SOCOTEC Certification International Announced as GSTC-Recognized Standard
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council announced that SOCOTEC Certification International, the Certification-specialized subsidiary of the SOCOTEC group, has achieved the ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status for its Sustainability Management System for Hotels.
The Sustainability Management System provided by SOCOTEC Certification International helps organizations and tourism businesses (travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs and communities, to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism. The GSTC-Recognized status refers to the standard itself, indicating that a sustainable tourism standard or system has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Assurance Panel and deemed the standard or system equivalent to the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism. It shows that the set of standards is based on the four pillars of the GSTC Criteria: Sustainable Management, Socioeconomic, Cultural, and Environmental principles. GSTC Recognition does not relate to the process of certification or accreditation.
“As an internationally recognized and independent third-party certification body, we are very pleased to achieve this important pillar in our mission to build a safer and more sustainable world. Result of few months of workshops preparation and on-the-field research with hotel groups, our standard is fully designed and adapted to elevate and recognize the significant efforts of the hotel sector to contribute to the CSR and Sustainability challenges of today. Based on our worldwide auditing experience in various sectors, we are convinced that our teams of experts will bring a real added value to the hotel sector sustainability challenges,” said Xavier Daniel, SOCOTEC Certification International General Manager.
“GSTC is pleased to see SOCOTEC join other standards owners in harmonizing their approach with the GSTC Criteria, the inclusively-created global standards for sustainable tourism,” said Randy Durband, Chief Executive Officer of GSTC.
Currently, 11 destination standards, 36 hotel standards, and 15 tour operator standards have achieved GSTC-Recognized status. The status offers the market proof that these standards adhere to international norms. GSTC Recognition does not ensure that a certification process is reliable, only that the set of standards used to certify are equivalent to the GSTC Criteria. GSTC-Recognized standard owners are encouraged to follow and complete the accreditation process, which assures that the certification process used to apply the standard meets international best practice, transparency, and rigor.
