GSTC Certification

6 04, 2026

Mandarin Oriental, a GSTC Member with GSTC-Committed Status, achieves sustainability certification for all properties

Stefi2026-04-06T13:35:30+08:00April 6th, 2026|

[Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing] The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that Mandarin Oriental, a GSTC Member with GSTC-Committed status, has achieved GSTC Certification* for all 40 eligible hotels across its global portfolio. This important milestone reflects the Group’s continued commitment to responsible tourism and reinforces its long-standing efforts to [...]

24 02, 2026

GSTC Releases Guidance Document “Pathways to GSTC Destination Certification” to Support Sustainability Journeys

Stefi2026-03-13T23:45:04+08:00February 24th, 2026|

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has released a new resource, Pathways to GSTC Destination Certification, to support destinations in navigating the process toward GSTC Destination Certification*. As sustainability continues to gain importance across the tourism sector, many destinations are seeking guidance on how to move from intention to implementation. This document addresses that [...]

16 02, 2026

Cooperative JOO-IN, First Korean Local Tour Operator Brand to Achieve GSTC Tour Operator Certification

Stefi2026-02-16T17:26:07+08:00February 16th, 2026|

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) congratulates Cooperative JOO-IN, a locally rooted tour operator based in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, which has become the first Korean local Tour Operator brand to achieve GSTC Tour Operator Certification. The certification was officially approved on December 26, 2025, following a one-year independent assessment conducted by Control Union [...]

5 02, 2026

GSTC Member Khiri Travel achieves GSTC Certification across its destinations in Asia

Stefi2026-02-05T18:48:24+08:00February 5th, 2026|

GSTC congratulates Khiri Travel on achieving GSTC Certification across all its operational destinations in Asia. Khiri Travel, a destination management company based in Southeast Asia, operating in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, was officially certified on 18 December 2025 by Control Union, a GSTC-accredited certification body. At Khiri [...]

10 12, 2025

GSTC Congratulates ‘Somerset Palace Seoul’ For Becoming Korea’s First Hotel to Obtain GSTC Certification

Stefi2025-12-10T18:10:27+08:00December 10th, 2025|

Somerset Palace Seoul hotel, an affiliate of Shinyoung Group (Korea’s first-generation real estate developer) and operated by GSTC-Commited Member, The Ascott Limited, has become the first in the domestic hotel industry to obtain the GSTC Certification by Control Union, a GSTC-accredited Certification Body, in Korea. Somerset Palace Seoul held an official ‘GSTC Hotel Certificate [...]

25 09, 2025

Türkiye Reaches 2,000 Milestone for GSTC-Certified Hotels

Stefi2026-01-12T17:45:48+08:00September 25th, 2025|

Türkiye's Environmental and Cultural Sustainability Program surpasses 2,000 GSTC-certified hotels, with certification set to become mandatory for all hotels nationwide by 2030. Türkiye signed a cooperation agreement with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in 2022 to provide Turkish tourism with a sustainable framework and started to develop a national programme with the GSTC [...]

12 09, 2025

GSTC at PHIST 2025

ane@gstcouncil.org2025-09-12T14:40:24+08:00September 12th, 2025|

PHIST 2025, held on 1 September at Angsana Laguna Phuket, marked its eighth edition with a record of 1,300 delegates. The event brought together the hospitality and tourism industry to address environmental sustainability and community engagement under the theme “Ideas, Inspiration & Innovation.” The event program [...]

21 08, 2025

Italy Takes the Lead: Over 20 Italian Destinations Achieve GSTC Certification

Stefi2025-08-21T17:23:45+08:00August 21st, 2025|

Sustainable tourism in Italy continues to progress through the combined efforts of many actors, including the coordinated initiatives of the GSTC Italy Working Group (IWG). Established in 2022, the IWG brings together a diverse network of public and private organizations committed to advancing sustainability in the tourism sector. With strategic coordination and shared goals, [...]

22 05, 2025

Barceló Hotel Group Joins GSTC

Stefi2025-05-22T16:23:02+08:00May 22nd, 2025|

Barceló Hotel Group has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Barceló Hotel Group is the hotel division of the Barceló Group. It currently has more than 300 hotels and 66,000 rooms in 30 countries; it is one of the 50 largest hotel chains in the world in terms of [...]

3 01, 2025

Portrait Milano Achieves the First GSTC Certification by Dream&Charme, a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body

Stefi2025-01-16T17:19:31+08:00January 3rd, 2025|

Portrait Milano is the 1st Hotel in Milano, Italy to obtain GSTC Certification by Dream&Charme, a GSTC-Accredited certification body. The GSTC Certification is based on the globally recognized standard for sustainable tourism, the GSTC Hotel Criteria. Portrait Milano becomes the 1st Hotel in Milano, Italy to obtain GSTC Certification by Dream&Charme, a GSTC-Accredited certification [...]

23 09, 2024

Mandarin Oriental New York Becomes First Hotel in North America to Achieve GSTC Certification by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body

Stefi2024-09-23T21:22:54+08:00September 23rd, 2024|

Mandarin Oriental New York is the 1st hotel in North America to obtain GSTC Certification by UCSL United Certification Systems Limited, a GSTC-Accredited certification body. The GSTC Certification is based on the global standard for sustainable tourism, the GSTC Hotel Criteria. “We congratulate Mandarin Oriental New York on achieving accredited certification, the highest level [...]

24 07, 2024

Trento, Rovereto and Vallagarina, and Alpe Cimbra achieve GSTC Certification in Trentino, Italy

Stefi2024-07-24T19:53:40+08:00July 24th, 2024|

Ata City Lakes and Plateau has recently achieved its first GSTC Certification. Together with APT Valsugana, already certified since 2019, it is the first GSTC-Certified* tourism district in Trentino by Vireo, a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body. Accredited means that a Certification Body (CB) has been verified through a rigorous external review from an accreditation body [...]

17 07, 2024

Hotel Es Port Achieves the First GSTC Certification in Spain by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body

Stefi2024-07-17T16:16:09+08:00July 17th, 2024|

The Hotel Es Port in Mallorca is the first hotel in Spain GSTC-Certified by Vireo, a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body. The GSTC Certification is based on the globally recognized standard for sustainable tourism, the GSTC Hotel Criteria. By achieving this certification, Hotel Es Port demonstrates its commitment to sustainable practices. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council [...]

25 06, 2024

NJV ATHENS PLAZA Achieves the First GSTC Certification in Greece by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body

Stefi2024-06-26T21:40:32+08:00June 25th, 2024|

NJV ATHENS PLAZA is the 1st City Hotel in Greece to obtain GSTC Certification by RoyalCert®, a GSTC-Accredited certification body. The GSTC Certification is based on the globally recognized standard for sustainable tourism, the GSTC Hotel Criteria. By achieving this certification, NJV ATHENS PLAZA demonstrates its commitment to protecting the environment, supporting the local [...]

5 06, 2024

GSTC Requirements for Hotel’s Performance against eight criteria of the GSTC Hotel Criteria

Stefi2024-06-09T15:15:16+08:00June 5th, 2024|

In an era where environmental concerns are becoming increasingly central to consumer decisions, the importance of sustainability in business practices cannot be overstated. As companies across the globe strive to align with the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism, certification plays a pivotal role in shaping industry norms and [...]