INITIATIVE
Hotel Sustainability Basics
Hotel Sustainability Basics is a globally recognised and coordinated set of sustainability indicators that all hotels should implement as a minimum. Developed by the industry for the industry, they represent the 12 actions that are fundamental to hotel sustainability. WTTC is calling on hotel operators, owners, associations, and investors around the world to implement the criteria over the next three years.
Nayarit has joined forces with WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics Program, becoming the first Mexican tourist destination to extend the sustainability verification to its hotel tourism industry
Nayarit sets the target: Become Mexico’s most sustainable destination
Under Nayarit’s strategic action plan for 2026, the State aims to position itself as a growth destination for tourism. Take a look at this blog written by State of Nayarit Secretary of Tourism and President of ASETUR, Juan Enrique Suárez del Real Tostado, and learn more about the initiative.
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 Net Positive Hospitality or the GSTC’s standards).
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.
GET INVOLVED
The Process
Step 1
WTTC introduces Hotel Sustainability Basics: consisting of 12 criteria, grouped into three areas: Efficiency, Planet and People.
Step 2
Of the 12 criteria, hotels need to comply with 8 initially, while the others can be committed to and put in place within 3 years.
Step 3
The criteria can be implemented by any hotel worldwide. Those wishing for validation can go through an official verification process.
Meet the Basics
The criteria have been developed under the leadership of WTTC and through a working group of 11 hotel companies, with the support of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. They have been reviewed, debated and reworked following several rounds of industry consultation so that they truly represent the common denominator and most transversal sustainability actions across the industry.
The working group members include Accor, Barcelo Hotel Group, Huazhu Group Limited including their affiliate Deutsche Hospitality, Indian Hotels Company Limited, Jin Jiang Hotels, Louvre Hotels Group, Meli Hotels International, Minor International, NH Hotel Group, Radisson Hotel Group.
Efficiency
Robust approaches to measuring and reducing energy and water consumption, waste and carbon emissions.
- Measure & Reduce Energy Use
- Measure & Reduce Water Use
- Identify & Reduce Waste
- Measure & Reduce Carbon Emissions
Planet
Fundamental actions to protect the environment.
5. Linen reuse programme
6. Green cleaning products
7. Vegetarian options
8. No plastic straws or stirrers
9. No SUP water bottles
10. Bulk amenity dispensers
People
Fundamental actions toward a positive contribution to local communities and workforce.
11. Community Benefit
12. Reduce Inequalities
GET VERIFIED
Verification Partner
SGS is Nayarit and 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.
.webp?language=en)
Verification Timeline
Year 1
8 criteria
Year 2
9+ criteria
Year 3
12 criteria
Year 4
Advance on to greater sustainability
By officially supporting the initiative and getting involved, you are strengthening a global call for an inclusive, more sustainable development in the hospitality industry and commit to lead by example by ensuring that your hotel(s) are or will implement the criteria as a bare minimum.
Benefits of Becoming Verified
Customer Demands
The Basics enables hotels to demonstrate their sustainability credentials and meet the needs of a growing traveller segment seeking sustainable accommodation options.
Better Management
Comprehensive tracking and benchmarking of progress allow hotels to better understand their environmental, and social impacts while identifying opportunities for operational enhancements.
Brand Reputation and Positioning
Positive sustainability initiatives contribute to building B2B, B2C, and B2G trust and strengthening hotels' position as sustainability leaders.
Cost Savings
Embracing sustainable business practices, such as resource efficiency and smarter supply chain management can lead to cost savings.
Global Alignment
Aligned with several nationally and internationally recognised schemes, the initiative allows hotels flexibility to explore and adopt these schemes as part of their journeys to sustainability.
Get Ahead of Regulations
Having basic sustainability indicators allows hotels to take the first steps towards complying with evolving regulatory landscapes and mandatory reporting requirements.
Testimonials
The Hotel Sustainability Basics initiative is an important add-on to Azerbaijan’s overall sustainable tourism development strategy. We are committed to prioritize sustainability through the entire value chain and customer journey.
Florian Sengstschmid
CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board
Nayarit está comprometido con asegurar un desarrollo sostenible en material turística en todos los aspectos que lo involucran y adherir a esta iniciativa es un paso importante para fomentar esta conciencia en la cadena de valor en el destino.
Miguel Ángel Navarro Quintero
Gobernador del estado de Nayarit, Nayarit
The hospitality industry is a force for good and while many companies are taking great strides and leading the way, others are only now taking their first steps. By offering an understanding of the simplest steps hotels can take to become more sustainable, this initiative will help to raise the base level of sustainability across the entire hospitality industry.
Wolfgang M. Neumann
Chair, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
While Accor is actively working towards achieving carbon neutrality in line with its science-based targets, we welcome the Basics Initiative. We believe that this framework is a useful step towards ambitious sustainability goals and practices for the hospitality industry.
Sébastien Bazin
Chairman and CEO, Accor
Radisson Hotel Group has committed to Net Zero. We are setting Science-Based Targets and have an award-winning sustainability program focused on People, Planet, and Communities. With Basics, we have collectively defined the common starting point accessible to all hotels and the industry framework to grow sustainable travel.
Federico J González
CEO, Radisson
At HBX Group we believe we can transform travel into a force for good. We want to ensure that the tourism industry continues to thrive, while also ensuring a positive impact on society and the environment. That's why we believe joining this initiative is an important step in the journey towards responsible travel, both for HBX Group and our brands as well as the wider industry.
Nicolas Huss
CEO, HBX Group
You Will be in Good Company
Frequently Asked Questions
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.