Visit California has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Visit California is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that inspire travel to, and within, California. The organization promotes California as a [...]
Ascott hosted the workshop “Shaping Sustainable Tourism, Together” on July 17, 2025, at lyf Ginza Tokyo, the first hotel in Japan to receive GSTC certification by Vireo, a GSTC-accredited certification body. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in this day event, which brought together future leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to [...]
Randy Durband, GSTC CEO, was recently interviewed by Nikos Diamantopoulos, General Manager of Marketing Greece, to share insights on the role of sustainability standards in shaping the future of tourism. During the conversation, Mr. Durband described how the GSTC Standards are developed through an incredibly inclusive process (previously known as GSTC Criteria), serving as [...]
Visit Tucson has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Located in southern Arizona, USA, Tucson is known for its distinctive desert landscapes and cultural diversity. Set within the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by five mountain ranges and bookended by Saguaro National Park, the city offers a combination of natural features [...]
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 [...]
Aseer Development Authority has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Aseer is a region in southwestern Saudi Arabia, known for its elevated landscapes and distinct seasonal climate. It features national parks, terraced farms, and heritage villages that reflect the area's long-standing traditions. Abha, the regional capital, serves as a [...]
Destination Asia has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Destination Asia is a leading DMC based in Asia, currently operating across nine countries in Asia, with 17 operational offices across the network. With business divisions covering leisure travel, MICE and cruise, Destination Asia states it remains committed to ethical [...]
Rosewood Hotel Group has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Rosewood Hotel Group is a leading global lifestyle and hospitality management group. It encompasses four brands: ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts; upper-upscale New World Hotels & Resorts; Asaya, an integrated well-being concept; and Carlyle & Co., a modern and [...]
SLOVAKIA TRAVEL has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Located in Central Europe, Slovakia is known for its landscapes and cultural heritage. With mountain ranges such as the High Tatras and extensive cave systems, including UNESCO-listed sites like the Slovak Karst, the country offers a mix of natural and [...]
Turismo Lanzarote has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Located in the Canary Islands, Spain, Lanzarote is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve known for its volcanic landscapes and distinct geological formations. From the lava fields of Timanfaya National Park to the traditional architecture influenced by César Manrique, Lanzarote combines natural [...]
Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has announced that all six of its Australian properties have gained accredited certification, after getting all their properties in Singapore also certified. These six properties are the first in the Oceania region to attain this global certification. PPHG is the wholly-owned hotel subsidiary of UOL Group Limited (UOL), one [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) will hold a workshop for Japanese GSTC Members in Tokyo on February 6th, 2025, in collaboration with Rakuten Travel. The gathering will be held at Rakuten Crimson House Headquarters. This event marks the third workshop of its kind in Japan for GSTC Members, further enriched by the visit [...]
The City of Sapporo has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Sapporo City, with a population of 1.96 million, is the economic and cultural center of Hokkaido, combining urban development with natural surroundings. The city receives visitors from both Japan and abroad, offering scenic landscapes across all four seasons. [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the Municipality of Kotor, and the Port of Kotor in Montenegro joined forces for the destination assessment in the historic port city. The agreement was announced during CLIA’s Port and Destination Dialogue in Hamburg, Germany, last year. The GSTC Destination Assessment took place [...]
The Constellar group of companies have joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Constellar is one of Asia's largest trade show and exhibition organizers that also manages Singapore's largest purpose-built MICE facility, Singapore EXPO. Based in Singapore with a regional footprint in China and Malaysia, Constellar curates and develops influential [...]
Forte Hotels has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Forte is a privately held company that has provided hotel management services since 2004, currently operating seven properties across Taiwan. The company manages four distinct brands - Forte Hotels, Yamagata Kaku, and Orange Hotels - ranging from four-star to one-star [...]
Keio Plaza Hotels is joining as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The Keio Plaza Hotels operates a series of luxury hotels, with its flagship location in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The chain emphasizes hospitality, offering a wide range of services, including high-end dining, meeting spaces, and cultural experiences like kimono dressings and [...]
In 2022, the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and GSTC Member Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced the launch of its Hotel Sustainability Roadmap, which outlines hotels’ journey towards sustainability. Aligned with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the roadmap outlines specific goals and strategies for hotels to integrate sustainability into their operations. This allows the industry [...]
Klook has joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as a member. Klook is Asia’s leading platform for experiences and travel services that allows travelers to discover and book quality experiences ranging from attractions and tours to local transport and experiential stays around the world. With more than 1,800 employees across over 30 locations [...]
HRS Group has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). HRS, a global corporate lodging and payment technology platform and developer of the Green Stay Initiative, is now a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. HRS’ focus on developing new technologies that efficiently serve business travelers and corporate hotel programs [...]
