Criteria Development, Feedback & Revisions

Criteria Development

The GSTC MICE Criteria development underway – We call for MICE stakeholders to join the feasibility assessment (mid September to October). Please see the bottom of this page and contact us at criteria@gstcouncil.org if you are planning to have events during this period.

  • The 2nd public consultation is scheduled from 15th November to 14th December, 2023
  • The 1st public consultation is completed (consultation period: From 15th June to 15th August, 2023.)
*GSTC Attraction Criteria soon to be announced.

Criteria Revision History

The GSTC Industry Criteria were revised in 2016. In 2021, a review of the need for revision was conducted, which concluded that the revision was not necessary.

The GSTC Destination Criteria were revised in December 2019, published in January 2020.

Criteria Development and Revision:

The process is intended to comply with the ISEAL Alliance standard-setting code, the key aspects of the process are:

  1. Resourced by the GSTC Secretariat, guided by the International Standards Working Group (GSTC-ISWG) and informed by relevant GSTC Working Groups.
  2. Two rounds of consultation, an initial call for input, then a second round to commenting on draft criteria.
  3. The GSTC-ISWG considers comments before adopting criteria, based on consensus across the balance of interested parties.
  4. The revisions are formally adopted by the GSTC Board of Directors, then publicly released.

To participate in future Criteria revisions and development please sign up here.

To provide feedback on current Criteria please email criteria@gstcouncil.org.

Impact of Revisions on GSTC-Recognized Standards and Certification Bodies

Per the terms of the Recognition, as stated in the Manuals for Recognitions the marks, following the revision of GSTC Criteria, holders of GSTC-Recognized Standards have two years from the dates of release of the revisions to make any necessary revisions to their standards in order to remain compliant with the GSTC mark. Questions may be addressed to recognition@gstcouncil.org

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