Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
Travel ArrangementsDistrict of Columbia, United States51-200 Employees
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council is a nonprofit organization that develops and manages global standards for sustainable tourism, known as the GSTC Standards or GSTC Criteria. These standards cover destinations, hotels, tour operators, MICE venues, and attractions, articulating minimum requirements intended to safeguard natural and cultural resources while enabling tourism to contribute to conservation and poverty alleviation. GSTC serves as the foundation for the accreditation of hotels, tour operators, and destinations through Certification Bodies, while it does not directly certify products or services. The organization is based in Washington, DC, operates as a USA-registered 501(c)3 nonprofit with a global membership, and recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Tokyu Hotels Group to advance sustainability initiatives.