For on-site certification audits, Green Key uses third-party auditors that can work in one-person companies, small or large auditing companies. In all cases, auditors shall be independent of the Green Key Scheme Owner, the applicant or certified establishment, and any activities that could compromise their impartiality. Auditors shall conduct audits in accordance with the Green Key certification scheme requirements and the principles of ISO/IEC 17065 and shall not be involved in the certification review or decision for the establishments they audit.

All auditors wishing to become auditors for Green Key must have the following competences:

Personal behaviours and attributes

This includes being ethical, attentive, respectful, observant, perceptive, versatile, tenacious, decisive, self-reliant, able to act with fortitude, open to improvement, culturally sensitive, collaborative, capable of leadership, able to understand and comprehend operational processes, able to present and communicate well verbally, and able to ensure professional reporting in writing in the appropriate language.

Professional skills, knowledge and experience

This includes detailed knowledge of the Green Key criteria and explanatory notes, the Green Key auditing processes, and principles and practices; previous audit experience (physical or alternatively training audits); and it includes appropriate knowledge about relevant areas of sustainability, international/national/local legislation, and general knowledge about the hospitality and tourism industry relevant to the type, complexity and location of the establishments to be audited.

Auditors shall undergo a multi-stage selection process before being considered as auditors for Green Key. The selection process consists of the following steps:

1. Application

2. Online training

3. Interview

4. Auditor agreement

5. Onsite training

6. Auditor certificate

After auditors have been approved to conduct on-site certification audits for Green Key, the auditors must undergo steps to maintain the approval status (ongoing evaluation and training, evaluation for renewal after changes in Green Key criteria/processes and at least every three years).

The Certification Body has the overall responsibility in relation to approving third-party auditors used for Green Key audits. Green Key can gather and assess the initial information about candidate auditors as a service provider for candidate auditors. Please contact your relevant Green Key contact (Green Key National Operator or Green Key International) for more information.

Candidate auditors from larger auditing companies (national or international), that would like to present more than five auditors for Green Key, can also gather the initial information about the candidate auditors. The Certification Body can also be in charge of all steps in the auditor engagement process. The Certification Body is always in charge of the auditor agreement, organising on-site audit training, and issuing the auditor certificate, setting up the system for assigning audits, and for conducting the overall evaluation of auditors.

When an establishment applies for Green Key certification and an on-site certification audit is required, the Certification Body appoints an auditor from its pool of approved auditors. In making the appointment, the Certification Body shall ensure that the auditor is competent, impartial and able to carry out the audit effectively. The following aspects shall be considered:

Ensuring the auditor has the required competences

When assigning the auditor, the Certification Body must ensure that the auditor has the necessary competences to carry out the on-site certification audit. The following factors must be considered in the auditor assignment process: the category and relevant criteria of the applicant establishment; the size, complexity, and number/type of facilities of the applicant establishment; the location and surroundings of the applicant establishment; the type of operation, management structure and processes found in the applicant establishment; first-time applicant or re-applicant establishment; the outcome of any past audits; the connections of the applicant establishment with other stakeholders; the type and extent of potential risks at/near the applicant establishment; the type of auditing techniques and sampling needed; and the relevant language skills and/or cultural knowledge needed to complete the audit.

Ensuring the auditor’s impartiality

When assigning the auditor, the Certification Body must also ensure that the auditor does not have any impartiality risks when conducting the on-site certification audit to an applicant establishment. This means that the assigned auditor cannot have had any business interaction with the applicant establishment (employment, consultancy or similar impartiality risks) within the last two years before conducting the on-site certification audit.

Distance between auditor and establishment

When assigning the auditor, the Certification Body must also take the distance between the location of the auditor, and the location of the applicant establishment into consideration to reduce the environmental footprint and travel costs related when organising the on-site certification audit.

Cost of the auditor

When assigning the auditor, the Certification Body must as well consider the hourly cost of the auditor and choose the cheapest auditor. The total cost of the on-site certification audit will depend on the audit duration (fixed depending on the type of establishment and number of full-time staff).

Pooling of audits

When assigning the auditor, the Certification Body must also consider whether there is a possibility or need for pooling more on-site certification audits to more applicant establishments in the same area to save resources, reduce the environmental footprint and travel costs.

When the auditor is assigned by the Certification Body, the auditor will:

• Receive an information package with all relevant information for the auditor to prepare ahead of conducting the audit

• Contact the applicant establishment to determine the date and time for the on-site audit

• Follow Green Key’s standard agenda and procedure for carrying out the on-site certification audit

• Prepare the audit report following Green Key’s standard format

• Follow-up with the applicant establishment to ensure any rectification of the non-conformities