Control Union has been providing testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services for over 70 years, originating in the agricultural sector and expanding to serve clients in more than 80 countries. Its services cover various sectors, including food, energy, forestry, textiles, and sustainability, with a focus on the entire supply chain. With over 5,000 employees and a broad network of offices worldwide, Control Union provides local support tailored to specific regional needs.
Since 2016, Control Union has held GSTC-accredited Certification Body status, certifying hotels, accommodations, and tour operators to the GSTC Hotel Standard and GSTC Tour Operator Standard. In line with its strengthened commitment to the sustainability certification sector and strategic intent to expand Singapore’s role as a regional hub, Control Union has decided to transfer the key GSTC Certification management function held by the Zwolle Office to its newly accredited office in Singapore, following GSTC’s successful assessments of the Singapore Office for compliance with accreditation requirements.
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. 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 the full relevant GSTC Standard (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 believe that accreditation should hold a higher standing in the hospitality and tourism industry,” says GSTC CEO Randy Durband. “Many eco, green, or sustainable certifications for tourism businesses lack external verification, leaving their credibility and impartiality uncertain. The GSTC Accreditation Manual and process is the most credible external review of sustainability labels in the industry.”
Seth Wang of Control Union Singapore added: “This transition marks a significant step in strengthening Control Union’s role in the global sustainable tourism landscape. By shifting GSTC certification management to our Singapore office, we are better positioned to support the growing demand for credible, third-party sustainability assurance. It reflects our long-term commitment to enabling hotels, tour operators, and destinations to meet the highest global standards while addressing local sustainability priorities with integrity and impact.”
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 Control Union Singapore
Control Union Singapore was established in 2010 and provides certifications and inspections solutions to clients. It is part of Control Union, a global testing, inspection and certification (TIC) company supporting clients in over 80 countries, with a broad network of offices worldwide and over 5,000 employees.
For more information, visit: https://www.controlunion.com/service/certification/
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.gstc.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
