The Tourism Sustainability Council

Learn More About the Tourism Sustainability Council

The Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC):

The Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC), a group developing universal criteria for sustainable tourism. The GSTC Partnership teaches hotels and tour operators how to implement the criteria as well as qualify organizations as sustainable travel companies.

The Tourism Sustainability Council believe that Consumers deserve a cohesive certification process to help determine which travel suppliers adhere to true sustainable practices. Customers can be confident that if they find a hotel or destination on our green pages, we believe that company is legitimately working towards long-term sustainability.

The Tourism Sustainability Council are an effort to come to a common understanding of sustainable tourism, and will be the minimum that any tourism business should aspire to reach. They are organized around four main themes: effective sustainability planning; maximizing social and economic benefits for the local community; enhancing cultural heritage; and reducing negative impacts to the environment. Although the criteria are initially intended for use by the accommodation and tour operation sectors, they have applicability to the entire tourism industry.

The picture seen above is the Palomar Hotel in Washington DC; a Kimpton TSC designated hotel.

Green Hotel Certifications:

• Types of Green Certifications & Categories

• Green Globe Certification Program

• The LEED Program

• The Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program

• Florida Green Lodging Program

• Green Key Eco-Rating Program

• The Green Tourism Business Scheme

• Energy Star Program

Related Information:

• Preferred hotel brands & Their Green initiatives

• Search for environmentally-friendly hotels by region

• Hotel services

• Customer Care - Hotels

Types & Styles of hotels to choose from:

• Budget inns, hotels & motels

• Corporate / business hotels

• Chain / brand hotels

• Small / boutique hotels

• Design hotels

• Condo hotels (residences) & all suite hotels

• Vacation rentals & condominiums

• Luxury hotels & ultra-luxury hotels

• Traditional / historical hotels

• Contemporary hotels & Asia Contemporary Hotels

• Resorts

Specialty Hotels:

• Tented camp resorts

• Heritage Hotels

• Adults-only hotels & resorts

• Adult-oriented hotels & resorts

• Couples-only hotels & resorts

• Clothing-optional resorts

• Casino hotels & resorts

• All-inclusive hotels & resorts

• Spa hotels & resorts

• Vacation villas