Hostelworld and GSTC Unveil Pioneering Sustainability Framework for Hostels

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Hostelworld, the digital booking platform specializing in hostel accommodations, has launched an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing and promoting sustainability within the travel sector. This initiative, born from a partnership with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), unveils the innovative ‘Staircase to Sustainability’ framework. This initiative stands as a pioneering approach to creating a standardized system for measuring sustainability efforts, specifically designed to cater to the distinct needs and opportunities of the hostel industry.

Structured around the GSTC Criteria, the framework is organized into four main components:

1. Sustainability Management: This foundational component provides the necessary tools and strategies for hostels to efficiently manage and document their sustainability achievements, ensuring smooth operation and goal attainment.
2. Cultural Impact: Emphasizing the importance of cultural preservation and understanding, this aspect focuses on safeguarding the cultural integrity of the local area while fostering meaningful exchanges between hosts and guests.
3. Socio-Economic Contributions: Centered on the human element of hosteling, this section outlines the best practices for supporting individuals directly involved with or affected by hostel operations, including staff, guests, and the local community.
4. Environmental Conservation: Addressing the urgent need to mitigate environmental damage, this pillar guides hostels on implementing effective measures for pollution control, waste management, and the conservation of natural habitats.

Hostels inherently offer a more eco-friendly lodging option, thanks to their communal living arrangements that lower resource consumption and waste production. Additionally, hostels are instrumental in enriching local communities by promoting genuine local experiences, supporting local artisans, sourcing from local businesses, and organizing volunteer activities that contribute to local development.

Recent studies by Bureau Veritas and Hostelworld underscore the significant environmental benefits of choosing hostels over traditional hotels, with findings indicating that hostels produce 82% less carbon emissions. Moreover, a survey conducted by Hostelworld among its partners revealed a high level of engagement in sustainability efforts among hostels, though challenges remain in effectively communicating these practices and their impacts.

The ‘Staircase to Sustainability’ framework not only seeks to bridge the communication gap for hostels in showcasing their sustainability endeavors but also offers a structured approach for recognizing and certifying their efforts in social, cultural, and environmental sustainability. By participating in this framework, hostels can undergo third-party audits (starting from the second level of the framework), which underscores the rigorous standards set for inclusion. Additionally, this framework serves as a valuable resource for eco-conscious travelers, simplifying the process of identifying and choosing sustainable accommodations through Hostelworld’s sustainability badge system and search filters.

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