OTTAWA, ON.—The Green Key Eco-Rating Program, a leading lodging industry certification program, has been renovated, and version 3.0 (V3) is now available. The move to V3 is part of Green Key Global’s continuing goal of remaining a leading environmental certification body and to align itself with GSTC Recognition status.
What is GSTC? The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) establishes and manages global sustainable standards with the aim of increasing sustainable tourism knowledge and practices among public and private stakeholders. The GSTC is independent and neutral, serving the important role of managing its global baseline standards for sustainability in travel and tourism. It is mostly a volunteer organization, consisting of experts in sustainable tourism and supported by organizations and individuals with a passion for ensuring that meaningful standards are available globally for sustainability in travel and tourism.
GSTC-Recognized means that a sustainable tourism assessment has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Accreditation Panel and deemed equivalent to the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism and is administered by a standard owner that meets GSTC requirements. This means that the GSTC has verified that the Green Key Eco-Rating assessment aligns with the GSTC Criteria and that any additional clauses do not contradict GSTC Criteria requirements.
What Changes are in 3.0?
• New Questions: To take into account the new sustainable practices currently in the market. For example, question(s) related to whether or not a facility is equipped for electric car chargers are now being asked.
• Innovations: Innovation points are now available recognizing properties for their efforts that may not yet be reflected in the current assessment.
• Mandatory Questions: Every question that is now mandatory has easy to complete templates offered complimentary as part of Green Key Membership.
Green Key Global’s objective remains the same—to help members develop sustainable initiatives and enhance competitiveness while achieving a return on investment.
Go to Green Key Global.
