The ‘GreenSign Catalog Standard’ has achieved ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status. GreenSign was developed by Suzann Heinemann in cooperation with the Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences as an integrated sustainability system across all value chains of the GreenLine Hotels.
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council is pleased to announce that the ‘GreenSign Catalog Standard’ has achieved ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status.
The GreenSign program was created for the hotel industry by InfraCert GmbH and is based in Berlin, Germany. With many hotels in 15 countries using this standard, GreenSign is also represented outside of Germany, mainly in Europe. Almost 100 criteria in the GreenSign catalog standard offer the opportunity to combine ecology, economy and social responsibility without sacrificing comfort for guests. The standard covers the areas of management and communication, the environment (energy, water, waste), purchasing, regionality and mobility, quality management and sustainable development, and social and economic responsibility. The criteria were developed on the basis of internationally recognized frameworks for sustainability such as ISO 14001 (EMAS/environmental management), ISO 26000 (corporate social responsibility (CSR)) and the GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels.
“The international recognition of our GreenSign hotel standard has been a big and important milestone for us. We are very proud and optimistically look towards the future. Many of our (potential) clients and partners have anticipated the GreenSign standards' GSTC recognition, amongst them a number of hotel chains that are relevant on the international market. We are now prepared and ready to make the next steps towards international expansion,” said Suzann Heinemann, GreenSign CEO.
“The marketplace wants clarity in the face of myriad programs for sustainable tourism, and by achieving GSTC Recognition of their standard, GreenSign retains their own identity while conforming to the universal principles embodied in the GSTC Criteria,” said Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.
Currently, 11 destination standards, 35 hotel standards, and 15 tour operator standards have achieved GSTC-Recognized status. The status offers the market proof that these standards adhere to international norms. GSTC Recognition does not ensure that a certification process is reliable, only that the set of standards used to certify are equivalent to the GSTC Criteria. GSTC-Recognized standard owners are encouraged to follow and complete the accreditation process, which assures that the certification process used to apply the standard meets international best practice, transparency, and rigor.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
