The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has published the GSTC-Certified Hotels Directory, a comprehensive resource designed to help destinations, businesses, and consumers identify accommodations that have been certified as sustainable by GSTC-accredited Certification Bodies.

In an industry where greenwashing remains a critical concern, the Directory reinforces the importance of traceability and transparency from an assurance perspective. By showcasing only hotels certified through GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies, it provides credible validation of sustainability certifications.

While many accommodations claim to be “sustainable”, “eco-friendly” or “green,” such claims are not always verified or consistent. GSTC Certification provides assurance that a property’s sustainability practices have been independently verified through rigorous, third-party audits conducted by GSTC-accredited Certification Bodies. 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.

Travelers can easily explore verified sustainability information by entering a hotel’s unique GSTC certification code into the Directory. This feature provides direct access to essential details about the certification status, including the certifying body and date of certification, helping users make informed decisions with confidence and clarity.

When selecting a GSTC-certified accommodation or hotel for your travel, you know that:

  • It’s aligned with the GSTC Hotel Standard, or GSTC-Recognized Standards
  • There has been an independent third-party validation of their sustainability practices, which was conducted by a GSTC-accredited certification body
  • It undergoes continuous improvement through audits and monitoring

GSTC Certification has been regarded as the most trusted benchmark for sustainability and excellence in the travel and tourism industry worldwide. With the GSTC certification, tourism businesses demonstrate their commitment to sustainable tourism through a credible, impartial, and rigorous assessment.

The launch of the GSTC-Certified Hotels Directory responds to growing demand for verified information on truly sustainable accommodations. It helps bring clarity and integrity to the tourism marketplace, making it easier for users to find and support businesses that are genuinely committed to responsible, sustainable tourism.

 

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Traceability not only ensures that claims are backed by credible evidence but also promotes integrity across the tourism value chain, enabling travelers to track and confirm certification details with the GSTC-Certified Hotels Directory.

GSTC-accredited Certification Body

Achieving the GSTC-accredited status means that a Certification Body has been verified to conduct proper certification of businesses in a competent and neutral manner, following processes and procedures detailed in the GSTC Accreditation Manual.

Businesses and destinations certified by a GSTC-accredited Certification Body, meeting the full relevant GSTC Standards (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”.

More information about Accreditation and how to apply to be an Accredited Certification Body can be found here.

Note: The term “GSTC Certification” is a shorthand for “Certified by a Certification Body that is GSTC-Accredited.”