WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics Achieves Global Adoption

OVER 1,300 HOTELS ACROSS 30+ COUNTRIES ADOPTED WTTC’S HOTEL SUSTAINABILITY BASICS IN ITS FIRST YEAR. MAJOR BRANDS, INCLUDING BRITISH AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS, EMBRACED THE INITIATIVE, ANTICIPATING THOUSANDS MORE JOINING IN 2024. WTTC’S STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH SHA AND GSTC SETS A CLEAR PATHWAY TOWARDS ADVANCED HOTEL SUSTAINABILITY.

In a global push for sustainability, the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Hotel Sustainability Basics marked its first year with 1,300 hotels in 30+ countries achieving verification. Green Key and SGS oversee this independent program aimed at reducing carbon emissions, promoting nature, and ensuring local community benefits.

Destinations worldwide, including the Caribbean, Mauritius, and Colombia, endorsed the ‘Basics.’ Major hotel brands like Jin Jiang, Louvre Hotel Group, and Radisson Hotel Group, alongside renowned names like British Airways Holidays and Intrepid, embraced this initiative. The global commitment to sustainable travel and tourism is evident, with more hotels expected to join in 2024.

WTTC’s collaboration with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) solidifies a structured framework. This paves the way from ‘Basics’ towards advanced global standards for hotel sustainability, setting a clear direction for the industry.

WTTC President & CEO, Julia Simpson, stated that “Basics” supports hotels in cutting emissions, aiding local communities, and protecting nature. With increasing adoption, Simpson highlights the global initiative’s strength, anticipating thousands more properties embracing sustainability throughout 2024.

British Airways Holidays, supporting the initiative, sees collaboration as paramount. Their Sustainability Manager, Satu Rouhiainen, expressed delight in offering hotel partners an industry-recognized criteria for their sustainability journey. This not only tracks progress but also aids customers in choosing hotels committed to sustainability.

Committed to sustainable tourism, WTTC fosters collaborations and sets new standards. Global tourism body ensures a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future for the sector. Strengthening efforts, WTTC aims for a unified vision of sustainability in hospitality.