The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that TÜV Rheinland, through its China office, has gained the GSTC-accredited Certification Body status with the scope of certifying hotels/accommodations to GSTC Hotel Criteria with worldwide geographical area.TÜV Rheinland is an international provider of technical services for testing, inspection, certification, consultation, and training. The company has been operating for more than 150 and has more than 26,000 employees in over 50 countries.
Achieving the GSTC-accredited status means that a Certification Body has been verified to conduct proper certification of businesses and/or destinations 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 and destinations 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 or destination 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.
“We applaud TÜV Rheinland for achieving accreditation, which plays a crucial role in ensuring credibility in the tourism industry,” states GSTC CEO Randy Durband. “Most eco/green/sustainable labels for tourism businesses operate without external review, meaning that their rigor and impartiality are unknown. The GSTC Accreditation Manual and process is the most credible, and perhaps only, external review of sustainability labels in the industry.”
“Achieving GSTC accreditation as a certification body marks a transformative milestone for TÜV Rheinland. This accomplishment underscores our unwavering commitment to sustainability and adherence to the highest international standards in the tourism and hospitality sectors. We are honored to partner with GSTC in driving the global shift toward more sustainable and responsible tourism practices. Together, we are shaping sustainability into not just an aspiration but a benchmark for the industry. With over 150 years of expertise in testing, inspection, and certification, we empower organizations worldwide to showcase their accountability and leadership in sustainability—fostering trust among customers and stakeholders alike,” says Kai Hoehmann, Senior Vice President Systems, Customized Services at TÜV Rheinland.
The GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies – Industry 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. 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 and wish to stand out with a reputable certification as a sustainable hotel should seek sustainable hotel certification by a GSTC-accredited Certification Body.
Tour Operators that want to demonstrate 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 bodies. Certification bodies certifying destinations must follow the GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies – Destination.)
About TÜV Rheinland
TÜV Rheinland has been operating for more than 150 years and ranks among the world’s leading testing service providers. It has more than 26,000 employees in over 50 countries and generates annual revenues of more than 2.4 billion euros. TÜV Rheinland’s qualified experts test technical systems and products around the world, support innovations in technology and business, train people in numerous professions, and certify management systems according to international standards. In doing so, the independent experts generate trust in products as well as processes across global value-adding chains and the flow of commodities. Since 2006, TÜV Rheinland has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption.
For more information, visit: https://www.tuv.com/world/en/about-us/
About the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, the GSTC Standards, also known as the GSTC Criteria. The GSTC Destination Standard for public policy-makers and destination managers, GSTC Hotel Standard & GSTC Tour Operator Standard, GSTC MICE Standard for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions, and the GSTC Attraction Standard 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 Standards 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/
