WTTC Elevates Hotel Sustainability Basics to Independent Global Certification Scheme

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced that its Hotel Sustainability Basics programme will transition to an independent third-party certification scheme, aligned with new European Union requirements for environmental claims and designed to meet the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Accreditation Framework.

The move strengthens Hotel Sustainability Basics as a globally recognised 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 across 85 countries. Developed by the industry, for the industry, the framework sets out 12 practical actions covering energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, emissions, support for local communities, and protection of nature. Designed to be accessible to hotels of every size and type, it has established a common foundation for sustainability action across the global accommodation sector.

The enhanced certification programme responds to the EU Directive on Empowering Consumers for 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 recognised approach to sustainability assurance, helping strengthen confidence among travellers, businesses, governments and investors.

Hotels already participating in the programme are not required to take immediate action. WTTC and its verification partners, including SGS, will provide further guidance and support throughout 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), providing hotels with the next stage in their sustainability journey. Together, Hotel Sustainability Basics and Basics Plus will form the foundation of the WSHA’s Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality, offering hotels a clear roadmap from essential sustainability practices to independently verified performance.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said:

“Hotel Sustainability Basics has demonstrated that sustainability can be practical, achievable and scalable, with thousands of hotels already taking meaningful action around the world. By strengthening the programme through independent certification, we are giving hotels a globally recognised framework that reflects evolving regulatory expectations while building greater trust and confidence in sustainability claims. Together with Basics Plus, we are creating a clear pathway that enables hotels of all sizes to continue progressing on their sustainability journey.”

Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC, said:

“This marks an important moment for the hospitality industry, 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 Highlights the Value and Scalability of the Initiative

The success of the Basics to date reflects strong industry-wide backing. The initiative has been supported by governments, destinations, hotel groups and key stakeholders across the Travel & Tourism ecosystem, including the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA), Jin Jiang, Radisson Hotel Group and HBX Group.

The framework’s strength 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 a common baseline for the industry. This approach has facilitated 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 on hotel sustainability expectations, establishing 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 & Tourism sector’s ability to define what is practically achievable and drive sustainability progress at scale.