As one of the first hospitality groups to attain GSTC-Committed status, Ascott has embedded the GSTC Standards across its operations. The Ascott CARES framework, which guides the company’s sustainability initiatives, is aligned with the GSTC Hotel Standard, ensuring consistent practices globally.
Ascott reported that 25% of its portfolio* has already achieved certification by GSTC-accredited bodies, surpassing its initial 2024 target and demonstrating strong momentum toward its goal of achieving GSTC certification** across all managed and branded properties worldwide by 2028*. Additionally, Ascott obtained country-wide GSTC certification in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, a milestone that sets an important benchmark for regional and global peers.
Ascott structured its 2024 Sustainability Report so that each activity or story featured explicitly indicates its corresponding alignment with the GSTC Hotel Standard, using small tags next to each initiative, referencing the exact criterion it corresponds to. For example, the “Walking for Hope” event in Vietnam, organized to support children affected by Typhoon Yagi, is directly aligned with ‘Criterion B1, Community Support’. This approach demonstrates that Ascott is not merely referencing sustainability in general terms; it is systematically aligning real actions to the official GSTC framework, embedding global standards into its operational practices.
(Page 9 of Ascott’s 2024 Sustainability Report)
Also, for the first time, Ascott’s Sustainability Report has been designed to comply with PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1) standards and enhanced following WCAG2ICT guidelines. These measures improve accessibility for individuals using assistive technologies such as screen readers and magnifiers, supporting a more inclusive and user-friendly experience. This development reflects Ascott’s broader commitment to accessibility and inclusivity across its operations.
In line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with GSTC in 2023, Ascott launched a series of GSTC Sustainable Hospitality Courses (SHC) through the Ascott Centre for Excellence (ACE), delivering 540 training hours in 2024. These courses aim to equip hospitality professionals with the skills necessary to integrate sustainable practices into hotel operations, supporting Singapore’s national roadmap for hotel sustainability and encouraging broader regional adoption.
Ascott played an active role in the 2024 GSTC Global Conference. Beh Siew Kim, Chief Financial & Sustainability Officer, Lodging, CapitaLand Investment, shared Ascott’s holistic approach to building a sustainability culture, while Adeline Phua, Managing lyf Partner, highlighted how social living and sustainable design are intertwined at Ascott’s lyf brand.
The full Ascott 2024 Sustainability Report can be accessed here.
*Managed and branded with more than 2 years of operations.
**The term “GSTC Certification” is a shorthand for “Certified by a Certification Body that is GSTC-Accredited.”
