European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was elected for a second mandate, presented to the European Parliament her Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029. She appointed Apostolos Tzitzikostas as the new EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. The announcement was made on September 17, 2024, marking a milestone for [...]
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 [...]
From reducing carbon footprint to seeking more meaningful and impactful personal and societal experiences, ITB’s Transformational Travel programme highlights the importance of this conscious evolution in future-proofing travel and tourism. The program explores the technological and innovative advances revolutionizing the sector and showcases tourism boards prioritizing sustainable and responsible tourism. GSTC CEO, Randy Durband [...]
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 [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) High-Level Workshop successfully concluded on the 28th of August, 2024, in Zanzibar. The event sponsored by the European Union (EU) and done in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage of Zanzibar, brought together over 50 participants from different ministries. The workshop was officially opened by Engineer [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that TRB has gained the GSTC-Accredited Certification Body status. TRB International Certification Company offers GSTC Hotel/Accommodation Certification services within Turkiye. Established in 2004, with its headquarters in Çankaya/Ankara, TRB provides services for various industries, ensuring compliance with international standards, such as ISO certifications, focusing [...]
Mandarin Oriental New York is the 1st hotel in North America to obtain GSTC Certification by UCSL United Certification Systems Limited, a GSTC-Accredited certification body. The GSTC Certification is based on the global standard for sustainable tourism, the GSTC Hotel Criteria. “We congratulate Mandarin Oriental New York on achieving accredited certification, the highest level [...]
The Yuluca Alliance has been officially launched following the successful First GSTC Latin American and Caribbean Summit, which took place in Santa Marta, Colombia, last May 2024. This initiative, encouraged by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), is a collaborative effort of the nations that participated in the summit, united under the shared vision [...]
In a bid to promote sustainable tourism, the Uttar Pradesh government in India has introduced specific incentives for responsible tourism businesses under its Tourism Policy 2022-2032. Among the key benefits is a 50% reimbursement of certification fees established for tour operators for obtaining GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) certification through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body. [...]
Many GSTC members and stakeholders seek GSTC’s views on Travalyst’s recent publication of their “certification”-based accommodations initiative. They appreciate that in 2016 GSTC launched the first and still-only tourism-based accreditation service for placing marks on certification bodies that provide solid evidence of competence, rigor, and impartiality. This statement is provided in response to that interest [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Hotel Sustainability Training for Industry Professionals, organized in partnership with Agoda and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), successfully concluded on the 6th of September 2024. This two-day training held in Cebu, Philippines, aimed to equip hoteliers with the skills and knowledge necessary to implement sustainable tourism [...]
Hotelga, an event for Latin America's hospitality and gastronomy industries organized by Fehgra (The Argentine Hotel and Gastronomy Business Federation), AHT (The Argentine Hotel and Tourism Association), and Messe Frankfurt Argentina, took place from August 28 to 30, 2024, at La Rural Trade Center in Buenos Aires. The event brought together professionals, entrepreneurs, and [...]
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 [...]
tiket.com becomes a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). A leading online travel agent (OTA) and lifestyle app with over 50 million users globally, tiket.com, has officially joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The platform serves as a comprehensive online marketplace, offering a wide range of products and services, including flights, [...]
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course sponsored by JTB for their employees and stakeholders held from the 27th to the 29th of August at JTB Headquarters in Tokyo, concluded successfully. A total of 28 participants successfully attended the training in Tokyo, Japan. The course was led by GSTC Trainer Mami Futagami, Dr. Professor Emeritus at [...]
Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Located in the rugged mountains of southern Jordan, Petra is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world and was declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra is located 240 km south [...]
Tobu Top Tours has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Tobu Top Tours, a travel agency in Japan, offers an extensive range of travel services and experiences. The company provides online reservations for hotels and various tours, catering to both domestic and international travelers. Tobu Top Tours is part [...]
Establishing commitment to sustainable tourism activities in the Silver State Located in the American West, Nevada is a state of contrasts. From the snow-capped mountain peaks of Lake Tahoe and the Ruby Mountains to the stunning desert terrain found in the southern portion of the state, Nevada serves up remarkable views along every bend [...]
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course sponsored by Vorarlberg State Tourism Board held from the 22nd to the 23rd of August, 2024 in Austria, concluded successfully. A total of 19 participants successfully attended the training held at the Hittisau Women's Museum. The course was led by GSTC Trainers Holger [...]
