GSTC Global Sustainable Tourism Council

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is an independent organization founded in 2007 by UN Environment, UNDP, UN World Tourism Organization, and Rainforest Alliance. GSTC doesn't certify hotels directly: it accredits the certifying bodies that do (EarthCheck, Green Globe, Biosphere Certified, Travelife) and these bodies apply GSTC standards. The standards cover destinations (4 pillars, 38 criteria) and hotels (4 pillars, 41 criteria), addressing sustainable management, socio-economic impact, cultural impact, and environmental impact. For travelers, GSTC has effectively become the global benchmark: Booking.com (Travel Sustainable), Expedia, and TripAdvisor all align their sustainability badges with GSTC criteria.