GSTC for Hotels and Accommodations
Adhere to the GSTC Industry Standard
The GSTC Industry Standard (formerly known as GSTC Industry Criteria) and Suggested Indicators for Hotels are available in the public domain free of charge for non-commercial use, and translated in many languages; distribute them to staff and encourage their application.
They were created in an effort to come to a common understanding of sustainable tourism, and are the minimum that hotels (or other types of accommodations) should aspire to reach. The Hotel/Accommodation Standard is organized around four main themes: (A) effective sustainability planning; (B) maximizing social and economic benefits for the local community; (C) enhancing cultural heritage; and (D) reducing negative impacts to the environment.
Join a Training on the GSTC Standards
Staff training on the GSTC Standards is available from the GSTC with frequent online classes and by special arrangement for on-site training sessions.
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP) teaches the breadth of sustainable travel and tourism components and offers practical insights and effective steps to help you improve your sustainability practices. All sessions are led by expert GSTC Trainer(s).
Become a Certified Hotel
Becoming certified as a sustainable accommodation means that your travel or tourism product or service complies with the highest social and environmental standards on the market.
Increasingly, luxury travelers as well as regular travelers, and your fellow travel provider clients are seeking confirmation that sustainability practices are in place. Also increasingly, travel companies are looking for a product that is not only certified sustainable, but certified sustainable by a certification program that is GSTC Accredited. For example, Transat promotes sustainable hotels with “certifications that meet the GSTC requirements” and TUI Group encourages their hotels to become certified to GSTC-Recognized Standards, with a mandatory clause in contracts with their accommodation suppliers requiring them to work towards certification to GSTC-Recognized Standards. Other travel providers also give preferential buying treatment to suppliers that are certified sustainable.
Certification by an Accredited Certification Body (CB) provides you a credible solution to complex environmental and social issues, while informing your stakeholders — from customers to ownership and to your supply chain — that your business is operated with sound management that looks to the future and not merely at today.
Important Notice
- GSTC Requirements for Hotel Performance against Eight Criteria (04 June 2024)
GSTC has established a set of minimum performance safeguards to guide the certification process and promote overall improvement in sustainability practices. GSTC-Certified hotels are assessed not only for compliance with the GSTC Hotel Standard but also for adherence to additional requirements covering local purchasing, decent work, energy and water conservation, greenhouse gas emissions, and solid waste management. - Clarification on Legal Compliance with National Health and Safety Requirements (25 Sept 2025)
All GSTC-certified entities must comply with national health and safety laws. GSTC certification audits confirm legal documentation and staff awareness but do not replace official inspections. For details, please refer to the full clarification document. - Transition Planning Guidance for the GSTC Hotel and Tour Operator Standards version 4.0.
The former GSTC Industry Standard v3.0 has been split into two standards: GSTC Hotel Standard v4.0 and GSTC Tour Operator Standard v4.0. A three-year transition period is in place until 30 December 2028, after which only certifications to version 4.0 will be valid. - Interpretation of the GSTC Requirements of Environmental Purchasing of Protected Species*
GSTC clarifies that shark fin soup is considered a high-risk product due to significant biodiversity and sustainability concerns. As a default position, offering shark fin soup is not considered compliant with GSTC requirements unless the hotel can provide clear, verifiable evidence of legal sourcing, non-endangered species status, responsible fisheries management, and full traceability. In cases of uncertainty or insufficient documentation, the product shall be treated as non-compliant. For full details, please refer to the interpretation document.*Find the Japanese version here.
Join GSTC as a Member
Join GSTC as a member organization to stay informed of key developments, and to learn from others in our network. Being a GSTC member means actively participating in our global community who represent a wide range of tourism stakeholders – from UN agencies to leading international tour operators, to government organizations and national tourism boards, and to local and international hospitality brands.