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GreenSign’s certification standard for hotels.

Internationally recognized.

Transparency, practical relevance and international credibility have always been important to us at GreenSign. Even the first of a total of four GreenSign Hotel catalog versions from the founding year 2014 included transnational frameworks such as ISO 14001 or EMAS. With growing political and social requirements, it quickly became clear to us: This is no longer enough.

Since June 2022, the certification catalog for the GreenSign Hotel certification is therefore recognized by the world-renowned Global Sustainable Tourism Council. This recognition ensures and confirms the high quality standards and the holistic sustainability approach that we have been pursuing with our hotel certification since day 1.

In a year-long process, our GreenSign certification review criteria for hotels were carefully scrutinized, reviewed for accuracy, scope and expression, and endorsed by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Assurance Panel, resulting in a certification catalog that meets, verifies and recognizes the highest level of social and environmental standards.

By the way: Even before the GSTC recognition, GreenSign was a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and thus supported the common understanding of sustainable tourism.

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What does GSTC recognition mean for your business?

  • Higher value of your GreenSign hotel certification on the market

  • Compliance with international, universally applicable sustainability standards

  • Competitive advantage in the industry

  • Even more transparency and credibility towards stakeholders

  • Recognized quality and seriousness of GreenSign

  • Trust in GreenSign sustainability certification

  • Extra sustainability labeling on booking platforms partnered with GSTC (e.g. booking.com)

About GSTC – Global Sustainable Tourism Council

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) creates and manages global sustainability standards known as GSTC Criteria. There are two types: Destination Criteria for public policy makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should strive to meet in order to protect and conserve the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring that tourism fulfills its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.

The GSTC criteria form the basis for the accreditation of certification bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators and destinations with sustainable policies and practices. GSTC does not directly certify products or services; GSTC offers an accreditation program through its partner Assurance Services International to accredit certification bodies. GSTC is an independent and neutral U.S. registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization representing a diverse and global membership including national and regional governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.

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