Strategically designed to help
hotels start their sustainability journey

The Travel & Tourism sector is taking important steps toward greater sustainability and net-zero operations. Yet many hotel companies and properties continue to face important challenges in starting their sustainability journeys, often due to financial and human resource constraints. It is vital to support and empower these stakeholders to embark on their sustainability journeys in an aligned and strategic manner. The global hotel industry has come together to identify the first crucial steps that all properties can and should take, irrespective of their size, resources and progress made so far, thereby raising the base level of sustainability across the entire industry. 

How It Works

The Hotel Sustainability Basics criteria are open source and freely available for any hotel company or property to adopt. They are intended as the first step of a progressive sustainability journey, that can then be expanded to follow more ambitious pathways (e.g.‘Pathway to Positive Hospitality’ or the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria). WTTC urges the sector to seek constant improvements beyond the 12 basic criteria so that every hotel, whether it's an individual business or part of a larger group, is always developing new ways to become more sustainable.

What next?

Start the process to become Hotel Sustainability Basics verified!

SGS is WTTC’s partner verifier who will take you through the validation process to ensure your business meets the criteria to receive the Hotel Sustainability Basics Verification stamp.

YOU'LL BE IN GOOD COMPANY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQs

1. Why have 12 criteria been selected?

The 12 criteria have been selected following an intense process of industry review and based on their significance as actions which represent a base level of sustainability activity that all hotels should be undertaking. They represent both back of house and guest facing activities, both of which are critical to making real sustainability progress, and include both environmental and social aspects. During the review process it became clear that reducing the number of criteria would compromise the robustness of the initiative, by eliminating some key and fundamental actions, but a phased approach has been suggested to allow time for the full set to be implemented. Furthermore, any more would dilute the focus and overwhelm those trying to put them into practice. 

2. Why are some mandatory from the outset?

It is recognised that the 12 criteria although basic in nature, will still take time and effort to implement particularly in hotels which are starting out on their sustainability journey. For this reason, 8 of the criteria should be in place within the first year of implementation, and the remaining 4 by year three. There is flexibility in terms of which criteria hotels may choose to prioritise for year 1.