UCSL and QualStar Join Forces to Deliver Credible Sustainability Certification for Hotels Across India
QualStar will act as UCSL’s authorized subcontractor & GSTC Certification auditing services provider in India
United Certification Systems Limited (UCSL), a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body operating globally, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with QualStar, which will act as UCSL’s authorized subcontractor and GSTC Certification auditing services provider in India.
India’s tourism landscape is as amazing as its people – from the snow-capped Himalayas and Kerala’s tranquil backwaters to bustling markets, sacred festivals, and UNESCO heritage sites. With over a billion domestic trips each year and millions of international visitors, the country is one of the world’s most vibrant tourism destinations.
The demand for off-the-beaten-path destinations, cultural immersion, and responsible travel is reshaping the industry, as travelers in India are increasingly seeking authentic, eco-friendly, and community-based experiences. At the same time, India faces urgent sustainability challenges: water scarcity, overtourism in fragile areas, waste management gaps, climate risks. Protecting the country’s heritage, nature and communities while welcoming the future of tourism requires clear standards and credible action. GSTC Certification becomes a compass to protect what is sacred while sharing its beauty responsibly with the world.
India’s tourism and hospitality sector is rapidly evolving, with growing demand from travelers, investors, and policymakers for credible and independent sustainability certification. To meet this momentum, UCSL combines its global expertise with QualStar’s local capabilities, facilitating access to GSTC Certification – the globally acknowledged gold standard for sustainable tourism and hospitality.
Together, UCSL and QualStar will support Indian hotels in building a long-term culture of sustainability and continuous improvement, unlocking new opportunities, and contributing to a tourism economy that benefits both people and the planet.
India’s tourism landscape is as amazing as its people – from the snow-capped Himalayas and Kerala’s tranquil backwaters to bustling markets, sacred festivals, and UNESCO heritage sites. With over a billion domestic trips each year and millions of international visitors, the country is one of the world’s most vibrant tourism destinations.
The demand for off-the-beaten-path destinations, cultural immersion, and responsible travel is reshaping the industry, as travelers in India are increasingly seeking authentic, eco-friendly, and community-based experiences. At the same time, India faces urgent sustainability challenges: water scarcity, overtourism in fragile areas, waste management gaps, climate risks. Protecting the country’s heritage, nature and communities while welcoming the future of tourism requires clear standards and credible action. GSTC Certification becomes a compass to protect what is sacred while sharing its beauty responsibly with the world.
India’s tourism and hospitality sector is rapidly evolving, with growing demand from travelers, investors, and policymakers for credible and independent sustainability certification. To meet this momentum, UCSL combines its global expertise with QualStar’s local capabilities, facilitating access to GSTC Certification – the globally acknowledged gold standard for sustainable tourism and hospitality.
Together, UCSL and QualStar will support Indian hotels in building a long-term culture of sustainability and continuous improvement, unlocking new opportunities, and contributing to a tourism economy that benefits both people and the planet.
“Through our partnership with QualStar, we guarantee that GSTC Сertification remains as reliable and rigorous as ever, while also becoming more accessible and relevant to the Indian market.”
Olga Shuvalova
CEO of UCSL
“We are proud to collaborate with UCSL as their authorized subcontractor in India. By combining UCSL’s GSTC-Accredited status with our local expertise, we can deliver audits that are both internationally credible and firmly rooted in the realities of the Indian hospitality sector. Together, we aim to support hotels in their journey toward sustainability and long-term success.”
Subha Bhaskar
COO of QualStar
India has already taken major steps to embed credible, globally acknowledged, standards-based approach. The Hotel Association of India (HAI) has signed an MoU with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), strengthening industry alignment with international standards. States such as Uttar Pradesh are incentivizing GSTC Certification for tour operators by reimbursing 50% of its fees. Partnerships with Agoda, USAID, and the Government of Goa have brought GSTC Training and Hotel Sustainability programs to hundreds of professionals across the country. Local partners like Green Dreams for the Planet are expanding training and awareness, while the GSTC India Working Group continues to work at the national level.
Our new strategic partnership further broadens the reach of GSTC Certification in India, combining UCSL’s international credibility as an Accredited Certification Body with QualStar’s established reputation in the country’s hospitality sector. By supporting businesses in embedding best practices, UCSL and QualStar will drive wider adoption of the GSTC Industry Standards in India, creating lasting impact across its tourism value chain.
