Wednesday, April 17, 2024
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) is delighted to confirm that the “Sustainable Operations Guidelines” of Six Senses have been granted GSTC-Recognized Standard status. This endorsement affirms that the guidelines align with the GSTC Industry Criteria.
The Sustainable Operations Guidelines by Six Senses are crafted to ensure uniform adherence to sustainability across all its properties. These guidelines emphasize economic, environmental, and social sustainability while maintaining a deep connection with local communities and natural environments.
Six Senses actively tracks the environmental impact of each location to support the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. The brand further enhances local communities economically and socially through ‘sustainability funds’ managed at each property. Six Senses is incorporated under IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle division.
The GSTC-Recognized status confirms that the standard has undergone thorough review by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Assurance Panel and meets the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism, which include Sustainable Management, Socioeconomic, Cultural, and Environmental impacts.
GSTC Recognition of Standards is distinct from certification, which involves a third-party evaluation against a standard, and accreditation, which validates that a certification body operates competently and impartially according to international standards. This is the highest level of endorsement provided.
The scope of this standard is global and specifically pertains to hotels. The recognition remains valid until there are changes to either the standard itself or the GSTC Industry Criteria. A deadline is set for Six Senses to seek Accreditation by 31 December 2024.
Neil Jacobs, CEO of Six Senses, said: “Sustainability drives every decision we make at Six Senses. Quite simply, it’s non-negotiable. Sustainability has been ingrained in our DNA from day one in 1995, long before it became a focus for others in the luxury hospitality space. We lead by example through who we are, what we do, and the experiences we deliver to our guests. You could say Six Senses was a pioneer in that sense.”
Jeff Smith, Vice President of Sustainability, added: “Sustainability is at the heart of all that we do, and it’s important to clearly define exactly what we aim to achieve. Over the past three years, my team, with great support from our operational departments, has been upgrading our policy framework, Six Senses Sustainable Operations Guidelines. The previous version has been in place since 2014, and with these extensive revisions, we have taken the additional step of requesting a review from GSTC. The feedback we received was valuable, and we are thrilled to have achieved GSTC recognition status for our guidelines.”
“Six Senses adoption of the GSTC Criteria’s Four Pillars signifies their commitment to a thorough sustainability strategy, not only addressing environmental factors but also including the impact on communities, a range of social and cultural issues, and the development of effective management to ensure continual progress,” says Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.
Currently, 73 standards hold the GSTC-Recognized status. This status verifies that these standards conform to international benchmarks. Although GSTC Recognition does not validate the certification process itself, it confirms that the standards used for certification align with the GSTC Criteria. Standard owners with GSTC Recognition are advised to engage in the accreditation process to ensure their certification practices are globally recognized for their transparency and rigor.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
