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 [...]
Luigi Cabrini, Chair of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), was once again recognized for his outstanding leadership in promoting sustainable tourism at the IV Ibero-American Forum on Sustainable Tourism, TuriSOS2025. The forum took place on May 9th at the Ateneo de Málaga, gathering more than 43 international speakers from over 15 countries, including [...]
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 [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has released its 2024 Monitoring and Evaluation Report (M&E Report). GSTC’s Monitoring and Evaluation System tracks progress toward meeting the goals outlined in its Theory of Change. This conceptual map traces a causal pathway, linking the strategies employed (the actions taken) to the resulting outcomes (what has been changed) [...]
The India Travel & Tourism Sustainability Conclave 2025, held on April 16 at The Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi, brought together leaders to discuss the pressing need for sustainable growth in India's tourism sector. The event was organised by the MakeMyTrip Foundation in collaboration with the World Travel & Tourism Council India Initiative [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to introduce a tailored, co-branded online training course focused on sustainable hospitality, as part of its ongoing partnership with package holiday provider, easyJet holidays. This self-paced course is exclusively available to easyJet’ holidays’ hotel partners, providing a valuable opportunity to deepen their commitment to sustainability. Specifically [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce its new website domain to be gstc.org instead of gstcouncil.org. This change reflects the organization's strong and growing presence worldwide, where it is widely known simply as "GSTC." The transition to gstc.org is designed to simplify the connection for stakeholders, partners, tourism professionals, and [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that TSE Global has gained the GSTC-accredited Certification Body status with the scope of certifying hotels, accommodations, and Tour Operators to the GSTC Hotel Standard and GSTC Tour Operator Standard with a worldwide geographical scope, excluding the USA, Canada, and Australia. TSE Global was [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is participating in the 9th edition of the Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit, which is taking place from May 20th to 23rd, 2025, in San José, Costa Rica. Under the theme "Tourism from the Perspective of Communities," the Summit is focusing on strengthening tourism practices that prioritize community [...]
The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a lodging business unit of CapitaLand Investment, has reaffirmed its dedication to sustainable tourism practices in its 2024 Sustainability Report, with significant references to its ongoing collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). As one of the first hospitality groups to attain GSTC-Committed status, Ascott has embedded the GSTC Standards [...]
What motivates travelers to adopt sustainable behaviours? A new report co-produced by Accor, Booking.com, and the University of Surrey delves into this question through an in-depth study. It includes 24 traveler interviews, the journey analysis of 22 additional travelers, and rigorous lab-based behavioral research with 67 participants. The study was designed to help address [...]
TravTalk, one of India’s most respected tourism publications, featured an in-depth interview with CB Ramkumar, Vice Chair of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), in its May 1st fortnight issue (pages 5 and 18). In the interview, Mr. Ramkumar candidly addressed the misalignment between India’s existing tourism sustainability framework and global best practices, and [...]
The GSTC MICE Standard for venues, event organizers, and events & exhibitions have now been translated into Japanese with the support of the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA). It is available to download in the Standards Translations section here. 会場、イベント主催者、イベントおよび展示会向けのGSTC MICEスタンダードが、日本観光庁（JTA）の支援を受けて日本語に翻訳されました。日本語版は「スタンダードの翻訳」セクションからダウンロードできます。
A successful Consultation Workshop on the GSTC Standard for Food and Beverage, which is under development, was held in Taiwan on April 25th, hosted by Forte Hotel Group, a GSTC member, at Forte Hotel Xizhi. GSTC General Manager, Roi Ariel, opened the one-day event with updates on recent GSTC activities. [...]
Under the theme “Timeless Wisdom for a Sustainable Future,” the PATA Annual Summit 2025 hosted by the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) and supported by Turkish Airlines, focused on how cultural heritage and long-standing sustainable practices can contribute to shaping the future of tourism. Held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from April 21st to 23rd, [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has published its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting its ongoing efforts to advance sustainable tourism worldwide. The report showcases key milestones, strategic initiatives, and the organization's continued commitment to shaping a more responsible and resilient tourism industry. “Collaboration is at the heart of sustainable tourism. The 2024 Annual Report [...]
Global Sustainable Tourism Council announces Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings as newest member. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) has joined as its newest member, further advancing the cruise industry’s momentum toward sustainable and responsible tourism practices. NCLH’s decision to become a GSTC [...]
Destination Stewardship Report January - April 2025 (Volume 5, Issue 3) The Destination Stewardship Report is a collaboration between the Destination Stewardship Center, Center for Responsible Travel, and Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Our goal is to provide practical information and insights useful to anyone whose work or interests involve improving destination stewardship in a post-pandemic [...]
Overview The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is seeking an Accreditation Compliance Manager to manage GSTC accreditation documents and conduct compliance assessments. GSTC has developed a credible assurance program for hotels, tour operators, and destinations and has been extending it to MICE and Attractions. The growth of the GSTC Assurance Program requires qualified managers [...]
Overview The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is seeking a Training Program Coordinator. This role covers executing various operational and administrative functions of the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program while supporting the GSTC Training Team. See the GSTC Training Program Coordinator Description for full details. Roles & Responsibilities Ensure the maintenance of up-to-date training [...]
