TUI announced this Monday restrictive measures for suppliers in areas such as the south of Gran Canaria. These are sustainability certifications and that includes the quality of the most qualified workforce, that is, workers must be adapted to higher standards of knowledge in managing the diversity of the destination. TUI Group demands that hoteliers unify because "we know that there are certifications of varying quality in the tourism sector." From now on "we only accept sustainability certifications that are recognized by the independent GSTC and meet their strict standards."
GSTC standards are based on detailed criteria. Hotels that want to obtain certification are audited by independent and specialized companies, for example, Travelife. So even if hotel guests are not aware of all the certification schemes, they can rest assured: TUI will only include hotels in its portfolio as sustainability certified if they meet GSTC standards.
The certifications will "clearly signal hotels that demonstrate good social and environmental practices, but in most cases these hotels offer a plus in terms of quality for guests." This ranges from better trained employees or more emphasis on locally sourced food, to the avoidance of harmful contaminants in cleaning agents, or respect for local biodiversity," indicates TUI in an instruction to the sector launched this end of February 2023.
"Certification is not a control that seeks a perfect condition. Rather, we understand the process as an offer to hotels to focus more on sustainability and show them concrete steps to achieve it. Clearly, there is a minimum standard to achieve, but equally important is the commitment to continuous improvement. 100% of the hotels from which TUI purchases services must have their sustainability certifications by 2030.
