WTTC elevates the basic principles of hotel sustainability to an independent global certification program | News
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced that its Hotel Sustainability Basics program will transition to an independent third-party certification program, aligned with the European Union’s new requirements for environmental claims and designed to meet the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Accreditation Framework.
This move strengthens Hotel Sustainability Basics as a globally recognized framework for hotel sustainability, providing independent verification, greater transparency and a credible pathway for hotels to demonstrate their sustainability performance in line with evolving regulatory and market expectations.
Since its launch in 2022, Hotel Sustainability Basics has been adopted by more than 8,000 hotels in 85 countries. Developed by industry, for industry, the framework includes twelve practical actions in the areas of energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, emissions, support for local communities and nature protection. Designed to be accessible to hotels of all sizes and types, it has created a common foundation for sustainability action across the global accommodation sector.
The enhanced certification program is a response to the EU directive on empowering consumers for a green transition (Directive (EU) 2024/825), which introduces stricter requirements for environmental claims. Through independent third-party certification and alignment with the GSTC Accreditation Framework, Hotel Sustainability Basics will provide hotels with a robust and internationally recognized approach to sustainability assurance, building confidence among travelers, businesses, governments and investors.
Hotels already participating in the program do not need to take immediate action. WTTC and its verification partners, including SGS, will provide further guidance and support during the transition to the new certification model.
Later this year, WTTC will also introduce Basics Plus, developed with and endorsed by the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA), offering hotels the next stage in their sustainability journey. Together, Hotel Sustainability Basics and Basics Plus will form the foundation of WSHA’s Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality, providing hotels with a clear roadmap from essential sustainability practices to independently verified performance.
Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of WTTC, said:
“Hotel Sustainability Basics has shown that sustainability can be practical, achievable and scalable, with thousands of hotels around the world already taking meaningful action. By strengthening the program through independent certification, we are giving hotels a globally recognized framework that reflects changing regulatory expectations while building greater confidence in sustainability claims. Together with Basics Plus, we are creating a clear path that allows hotels of all sizes to continue to make progress on their sustainability journey.”
Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC, said:
“This marks an important moment for the hospitality sector, strengthening alignment around credible and consistent approaches to hotel sustainability. The GSTC accreditation of WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics will reflect what can be achieved through a shared commitment to meaningful progress. It will be a milestone we are truly proud to celebrate together.”
Strong industry support underlines the value and scalability of the initiative
The success of the Basics to date reflects strong support from across the sector. The initiative is supported by governments, destinations, hotel groups and key stakeholders in the travel and tourism ecosystem, including the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA), Jin Jiang, Radisson Hotel Group and HBX Group.
The strength of the framework lies in its simplicity and universality. By focusing on a core set of achievable actions, it has enabled hotels of all types to take meaningful first steps towards sustainability, while creating common ground for the sector. This approach has enabled rapid global adoption and demonstrated the power of industry-led collaboration in driving progress at scale.
This transition sends a strong message of industry alignment with hotels’ sustainability expectations, creating a clear, credible framework and certification that brings together the expertise of WTTC, GSTC and WSHA. It also marks the full maturity of this impactful, industry-led effort, demonstrating the travel and tourism sector’s ability to define what is practically achievable and drive sustainability progress at scale.