To mark this new chapter, UCSL is also launching a dedicated digital hub for India on its website. This platform will bring together market insights and certification guidance resources tailored for Indian hotels and tour operators. By offering clear information in one place, the hub will serve as a trusted entry point for businesses looking to understand the GSTC Standard, prepare for certification, and learn from best practices already shaping the industry across India and beyond.
Our new strategic partnership further broadens the reach of GSTC Certification in India, combining UCSL’s international credibility as an Accredited Certification Body with QualStar’s established reputation in the country’s hospitality sector. By supporting businesses in embedding best practices, UCSL and QualStar will drive wider adoption of the GSTC Industry Standards in India, creating lasting impact across its tourism value chain.
To mark this new chapter, UCSL is also launching a dedicated digital hub for India on its website. This platform will bring together market insights and certification guidance resources tailored for Indian hotels and tour operators. By offering clear information in one place, the hub will serve as a trusted entry point for businesses looking to understand the GSTC Standard, prepare for certification, and learn from best practices already shaping the industry across India and beyond.
About QualStar
QualStar is a respected Indian certification organization with decades of experience in hotel certification and sustainability auditing. Known for its strong reputation across the Indian hospitality sector, QualStar offers unmatched local expertise and a proven record of operational excellence. As UCSL’s authorized subcontractor, QualStar ensures that auditing services in India are performed with transparency, impartiality, and alignment with the world’s highest certification standards.
About UCSL
United Certification Systems Limited (UCSL) is an independent certification body headquartered in the EU and operating worldwide. As one of the first GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies, UCSL provides certification services for hotels and tour operators against the leading global standard for sustainable tourism. From luxury hotels in Europe and the US to island resorts in Southeast Asia and pioneering tour operators in Japan and the Caribbean, UCSL partners with hospitality leaders across the globe to raise the bar on sustainability. By combining global credibility with local expertise and a deep commitment to positive impact, UCSL helps tourism businesses turn sustainability into trust, resilience, and long-term success.
About GSTC Certification
GSTC Certification is the globally acknowledged mark of sustainable tourism, awarded to hotels, tour operators, and other businesses that meet the GSTC Standards – the world’s leading criteria for responsible travel. It confirms that a business has undergone a rigorous and impartial assessment by a certification body accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), an international non-profit organization established through a strategic coalition including the United Nations Foundation, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and UN Tourism.
Holding GSTC Certification demonstrates a business’s genuine commitment to sustainability through a process that is credible, transparent, and globally consistent. The term “GSTC Certification” specifically means certified by a Certification Body that is GSTC-Accredited, ensuring full alignment with the world’s highest standards for sustainable tourism.
QualStar is a respected Indian certification organization with decades of experience in hotel certification and sustainability auditing. Known for its strong reputation across the Indian hospitality sector, QualStar offers unmatched local expertise and a proven record of operational excellence. As UCSL’s authorized subcontractor, QualStar ensures that auditing services in India are performed with transparency, impartiality, and alignment with the world’s highest certification standards.
About UCSL
United Certification Systems Limited (UCSL) is an independent certification body headquartered in the EU and operating worldwide. As one of the first GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies, UCSL provides certification services for hotels and tour operators against the leading global standard for sustainable tourism. From luxury hotels in Europe and the US to island resorts in Southeast Asia and pioneering tour operators in Japan and the Caribbean, UCSL partners with hospitality leaders across the globe to raise the bar on sustainability. By combining global credibility with local expertise and a deep commitment to positive impact, UCSL helps tourism businesses turn sustainability into trust, resilience, and long-term success.
About GSTC Certification
GSTC Certification is the globally acknowledged mark of sustainable tourism, awarded to hotels, tour operators, and other businesses that meet the GSTC Standards – the world’s leading criteria for responsible travel. It confirms that a business has undergone a rigorous and impartial assessment by a certification body accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), an international non-profit organization established through a strategic coalition including the United Nations Foundation, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and UN Tourism.
Holding GSTC Certification demonstrates a business’s genuine commitment to sustainability through a process that is credible, transparent, and globally consistent. The term “GSTC Certification” specifically means certified by a Certification Body that is GSTC-Accredited, ensuring full alignment with the world’s highest standards for sustainable tourism.
September 16, 2025