The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) have united in a groundbreaking partnership, aimed at fortifying a structured framework for hotel sustainability and paving the way for GSTC Certification, as announced today.

By endorsing the existing WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics, this partnership is set to facilitate a gradual advancement towards GSTC Certification for sustainable hotels.

In the current landscape, where the emphasis on sustainability has never been more critical, the collaboration between WTTC and GSTC serves as a powerful testament to the concerted efforts within the Travel & Tourism sector.

Under the newly proposed three-stage framework for hotel sustainability, the integration of the WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics verification and GSTC Certification will provide indispensable support to hotels on their journey towards achieving full sustainability.

Commenting on the partnership, Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, emphasized, “Our collaboration with the esteemed GSTC reaffirms our unwavering commitment to steering the industry towards a more sustainable future. It is imperative that we engage with global leaders like GSTC to drive transformative change, establish benchmarks, and motivate others to follow suit.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC, acknowledged, “WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics serves as an adept entry point for hotels of all sizes and types to embark on their sustainable journey. GSTC’s certification, administered by GSTC-accredited certification bodies, is widely acknowledged as the pinnacle of sustainable hotel certification, offering the highest levels of assurance.”

"The announcement of the combined pathway today brings clarity to both the initiation and the ongoing improvement process. The proposed stages are intended as progressive milestones, rather than mere checkpoints to attain and maintain," Durband added.

While the WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics are already within reach for the industry, the subsequent phase of collaboration with GSTC is slated to be unveiled in 2024. This critical development will bridge the gap between the three-year WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics program and the rigorous GSTC certification, ensuring a gradual yet comprehensive progression towards sustainability in the hospitality sector.