity.
For more information visit: https://www.gcl.uk/about-us/
About the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are four sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, Industry Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators, MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions, and Attraction Criteria for tourist attractions such as theme parks, museums, and national parks. 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.
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. The GSTC is an ISEAL Community Member, a global membership organization for ambitious, collaborative, and transparent sustainability systems.
Information for media and the press: www.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/
*Note of 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
