GSTC
Certification of tourism industry
Global Sustainable Tourism Council is a global independent organisation which develops standards of sustainable tourism for hotels, tour operators and destinations.
Certification criteria
GSTC Criteria consists of four pillars:
- Effective sustainable managementConformance with the legal and administrative requirements, depiction of an accurate brand image.
- Social and economic issuesImpacts that the tourism business has on the well-being of its employees and the local community.
- EnvironmentHow the tourism business conserves its resources and reduces pollution. Another major aspect is conservation of biodiversity, ecosystems and landscapes.
- Cultural heritageThe way the tourism business engages with and protects the cultural heritage.
One certificate can include the group of hotels or several legal entities
- Single certificationOrganizations operating out of one site: a single location with one physical address, e.g. Single Hotel or Single Tour-operator
- Multi Site certificationOrganizations at more than one location / physical address.All sites are individually audited against the GSTC Standard. Not all requirements would necessarily apply to all sites, e.g. hotel chain with properties in different locations, or tour operator working in different locations within the same destination.
- Group certificationThe group designates a central office that establishes internal controls and is responsible for sites compliance. UCSL will audit the central office and a sample of sites instead of every site receiving an audit as in a multi-site certificate. E.g. group of Hotels / Tour-operators in one Destination , or group of small independent Hotels from different owners that wish to apply for the GSTC Standard Certification at a given destination.
Benefits of GSTC certification for tourism businesses
Access to the network of sustainable tourism businesses around the world, aligning to the world best practices and raise of competitiveness
Employee satisfaction: fair work conditions, equal opportunities
Positive guest experience: access for all, commitment to sustainability – leave no trace
Enhanced corporate and brand image by demonstrated attention to the society and environment
Saving money through efficient use of resources
Contribution to the conservation of a destination and regional historical and cultural heritage
GSTC certificates
How to obtain GSTC certificate step by step:
1
Application
The application contains main parameters of the business (the scope of certification), which will determine the duration and cost of the audit.
Application Form2
Conclusion of the Contract
The Client receives a commercial offer with the cost and a procedure of certification. Once the offer is accepted and terms and conditions agreed, the Client and UCSL conclude a contract for certification.
3
Preliminary audit (optional)
The preliminary audit is aimed at identifying areas of concern, which the Client may need to get finalized before the main audit.
4
Main audit
A third-party assessment of conformity to the GSTC standard. Based on its results a certification decision is made.
5
Certificate issue
Once the GSTC requirements are successfully met by the organization it will be awarded a GSTC certificate valid for three years.
6
Annual surveillance audits
UCSL will conduct a regular evaluation of the hotel/ tour operator in order to verify compliance with the conditions set up in the report and assess the overall dynamics of the Client's development in achieving sustainable tourism.
Rights & Duties
The GSTC certificate is issued to the Client if this Client:
- Conscientiously and in proper time fulfills all requirements of Contract, including covering payments of all types of audit and fees, including accreditation fees.
- Constantly fulfills (complies with) all provisions of certification standards and other applicable normative acts and the certification body's reports.
- If the scope of certification is to be changed, the Client shall inform the certification body about it and the CB shall take a decision.
To confirm the certificate's validity during its validity period the Client shall:
- Fulfil all requirements of certification system and certification body's applicable normative documents.
- Fulfil all certification system's and certification body's requirements regarding public and other statements, logos, certification marks and use of trademarks for the promotion
- Not to prevent the certification body and/or certification system and/or accreditation body from conducting all audits to confirm the Client's conformity with all requirements of the system's and CB's normative documents.
- Fulfil the procedure on responding and dealing with any complaints and appeals received by the Client, affecting the scope of its certification or potentially affecting it.
The Client shall inform the certification body in a written form directly before or at least within ten (10) calendar days since fulfillment of the following changes:
- changing of its management structure, in particular changes in top management, changes in staff who can make binding decisions affecting the certification, as well as changes in the composition of technical staff responsible for the processes included in the Client's certification scope;
- changes of its' status, in particular the legal, commercial, institutional or organizational changes in the legal form and / or ownership form;
- changes of contact information of the Client and / or its responsible staff and other similar changes;
- changes in the quality management system
GSTC has full rights on GSTC logos, trademarks, and trade names. Trademarks and trade names include GSTCouncil, Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Travel Forever, GSTC-Recognized и GSTC-Accredited. Prior to using any logos, trademarks, or trade names of GSTC, the Client concludes license agreement with GSTC that implies special fees (royalty) for its use; the amount of the royalty is fixed in the license agreement. The Client has to use the GSTC logo in accordance with GSTC Logo Terms of Use.
The certification body has the right to suspend or withdraw the certificate immediately in case if the Client ceases meeting the requirements imposed on him by the certification scheme. The certification body will conduct surveillance audits of the certified Client annually.
If due to the Client's fault it is impossible to carry out stipulated activities, the certificate shall be suspended, which will be immediately entered by the certification body in the certificate database; and the Client will be sent a notice about the reasons, suspension timeframes and conditions to renew the certificate.
If the Client does not fulfil conditions required to renew the certificate's validity within the timeframes stipulated by the certification body, then the certificate is withdrawn, information about which is reflected by the certification body in the GSTC database of issued certificates.
If due to the Client's fault it is impossible to carry out stipulated activities, the certificate shall be suspended, which will be immediately entered by the certification body in the certificate database; and the Client will be sent a notice about the reasons, suspension timeframes and conditions to renew the certificate.
If the Client does not fulfil conditions required to renew the certificate's validity within the timeframes stipulated by the certification body, then the certificate is withdrawn, information about which is reflected by the certification body in the GSTC database of issued certificates.
- The Client does not pay for certification services or has paid not in full.
- The Client directly or indirectly keeps the CB, certification system and/or accreditation body from conducting audits required.
- Based on the audit findings, 5 (five) and more Major nonconformities to the requirements of the standards applicable during the assessment have been identified.
- If the Client refuses to pay the annual fee for any reason.
- without additional notices by the СB, give back the certificate to the certification body or eliminate its original as well as make a commitment to eliminate any electronic and hard copies at its disposal with providing the certification body with evidence of the specified actions;
- cease using any certification system's and CB's trademarks;
- stop making claims implying that the Client comply with the certification system requirements;
- provide access and do not keep CB and certification system's representatives from conducting audits to confirm that the Client has fulfilled these obligations after withdrawal and/or suspension of the certificate.
- remove all variants of use certification system name, initials, logo, certification marks or trademarks from its products, documents, advertising or marketing materials at his own expense.
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