Green Globe Certification

1. Assess your eligibility and readiness: Determine whether your business type (hotel, resort, conference centre, tour operator, attraction, etc.) qualifies for Green Globe Certification. Review the publicly available Green Globe Standard (44 criteria, 400 indicators) to understand what will be required of your operation.

1. Join as a Green Globe Member: Submit a membership application via greenglobe.com. Membership provides access to the Green Globe Solutions (GGS) portal, accredited consultants and auditors, and the Green Globe Academy training resources.

1. Access the Green Globe Solutions portal: Log into GGS to receive your tailored set of applicable criteria and indicators based on your business type, geographic location, and local regulatory context. The portal guides you through the documentation and compliance process.

1. Conduct a gap analysis: Using GGS, assess your current sustainability performance against the applicable indicators across environmental management, social responsibility, cultural heritage, and supply chain practices. Identify areas requiring improvement before the audit.

1. Implement improvements and gather evidence: Address gaps identified in your assessment. Collect and upload supporting documentation — policies, records, measurements, and operational data — into the GGS portal for each applicable indicator.

1. Engage an accredited auditor: Select a Green Globe Accredited Auditor from the directory of approved third-party auditors. The auditor will review your documentation and conduct an on-site inspection to verify compliance with the standard.

1. Undergo the third-party audit: The auditor evaluates your submitted evidence and on-site operations against the applicable criteria and indicators. A minimum compliance threshold must be met across mandatory indicators to achieve certification.

1. Receive certification and maintain it annually: Upon successful audit, receive the Green Globe mark and listing in the online member registry. Plan for annual re-audit and ongoing documentation updates to maintain certification each year.

Green Globe Certification evaluates businesses against the Green Globe International Standard for Sustainable Tourism, which comprises 44 criteria supported by up to 400 compliance indicators. The specific indicators applied to any given business depend on its type (e.g., hotel, tour operator, conference centre, attraction), geographic location, and applicable local regulations. The standard is organized into four broad thematic areas.

Sustainable Management covers governance, sustainability planning, legal compliance, customer satisfaction, and communication of sustainability commitments. Businesses must demonstrate that sustainability is embedded in their management systems, with documented policies, measurable targets, and staff training programs.

Social and Economic criteria assess contributions to local communities, fair employment practices, support for local suppliers, and protection of vulnerable populations. This includes indicators related to child protection, equitable hiring, and community engagement.

Cultural Heritage criteria evaluate how the business respects, preserves, and promotes local cultural assets, traditions, and historical sites. Businesses are assessed on their efforts to prevent the commercialization or degradation of cultural heritage.

Environmental criteria form the largest section and cover energy consumption and efficiency, water use and conservation, waste management and reduction, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity protection, and responsible purchasing of products and services. Quantitative performance data — such as energy and water consumption per guest night — are typically required as evidence.

Auditors verify compliance through a combination of document review (uploaded to the Green Globe Solutions portal) and on-site inspection. A minimum compliance threshold must be achieved across mandatory indicators for certification to be awarded.

Green Globe is one of the longest-standing sustainability certification programs in the travel and tourism sector, with origins tracing back to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. With over 800 certified members across 80+ countries, it holds a strong position as a globally recognized eco-label for hospitality and tourism businesses. Its longevity and geographic breadth give it credibility that newer entrants to the market struggle to match, and it is particularly well-established in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe.

In terms of market positioning, Green Globe competes primarily with EarthCheck, Travelife, and Rainforest Alliance's sustainable tourism program. EarthCheck is often seen as the more data-intensive, science-based alternative favored by larger resort groups, while Travelife has strong traction in Europe, particularly among tour operators and accommodations seeking alignment with EU sustainability directives. Green Globe's strength lies in its broad applicability across business types and its relatively accessible entry point for mid-market operators. The program's alignment with UN Tourism (formerly UNWTO) lends it institutional credibility in international markets.

Demand for credible sustainability certification in hospitality is growing, driven by increasing pressure from corporate travel buyers, OTA platforms (such as Booking.com's sustainability badging), and the EU's Empowering Consumers Directive (EmpCo), which Green Globe explicitly references as reinforcing the value of independently verified certification. However, the market remains fragmented, with no single standard dominating globally. Green Globe's annual re-audit requirement and ISO-aligned audit process position it well for operators seeking rigorous, defensible credentials — though the associated costs and administrative burden can be a barrier for smaller independent properties.

Green Globe was conceived in the wake of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, where world leaders called on the travel and tourism industry — the world's largest — to take responsibility for its environmental impact. The program was formally established in 1994 by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) as a membership and benchmarking program. In its early years, Green Globe functioned primarily as a self-assessment and benchmarking tool rather than a rigorous third-party certification scheme.

A significant transformation occurred in the early 2000s when Green Globe shifted to a fully independent, third-party audited certification model, aligning its processes with ISO 17011 and ISO 19011 standards to enhance credibility and rigor. The program was restructured under Green Certification Inc. (doing business as Green Globe Certification), headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Over the following decades, Green Globe expanded its geographic reach to 80+ countries and broadened its scope beyond hotels to include conference centres, tour operators, attractions, and other tourism-adjacent businesses. The Green Globe Standard has been continuously updated — currently reviewed twice per year — to reflect evolving sustainability science, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. Today, with over 800 certified members and more than 30 years of operation, Green Globe is widely regarded as one of the most established sustainability certification programs in global tourism.