WTTC and Biosphere Join Forces to Promote Sustainability Criteria in Hotel Industry

Photo source: WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Biosphere recently joined forces to promote sustainability criteria in the hotel industry under the Hotel Sustainability Basics initiative.Biosphere is the international system worldwide for applying continuous improvement processes, connected in real time with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the WTTC, as globalization gains momentum, the promotion of sustainability is becoming increasingly necessary, especially in the travel and tourism sector. “Identifying clear and consistent sustainability criteria has become increasingly difficult,” the tourism body, which represents the Travel & Tourism private sector globally, said in an announcement.

With their connection, Biosphere and WTTC will aim to pave the way to a more sustainable future hotel industry, adopting more sustainable practices, benefiting over 2,500 hotels.

“The collaboration between Biosphere and WTTC is a fundamental step towards international standardisation in sustainability, creating a clear and homogeneous pathway for the industry,” WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson said.

CEO and President of WTTC Julia Simpson. Photo source: WTTC

Together, the two parties will aim to facilitate the industry’s transition from basic criteria to more advanced global standards, aligning with the 17 SDGs and 169 goals of the United Nations.

The main objectives of this connection are to make sustainability accessible and understandable through a single strategy with defined steps and procedures that provide a homogeneous and defined framework for all institutions involved in the tourism sector.

“This partnership signifies a milestone for the industry. By synching our approaches, we are paving the way for a rock-solid international playbook, inviting all players worldwide to align with sustainability models,” said Responsible Tourism Institute President Dr. Tomás de Azcárate Bang.

The collaboration between Biosphere and WTTC will result in the integration of the WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics verification and the Biosphere methodology, creating the most comprehensive international framework for the sector, with a unified vision connected to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Hotel Sustainability Basics initiative emerged as a result of a clear demand from a significant group of global hotel brands to develop fundamental sustainability criteria that all accommodation providers must meet as a minimum.

According to WTTC, hotels, guest houses and tourist residences will be able to adopt the 12 criteria of the initiative, focusing primarily on measuring and reducing energy and water consumption, protecting the environment and actions with a positive impact on the communities in which they are located.