WTTC and Biosphere Work Together To Standardize Hotel Sustainability Worldwide

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 5:55 PM ET, Thu January 18, 2024

Two major powerhouses are joining forces to promote sustainability criteria in the hotel industry.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the non-profit Biosphere Foundation, have just finalized a partnership focused on helping hotels to function more sustainably.

Together, the two entities will work to foster a more sustainable hotel industry and establish fundamental steps for global sustainability practices. 

“In the current landscape of globalization and information saturation, where sustainability holds paramount importance, the proliferation of new standards and eco-labels poses a significant challenge for the sector,” WTTC said in a press release. “Identifying clear and consistent sustainability criteria has become increasingly difficult.” 

As partners of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), both organizations will work toward standardized sustainability concepts in order to catalyze adoption by hotels globally.

 "Hotel Basics is a crucial and inclusive industry initiative, ensuring hotels continue to adapt and evolve to meet the needs of both travelers and the planet,” Julia Simpson, WTTC president & CEO, said in a statement. “The collaboration between Biosphere and WTTC is a fundamental step towards international standardization in sustainability, creating a clear and homogeneous pathway for the industry." 

The newly signed agreement between WTTC and Biosphere is meant to lay the groundwork for a network of “international criteria homogenization” for the hotel industry.
 
Ultimately, the goal is also to facilitate the industry's transition from basic criteria to more advanced global standards, which would align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 goals missed by the United Nations. 

“Sustainability must be viable, understandable and achievable,” Dr. Tomás de Azcárate Bang, president of the Responsible Tourism Institute, said, in a statement."This requires consensus and harmonization of concepts, steps, and measures, which this agreement seeks to accomplish.”  

"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."

The newly announced collaboration will also 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. 

News of the new partnership focused on sustainability within the hotel industry comes on the heels of recently released research indicating that hospitality industry leaders have identified multiple challenges or obstacles to implementing ESG measures.

The Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) research conducted by King’s Business School in partnership with the Energy & Environment Alliance (EEA) revealed that industry leaders have multiple concerns about implementation of ESG measures, as well as regional differences in priorities.