Certification Partners

Our sustainable tourism partners

We are the only travel company to have partnered with all of the world’s leading sustainable tourism certification programmes to ensure our holidays and hotels are independently audited or validated as making genuine, and measurable, efforts to minimise their impact on the environment and maximise their contribution to destination communities.

This means you know whatever holiday you chose and can rest assured it has been rigorously, and independently, challenged on its environmental and fair employment claims.  Below are some of our key certification partners...

Earth Check

The Earth Check Program is the largest environmental management system used by the travel and tourism industry for the benchmarking and certification of their operational practices.  For over a decade, EarthCheck has been collecting data relating to the operational performance of more than 1300 travel and tourism organisations in more than 70 countries.

The Earth Check Program is an independent third party verification program that participating tourism organisations are required to comply with to meet the criteria within the Earth Check Company Standard through an external audit. EarthCheck clients benchmark the efficiency of their operations against internationally compliant standards of Best Practice.

The Certification process varies depending on the size and social and environmental impact of the organisation. Find out more at earthcheck.org

Green Globe

The Green Globe program traces its roots back to the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, where 182 heads of state from around the world endorsed the Agenda 21 principles of sustainable development.  Since its inception, the Green Globe brand has represented the best in environmental responsibility.

The Green Globe Certification Standard is based on internationally accepted criteria developed during the 15 years of the Green Globe program. Green Globe Certification is active in harmonizing with other established sustainability certification programs around the world. The process of harmonization contributes to maintaining core criteria and at the same time address regional issues through the adoption of locally developed standards.

Green Globe Certification provides certification for the sustainable operations and management of travel and tourism companies and their related supplier businesses. Green Globe Certification also maintains a global network of independent auditors who provide third party inspection and validation. Find out more at greenglobe.com

Green Hospitality Programme

The Green Hospitality Programme is an Irish developed environmental certification standard for the hospitality sector in Ireland.  The Green Hospitality Awards are recognised both nationally and internationally as standards that allow members achieve good environmental performance and allow visitors to choose "Greener" hospitality businesses knowing that defined criteria are being implemented and monitored.

GHA members aim to reduce carbon emissions by reducing energy consumption, preserve scarce water resources and minimise waste production. GHA members protect and promote local biodiversity, buy locally where possible and encourage visitors to use local "green" businesses and services.Find out more at ghaaward.ie

Green Key Eco-Rating Programme

The Green Key Eco-Rating Program is a graduated rating system designed to recognize hotels, motels and resorts that are committed to improving their environmental and fiscal performance.

Based on the results of a comprehensive environmental self-assessment, hoteliers are awarded a Green Key rating.  The program assesses the main operational areas of a property and sustainable practices.

Upon completion of the program and being awarded a Green Key Rating, an on-site inspection may be conducted to independently validate the property rating. Green Key is the only program of its kind to conduct on-site inspection and validation of ratings in Canada and the United States. Find out more at greenkeyglobal.com

Green Tourism Business Scheme

The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) is the national sustainable tourism certification scheme for the UK.  It is the only certification scheme validated by Visit Britain, through the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT).

Businesses opting to join GTBS are assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more. Those businesses that meet the required standard, receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award based on their level of achievement.

The current network of members is comprised of a wide range of business types, including accommodation providers, visitor attractions, corporate offices and others. Find out more at green-business.co.uk

Travelife

The Travelife Sustainability System is an ABTA owned scheme which recognises the environmental and social improvements made by hotels and other types of accommodation.

Travelife is a practical toolto monitor and manage social and environmental impacts. It also offers an opportunity to promote these achievements through its awards scheme. Travelife is supported by some of the largest tour operators in the world as well as smaller independents.

Travelife is the international certification scheme of choice for the travel industry, and is based on European and international standards. Find out more at its4travel.com

The EU Eco Label

The European Ecolabel is a voluntary scheme, established in 1992 to encourage businesses to be kinder to the environment. Today the EU Ecolabel covers a wide range of products, services and tourist accommodation.

The environmental criteria behind it are demanding and only the very best products, which are kindest to the environment, are entitled to carry the EU Ecolabel. The criteria are agreed at European level, following wide consultation with experts, and the label itself is only awarded after verification that the product meets these high environmental and performance standards.

The EU Ecolabel is part of a broader action plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industrial Policy adopted by the European Commission. Find out more at European Commission Environment

The Green Key

The Green Key is a non-governmental, non-commercial, independent programme recognized and supported by WTO en UNEP. The Green Key was created to raise the awareness of owners and managers of tourism and leisure establishments on the necessity and possibilities of running a responsible business.

The Green Key is an ecolabel criteria programme awarded to tourism and leisure establishments using international baseline criteria. Getting awarded with The Green Key means that an establishment has fulfilled a list of requirements. These requirements are contained in mandatory and guideline criteria and the eco-label is awarded following a self-certification process. Find out more at The Green Key

The Green Leaf Certification Programme

The Audubon Greenleaf™ Eco-Rating Program was launched in Canada over a decade ago and was one of the first eco-rating programs in the world for the lodging industry. Stakeholders from industry, government, and the environmental community helped to identify “best practices” across the core areas of the program.

The Audubon Green Leaf™ Eco-Rating Program for Hotels is unique in that it is international in scope, uses a standardized checklist for self-certifying environmental performance and requires a site visit by a trained individual to validate eco-rated practices. Find out more at Green Leaf

The Malta Eco Certification Programme

The Malta Eco-Certification Programme was established by the Malta Tourism Authority in 2002 and the criteria were last updated in 2008.

The Malta Eco Certification Scheme is a 3rd party certification programme. Properties that participate in Malta Eco Certification have been independently audited and certified by a auditor in the region.

Malta Eco certification is participating in a programme to accredit national certification schemes for sustainable tourism and raise their profile amongst businesses and consumers. The Tourism Sustainability Council acknowledges the Malta Eco certification as one of the most successful national environmental schemes in Europe.  Find out more at Malta Eco Certification

The Nordic Eco Label Certification Programme

The Nordic Ecolabel is the official Ecolabel of the Nordic countries and was established in 1989 by the Nordic Council of Ministers with the purpose of providing an environmental labelling scheme that would contribute to a sustainable consumption.

It is a voluntary, positive Ecolabelling of products and services. The Nordic Ecolabel was also initiated as a practical tool for consumers to help them actively choose environmentally-sound products. It is an ISO 14024 type 1 Ecolabelling system and properties achieving certification are third-party audited. Find out more at Nordic Eco Label