Accreditation schemes for tour operators and accommodations
As a tour operator or accommodation, if you've worked hard to make sure you meet best practice in the tourism industry, it's nice to be rewarded. Accreditation also tells your travellers you have a seal of approval from a recognised organisation. There are many different accreditation schemes and awards depending on what you do and where you do it.
The following accreditation schemes are widespread in particular regions so we would expect potential responsibletravel.com members to be accredited by them. In addition to joining a scheme, all responsibletravel.com members need to supply a ‘making a difference section’ explaining how the holiday or accommodation is run in a way that minimises the negative impacts and increases the positive ones on the local community and the environment.
Green Globe
The Green Globe Company Standard is designed for organisations within the travel and tourism industry and sets out the criteria to attain Certification. It provides an environmental management framework for organisations to achieve sustainability. The Green Globe Benchmarking (Bronze) and Certification (Silver) process focuses on making operational improvements. Participants are connected with a highly respected international organisation committed to the environment.
To find out more, visit the Green Globe website
The Green Tourism Business Scheme
The GTBS is the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the UK. Businesses opting to join are assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more. Businesses that meet the required standard, receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award based on their level of achievement. The Green Tourism Business Scheme, has been running since 1997 and with over 1400 members across the whole of the UK, it is the largest and most established scheme of its type in the World. The current network of members is comprised of a wide range of business types, including accommodation providers, visitor attractions, corporate offices and others. For more information visit the GTBS website
EU Flower
The EU flower is an Eco – Label available to a range of products and Services. The scheme, which has been designed and is overseen by the European Commission, sets out specific ecological criteria that products must comply with to be certified as environmentally friendly. The awarding of the label is independently verified and endorsed by the European Commission. The EU Flower is a recognised environmental quality mark across the countries of the EU and in Norway and Liechtenstein. So far, several hundred products have received the EU Flower. Visit the EU Flower website
The Green Key
TheGreenKey is an international eco-label awarded to companies within tourism: hotels, youth hostels, conference- and holiday centres, campsites, holidayhouses, leisure facilities and restaurants. It originated for hotels in Denmark in 1994 and in 1998 France joined and started labelling camping sites. Today, criteria are available for hotels, camping sites, hostels, summer houses, restaurants, leisure facilities, and conference facilities. Not all criteria are available in all countries. It is an ongoing work to develop criteria for the international campaign. Read more information on the Green Key website
Ecotourism Australia (Australia) - www.ecotourism.org.au
Central America
Green Deal (Guatemala) - www.greendeal.org
Certification in Sustainable Tourism Program (Costa Rica) - www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr
UK
Green Tourism Business Scheme (Scotland, NW England) - www.green-business.co.uk
Soil association certification (Organic farms in the UK) - www.soilassociation.org/certification
Worldwide
Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification Standard (STEP) - www.sustainabletravelinternational.org
Green Globe - www.greenglobe.org
Europe
The Green Key (France, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, Lithuania) - www.green-key.org
EU Eco-label (EU countries) - www.eco-label.com
Swan Ecolabel (Nordic countries) - www.svanen.nu
ECEAT (Europe organic farms) www.eceat.org
Green Box (Ireland) www.greenbox.ie
Please see our Accommodation best practice guidelines for how you can ensure your accommodation is run in a way that minimises the negative impacts and increases the positive ones on the local community and the environment.
To look at;
http://www.legambienteturismo.it/eng/ecoalberghi/index.html
http://www.visitsouthwest.co.uk/feelgood/
The following accreditation schemes are widespread in particular regions so we would expect potential responsibletravel.com members to be accredited by them. In addition to joining a scheme, all responsibletravel.com members need to supply a ‘making a difference section’ explaining how the holiday or accommodation is run in a way that minimises the negative impacts and increases the positive ones on the local community and the environment.
certification schemes
Green Globe The Green Globe Company Standard is designed for organisations within the travel and tourism industry and sets out the criteria to attain Certification. It provides an environmental management framework for organisations to achieve sustainability. The Green Globe Benchmarking (Bronze) and Certification (Silver) process focuses on making operational improvements. Participants are connected with a highly respected international organisation committed to the environment.
To find out more, visit the Green Globe website
The Green Tourism Business Scheme The GTBS is the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the UK. Businesses opting to join are assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more. Businesses that meet the required standard, receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award based on their level of achievement. The Green Tourism Business Scheme, has been running since 1997 and with over 1400 members across the whole of the UK, it is the largest and most established scheme of its type in the World. The current network of members is comprised of a wide range of business types, including accommodation providers, visitor attractions, corporate offices and others. For more information visit the GTBS website
EU Flower The EU flower is an Eco – Label available to a range of products and Services. The scheme, which has been designed and is overseen by the European Commission, sets out specific ecological criteria that products must comply with to be certified as environmentally friendly. The awarding of the label is independently verified and endorsed by the European Commission. The EU Flower is a recognised environmental quality mark across the countries of the EU and in Norway and Liechtenstein. So far, several hundred products have received the EU Flower. Visit the EU Flower website
The Green Key TheGreenKey is an international eco-label awarded to companies within tourism: hotels, youth hostels, conference- and holiday centres, campsites, holidayhouses, leisure facilities and restaurants. It originated for hotels in Denmark in 1994 and in 1998 France joined and started labelling camping sites. Today, criteria are available for hotels, camping sites, hostels, summer houses, restaurants, leisure facilities, and conference facilities. Not all criteria are available in all countries. It is an ongoing work to develop criteria for the international campaign. Read more information on the Green Key website
other schemes
Australia/Oceania Ecotourism Australia (Australia) - www.ecotourism.org.au
Central America
Green Deal (Guatemala) - www.greendeal.org
Certification in Sustainable Tourism Program (Costa Rica) - www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr
UK
Green Tourism Business Scheme (Scotland, NW England) - www.green-business.co.uk
Soil association certification (Organic farms in the UK) - www.soilassociation.org/certification
Worldwide
Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification Standard (STEP) - www.sustainabletravelinternational.org
Green Globe - www.greenglobe.org
Europe
The Green Key (France, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, Lithuania) - www.green-key.org
EU Eco-label (EU countries) - www.eco-label.com
Swan Ecolabel (Nordic countries) - www.svanen.nu
ECEAT (Europe organic farms) www.eceat.org
Green Box (Ireland) www.greenbox.ie
Please see our Accommodation best practice guidelines for how you can ensure your accommodation is run in a way that minimises the negative impacts and increases the positive ones on the local community and the environment.
To look at;
http://www.legambienteturismo.it/eng/ecoalberghi/index.html
http://www.visitsouthwest.co.uk/feelgood/