Foresight and innovation in
the global hotel industry

Why certify your hotel as sustainable? | By Randy Durband

CEO at Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
Randy Durband darkRandy Durband light

Synopsis

Certification of hotels for sustainability has been around for a quarter of a century. Thousands of hotels have become certified, but they represent a small percentage of hotels throughout the world. Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), makes the case for joining the properties that have undergone this process.

Randy Durband darkRandy Durband light
Randy Durband
CEO at Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
Washington, DC - United States
More
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC) establishes and manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. They are the result of a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism. They are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; and (D) Environmental impacts. Since tourism destinations each have their own culture, environment, customs, and laws, the Criteria are designed to be adapted to local conditions and supplemented by additional criteria for the specific location and activity.