Benefits of Our Certificate

There are plenty of tourism certificates in the world, each of them certifying tourism establishments in a different manner and on the basis of different criteria. On this page, you will discover what makes Green Key one of the leading certificates in tourism.  

A High-Quality Certificate with Rigorous Standards

Just like in your establishment, quality comes first in the Green Key programme. In certifying, quality is defined by the transparency of the programme, regular on-site audits conducted by well-trained Green Key auditors, and third-party verification. Green Key fulfils all these requirements. Both the Green Key criteria and the certification process are available on our website, meaning that everyone can understand how and why an establishment has been certified. The criteria of the Green Key programme are internationally recognised.

Non-Profit Driven

Green Key is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education which is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation. As the programme is not-for-profit, the participation costs are comparably low. 

Dialogue-Based Programme with 20 Years of Experience

Going green and implementing sustainability from the bottom to the top of your establishment is not an easy task. Green Key acknowledges that no establishment is like another and that different businesses face different struggles when it comes to sustainability. Therefore, our programme offers support all the way through, from the application process to the final certification. Developed in 1994, Green Key already has over 30 years of experience in the field of tourism ecolabelling, with an extensive knowledge base that is shared with applicants and certified establishments.

An International Certificate with National Support

Green Key has 5000+ certified establishments in 60+ countries, which makes it one of the most geographically widespread tourism certificates in the world. In more than 40 countries, national Green Key operators are responsible for the management of the programme, which means that you receive support in your own language. Most importantly, our national operators understand the national context and can give you advice with due consideration for national legislation, customs, and practices. Find your national operator here.

Multi-Stakeholder Programme

Green Key was founded by the tourism and hospitality industry but is now managed by a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). This means that we understand the situation at the certified establishments but that the programme maintains its independence from the tourism and hospitality industry. The International Steering Committee, which is the political body behind the programme, is composed of the founders of the programme, representing the tourism and hospitality industry, and representatives from the Foundation for Environmental Education. In most countries, Green Key national juries which consist of representatives from different ministries, NGOs, and the tourism and hospitality sector make the decision on the certificate. In this way, it is ensured that the programme is not driven by one single entity but involves multiple stakeholders. 

Internationally Recognised by High-Profile Entities

Our programme has been recognised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and UN Environment (UNEP), and the Green Key criteria are internationally recognised. In addition, Green Key is working in close cooperation with the University of Surrey from the United Kingdom to receive scientific-based support. 

Promoting Your Success Story

At Green Key, we really appreciate your efforts to become greener and more sustainable, and we are proud of each tourism establishment that becomes certified. Therefore, we are happy to promote your establishment by publishing best practice stories on our social media, website, and newsletter. You are also welcome to participate in the Green Key Best Practice Competition which gives you the chance to become our Sustainability Champion of the year! Moreover, Green Key cooperates with different Online Travel Agencies and all the Green Key-certified establishments contained in the database of Online Travel Agencies also benefit from this cooperation, and the Green Key certificate will automatically be added to the establishment's entry on the platform.