Thursday, August 22, 2024 The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) proudly announces that Dream&Charme has achieved GSTC-Accredited Certification Body status. Dream&Charme, an internationally recognized certification body based in Milan, Italy, was established in 2006. The company is committed to upholding high standards in the hospitality industry, with a strong focus on sustainable practices and reliability across accommodations worldwide.
Accredited by ACCREDIA, Dream&Charme is authorized to certify hotels globally (excluding China) according to the GSTC Hotel Criteria, adhering to ISO/IEC 17065 and additional GSTC requirements. Gaining GSTC-Accredited status is a significant achievement for any Certification Body, indicating that they have been rigorously verified to conduct certifications for businesses, such as hotels or tour operators, with competence and impartiality. The process adheres to the strict guidelines outlined in the GSTC Accreditation Manual.
Key requirements include adherence to legislation, transparent and impartial certification procedures, the employment of competent personnel skilled in sustainable tourism assessments, and full compliance with the ISO/IEC 17065:2012 Conformity Assessment Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes, and Services. When a business is certified by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body and meets all the GSTC Criteria (or follows a GSTC-Recognized Standard), it earns the highest level of assurance and credibility. This accreditation ensures that the certification process is thorough, transparent, and conducted with impartiality, offering customers and buyers the confidence that the business has been evaluated through a meticulously verified procedure.
Moreover, businesses certified by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body are entitled to display a unique GSTC logo, which includes a traceable code. This emblem serves as a symbol of authenticity, enhancing consumer trust by signifying that the business is a genuine practitioner of sustainable tourism. The GSTC Accreditation thus aims to elevate the standards of sustainable tourism, rewarding businesses that truly commit to these practices and fostering greater consumer confidence and credibility in the industry.
“Accreditation deserves much more attention and appreciation from the hospitality and tourism industry,” says GSTC CEO Randy Durband . “Most eco/green/sustainable labels for tourism businesses operate without external review, meaning that their rigor and impartiality is unknown. The GSTC Accreditation Manual and process is the most credible, and perhaps only, external review of sustainability labels in the industry.
” Dream&Charme’s accreditation assessments were carried out by Accredia, the Italian National Accreditation Body, which has been providing GSTC Accreditation in Italy since October 2023. The GSTC is focused on strengthening its collaboration with national accreditation bodies within the European Union, aiming to align with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008. Accredia stands as the first national accreditation body in Italy authorized to perform GSTC Accreditation.
Accredia’s accreditation, in compliance with ISO/IEC 17065, is globally recognized by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), which includes 95 countries. This recognition ensures that Dream&Charme’s accreditation is held to the highest international standards, further enhancing its credibility and trustworthiness in the global marketplace. “Obtaining GSTC accreditation was an extremely important milestone for us because we have received numerous requests for GSTC Certifications, as we focus on the hospitality sector since 2006.
Dream&Charme is truly proud to be a model for other Certification Bodies. We are at the disposal of the accommodations that decide to take the path of sustainable development seriously and in accordance also with European directives,” says Giorgio Caire di Lauzet Dream&Charme Founder & CEO. The GSTC Accreditation Manual for the Certification of Hotels/Accommodations and Tour Operators outlines comprehensive technical requirements for certifying these entities.
Certification Bodies must adhere to ISO 17065 Conformity Assessment standards, which set forth the requirements for certifying products, processes, and services, along with GSTC-specific criteria. These requirements ensure impartial and competent certification procedures, mandate auditor experience and qualifications, uphold stringent certification decision-making processes, enforce rigorous surveillance of certified businesses, and promote the proper representation of their certification services. Hotels committed to sustainability and wishing to distinguish themselves with a credible certification should pursue certification as a sustainable hotel through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.
Tour operators that seek to validate their commitment to sustainability standards are also encouraged to obtain certification through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body. Destinations managed according to sustainability principles can likewise strive for certification by one of the GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies, further solidifying their reputation as sustainable travel destinations..
