Green Globe Certification is proud to announce its new International Standard for Sustainable Tourism V1.7. The new standard has taken over six months to complete and is a significant update to all previous versions with 100 new indicators across six newly developed criteria.

To launch the new standard Green Globe worked with industry partners including Movenpick Hotels and Resorts, Intercontinental Hotel Group - Green Engaged and Club Mediterranee, to understand key factors for enhanced sustainability performance. In addition, Green Globe`s worldwide network of independent auditors has contributed experience in the application and assessment of the standard`s criteria and indicators.

Green Globe Director of Communications, Mr. Bradley Cox said, “The Green Globe Standard is an industry accepted collection of compliance indicators applied to individual sustainability criteria which have been developed over the last twenty years.

“New additions to the standard include elements of ISO26000 providing guidance on social responsibility, as well as criteria and indicators relating to Green Meetings. This is helpful and a new challenge for our growing membership of congress centers looking to contribute to the sustainability of the MICE industry,” added Mr. Cox.

Overall the new International Standard for Sustainable Tourism V1.7 has simplified and clarified indicators aligning them with a variety of activities recognised by regional eco-labels. Greater detail and emphasis has been developed for indicators of Health&Safety, as well as Bribery and Corruption and Disaster Management&Emergency Response. Food&Beverage has been split into separate criteria. Also a new criterion for Local Livelihoods has been included.

Green Globe Certification is active in harmonising with other established sustainability programs around the world such as the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. The process of harmonisation contributes to maintaining core criteria and at the same time addresses regional issues through the adoption of locally developed standards.

International Standard for Sustainable Tourism V1.7 is a structured assessment of the sustainability performance of travel and tourism businesses and their supply chain partners. Businesses can monitor improvements and document achievements leading to certification of their enterprises` sustainable operation and management.