TÜV Rheinland Partners with Accor and H World on GSTC Certification, Steering the Hospitality Industry Toward Sustainable Development

On August 25, TÜV Rheinland Greater China, the international independent third-party testing, inspection, and certification organization, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Accor Greater China to collaborate on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification program across Accor’s full portfolio of brands. This cooperation aims to accelerate Accor’s sustainability roadmap while setting a benchmark for the hotel industry’s sustainable transition.

At the event, TÜV Rheinland handed over GSTC hotel-standard certificates to eight hotels, including Sofitel Shanghai North Bund, Fairmont Xiamen, Chengdu Expo Waterfall Hotel - MGallery Collection, Novotel Lianyungang Haizhou, as well as four ibis hotels managed by H World Group, the exclusive master franchisee partner of ibis and ibis Styles in mainland China: ibis Shanghai Expo Dongming Road Metro Station, ibis Shanghai Lianyang, ibis Styles Shanghai Zhangjiang, ibis Chengdu South Railway Station Tongzilin Metro Station. Notably, ibis has become the first economy hotel brand in China to achieve GSTC certification, marking a significant milestone in advancing sustainability practices in the segment.

The signing ceremony and certification presentation were attended by Christophe Lauras, Chief Operating Officer of Accor Greater China, Grace Xiang, Senior Vice President of People, Culture & Sustainability of Accor Greater China, Deng Miao, Vice President of Operations of H World Group, Liu Xuhong, Director of Sustainable Operations of H World Group, Koko Tang, Board Member & Executive Committee of GSTC, Kai Hoehmann, Global Vice President of TÜV Rheinland Customized Services, and Vincent Chen, General Manager of Corporate Sustainability Services at TÜV Rheinland Greater China.

Sustainable Hotels: A Key Driver of Tourism Transformation

Sustainable hotels reflect a growing trend within the tourism sector toward environmentally responsible and socially inclusive operations. The concept emphasizes delivering high-quality guest experiences while minimizing environmental impact, promoting low-carbon operations, and supporting local communities and cultural heritage. With travelers increasingly seeking sustainable travel options and companies adopting responsible travel policies, sustainable-certified hotels are becoming an essential part of achieving global sustainability goals.

The certified hotels demonstrated excellence in sustainability through initiatives such as adopting renewable energy, implementing intelligent energy management, promoting circular resource use, reducing single-use plastics, conserving water, and enhancing waste management practices. In addition, they prioritized ethical sourcing and community engagement through sustainable food supply chains and fair labor policies. These efforts directly contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of each guest stay, aligning with Scope 3 emission reduction, while also creating long-term economic benefits for the hotels.

Joint Efforts Driving Industry-Wide Impact

“Sustainability is at the heart of Accor’s strategy, and we are committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, while ambitiously seeking third-party eco-certification for our entire network,” said Kent Zhu, CEO of Accor Greater China. “We are pleased to work with our valued partner, H World Group, to further these efforts, while our new partnership with TÜV Rheinland provides a significant boost - giving our hotels access to the highly reputable GSTC framework, known for its rigor, systematic approach and practicality. We look forward to providing greater support and confidence to our hotel owners, unlocking more trusted and verified eco-friendly stay experiences for travelers, and reinforcing our leadership in sustainable operations among the industry.”

Deng Miao said in the ceremony: “Sustainability is the key to high-quality growth in hospitality. H World embeds green principles in our corporate DNA. By sharing best practices with Accor, GSTC and TÜV Rheinland, we aim to foster a sector-wide consensus on green development and build a sustainable tourism ecosystem that powers industry transformation.”

Koko Tang emphasized: “As the global standard-setter and manager for sustainable tourism, GSTC seeks to encourage more hotels to pursue GSTC certification* - not only for large luxury hotels but also limited-service hotels. Regardless of size, hotels can adopt the GSTC Hotel Standard to guide their practices in terms of reducing environmental impacts, enhancing social responsibility, while delivering meaningful guest experiences. We are delighted to see TÜV Rheinland, Accor, and H World Group joining hands to set an industry example. The certifications are not only an acknowledgment of these hotels’ efforts, but also a clear signal: sustainability has become a core competitive advantage for the hospitality industry.”

Kai Hoehmann said: “As an accredited certification body of GSTC, TÜV Rheinland leverages decades of sustainability expertise to deliver trusted certification services that elevate green competitiveness and accelerate the industry’s shift toward environmental and social responsibility.”

With nearly 20 years of experience serving the global tourism sector, TÜV Rheinland provides comprehensive services spanning environmental management, quality assurance, and health compliance. The organization continues to support hotels, resorts, and travel operators worldwide in embedding sustainable practices, reinforcing its role as a trusted partner in driving the hospitality industry’s sustainable transformation.

*The term “GSTC Certification” is a shorthand for “Certified by a Certification Body that is GSTC-accredited.”