OUR SELECTION: BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY

Thousands of travel guides promise you green and “sustainable” travel offers, and most don’t provide any proof. From 27 September 2026, all sustainability claims to European customers will become illegal unless they are based upon independent (3rd party) and transparent certification. The Good Travel Guide takes another approach: we won’t claim sustainability but will do our best to feature a selection of offers that have positive local impact socially: for local communities, jobs, and empowerment, for example of women cooperatives; and have limited environmental impact.  

This Guide only promotes:

Destinations

From 27 September, we will only feature destinations that participate in a Good Travel Alliance program. A special category will be the winners of Good Travel Experience Award (issued by the Good Travel Alliance), after independent verification applying sustainability performance criteria. 

Green Destinations Foundation will no longer publish its certified and awarded destinations in the Good Travel Guide. Existing Green Destinations pages in this Guide will be taken offline on 27 September unless they join an Alliance program.

Experiences

Activities, tours and events will be featured only after independent verification and formal recognition as Good Travel Experiences: these are authentic ways to experience a destination with positive local impact, socially and environmentally, meeting local people rather than crowds of tourists.

Businesses

Only after independent verification with the Good Travel Seal, the only certification that is suitable for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and that presents a scorecard of its checked performance.

The businesses featured in the Good Travel Guide have demonstrated meaningful actions to increase their positive social impact and reduce their environmental footprint. This is possible thanks to the Good Travel Seal, which we have selected because GSTC certification standards are not suitable for micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

Recognition levels include:

Good Travel Seal Level 1

 Entry-level independent (3rd party) certification designed to be accessible for micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

Level 1 is based on the Good Travel Scan criteria and selected sustainability actions aligned with leading global standards (GSTC, TSCA), adapted to the business type.

Good Travel Seal Level 2

Independent (3rd party) certification, suitable for businesses seeking structured improvement.

Level 2 addresses two-thirds of the requirements of leading global standards (GSTC, TSCA), depending on the scope of the business.

Good Travel Seal Level 3

Comprehensive 3rd party certification covering all requirements of leading global standards.

This certification is only recommended to larger hotels, and equivalent to leading certifications such as Green Globe, Green Key and Travelife. 

Transparency in Recognitions

In an effort to combat greenwashing, the Good Travel Seal provides businesses with a Scorecard showcasing their achievements in 10 sustainability-related commitments. 

  • Food & Products: supporting sustainability by sourcing local, organic, and seasonal products, minimizing food waste, reducing packaging, and prioritizing ethical and sustainable suppliers.
  • Caring for People: ensuring the well-being of guests, employees, and local communities by promoting health and safety, providing fair working conditions, and supporting local initiatives and charities.
  • Good Employment: providing fair wages, training opportunities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and ensuring a healthy work-life balance. Fair treatment and empowering staff with skills.
  • Caring for Climate: reducing carbon emissions by implementing energy-efficient practices, using renewable energy, and encouraging low-impact activities and transportation options.
  • Reducing Waste: minimizing waste by reducing single-use plastics, recycling materials, composting organic waste, and encouraging guests to participate in waste reduction efforts.
  • Caring for Water: implementing water-saving measures such as low-flow faucets, recycling gray water, educating guests on water conservation, and minimizing water pollution.
  • Reducing Pollution: reducing emissions, managing chemicals responsibly, and minimizing noise, light, and air pollution.
  • Caring for Nature: protecting biodiversity, conserving ecosystems, and minimizing the environmental footprint through responsible land use and conservation efforts to safeguard natural habitats and species.
  • Caring for Culture: promoting and respecting local traditions, engaging with the local community, and supporting cultural heritage by preserving historic sites and fostering cultural exchange.
  • Management & Information: having a transparent sustainability management plan, regularly measuring progress, and communicating policies and achievements with employees, guests, and stakeholders.

These commitments are checked by an independent expert every 2 years.

The Good Travel Seal is a transparent certification recognised by Travalyst (Booking.com, Google Travel, Amadeus, and more).

Not sure where to go?

Explore the options for a responsible trip

GOOD TRAVEL BUSINESSES

Discover accommodations, restaurants, shops and activities that are committed to sustainability. Their efforts are summarised in a SCORECARD (click on the picture). For the Good Travel Seal, the higher the number of stars or the level (level 3 is the highest), the more aspects of sustainability are checked by an independent auditor.
Logo - Good Travel Seal

For more information on the Good Travel Seal

Visit the website for more details on how to assess, support, and certify the sustainability practices of tourism businesses.

www.greendestinations.org/for-businesses

Important Notice: Awards, seals, recognitions, and competition results presented on this website do not constitute certification unless explicitly stated as “GSTC-certified against Green Destinations Standard” following independent third-party conformity assessment.