Sustainability certifications for accommodation: navigating ECGT compliance
There are a wide range of approaches to sustainability certifications: creating confusion for travellers, accommodation providers, and the wider industry as to what “good” looks like. At the same time, European regulation is reshaping minimum requirements that sustainability labels must meet in order to be displayed to consumers.
ECGT Compliance Deadline: 27 September 2026.
Our Certifications initiative provides a mechanism that supports certification schemes, accommodation providers, and booking platforms to prepare for incoming regulation and tighter requirements for making sustainability claims to the consumer. Namely, the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGT). This regulation strengthens consumer rights by banning misleading claims and ensuring clearer, more transparent product information.
A mechanism for transparency
We provide a clear process for certification schemes to declare their compliance with the ECGT, and offer industry-wide visibility into which schemes are compliant. Certifications compliant with the updated criteria are suitable to be displayed and distributed to consumers on industry platforms.
This transparency is beneficial for all stakeholders:
For partners and the wider industry: We provide clarity into which schemes are suitable to be displayed to European consumers by Travalyst partners and the wider industry.
For certification schemes: We support schemes navigating regulatory change by providing a guidance note and a standardised declaration form.
For accommodation providers: We offer clarity on which schemes declare compliance with governance and transparency requirements.
For travellers: We continue to enable better access to consistent, compliant, and clear sustainability information; enabling more informed decisions at the point of booking.
As new certification schemes self-declare their compliance, our list will be updated. For more information, see our FAQs.
EU regulatory landscape
The EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGT) establishes a mandatory minimum threshold for certification schemes in order for their corresponding sustainability label to be displayed to EU consumers. This comes into effect on 27 September 2026. The threshold focuses on transparency, governance, and independent verification – fundamentals for consumer trust – and we expect it to have a global impact.
To support the industry through this shift, our certifications initiative provides:
- A public, transparent list of certification schemes that declare compliance with the ECGT criteria, shared and continually updated on our website and soon on the Data Hub.
- An open, accessible reference point for the industry.
- Supportive guidance for schemes preparing for regulatory compliance.
By adopting the ECGT criteria in a global context, we are helping to scale a consistent, minimum threshold for certification schemes across regions and markets; reducing fragmentation and improving comparability.
Our Certifications initiative is open to schemes which are applicable to the accommodation sector, and relate to the room stay. Schemes wishing to follow compliance pathway 2 (non-public labels) must meet the requirements set out by the ECGT. Schemes following pathway 1 (public (EU) authority labels) are also welcome to participate.
For any questions relating to eligibility, please contact [email protected].
Our Data Hub will host the full list of certification schemes that declare compliance with the ECGT criteria, as well as the properties holding these certifications. By integrating certifications into the Data Hub, we are supporting system-level transparency and a consistent global threshold for sustainability information. – Kees Jan Boonen; Director of Public Affairs, Travalyst
Compliance criteria
Eligible certification schemes are invited to declare they meet the following criteria, which are mandated by the ECGT:
- The certification scheme is open under transparent, fair, and non-discriminatory terms to all accommodation providers willing and able to comply with the scheme’s requirements;
- The certification scheme’s requirements are developed by the scheme owner in consultation with relevant experts and stakeholders;
- The certification scheme sets out procedures for dealing with non-compliance with the scheme’s requirements and provides for the withdrawal or suspension of the use of the sustainability label by the accommodation provider in case of non-compliance with the scheme’s requirements; and
- The monitoring of the accommodation provider’s compliance with the scheme’s requirements is subject to an objective procedure and is carried out by a third party whose competence and independence from both the scheme owner and the accommodation provider are based on international, European Union or national standards and procedures.
We aim to support certification schemes in understanding and preparing for the ECGT by offering a clear overview document, a standardised declaration form, and an accessible guidance note developed by expert legal counsel. This helps schemes of all sizes navigate regulatory change. Vedder, our legal counsel, has developed the following guidance note to help the industry navigate compliance.
How to declare
Certification schemes can submit their self-assessment and declaration through this form:
Travalyst does not assess or review certification schemes. We provide the mechanism that enables schemes to declare compliance. Legal responsibility for compliance remains with certification schemes and the accommodation providers who use their labels.
For any questions or comments, please contact us at [email protected].
Resources
- Overview
- Declaration form (online)
- Declaration form (download)
- Guidance note
- Consultation process and stakeholder feedback
- Webinar recording
Contact
Please familiarise yourself with the information shared in the FAQs below. For general queries about the initiative, please contact our Certifications team at [email protected].
Grievance procedure
To share feedback or concerns specifically relating to the ECGT compliance of certification schemes appearing on our list, please refer to our Grievance policy and supporting process flow chart, before making a submission via this form.
FAQs
The sustainability certifications landscape is varied, with differing criteria and verification approaches, creating confusion for travellers and accommodation providers.
Travalyst provides:
- A public, transparent list of schemes that declare compliance with the ECGT criteria,
- An open, accessible reference point for the industry,
- A supportive pathway for schemes preparing for regulatory compliance.
This initiative is free and accessible to accommodation schemes of any size that meet the Directive’s definition.
The initiative is suitable for entities that fit the ECGT’s definition of a certification scheme (see FAQ ‘How does the ECGT define a certification scheme and corresponding sustainability label?’), and it is currently open to schemes in the accommodation sector only, which specifically relate to aspects of the room stay.
Travalyst reserves the right to review schemes for eligibility, and where applicable, to not include a scheme on the list that is deemed not to meet the eligibility criteria.
The Directive itself is sector-agnostic; Travalyst is applying it first to accommodation.
All schemes participating in the initiative will be required to re-declare compliance with the ECGT criteria on an annual basis to remain on the list.
Certification schemes on our list are required to immediately inform Travalyst of any breach, suspected breach, or other risk of non-compliance.
Initially, the list will be available on Travalyst.org. From Q4 2026, it will be hosted on Travalyst’s’ Data Hub. The list will function as a live repository by being:
- Continually updated as schemes submit successful declarations.
- Open-access for stakeholders and consumers.
Travalyst does not approve, endorse or verify the schemes on the list. Travalyst reviews the declaration forms submitted, but does not play the role of an assessor of compliance. Instead, Travalyst makes transparently available the information that schemes share on the declaration form.
Partners retain full discretion as to how they choose to display the data; Travalyst makes transparent information available to them for an informed selection.
Under the ECGT:
- Certification schemes are responsible for meeting the criteria for their corresponding sustainability labels to be displayed to European consumers.
- Accommodation providers (traders) are responsible for ensuring their sustainability claims are compliant with the corresponding requirements.
Travalyst:
- Provides digital infrastructure and transparency via the declaration mechanism,
- Does not verify regulatory compliance,
- Does not assume legal liability.
We are supporting schemes through:
- A guidance note developed with Vedder.
- A standardised declaration form for self-assessed compliance.
- A central repository for declarations.
- Continuing to monitor and iterate in line with the latest regulatory guidance.
- Convening the industry to identify sector-specific implementation challenges and solutions.
In its first iteration (2024), our Certifications initiative focused on reviewing accommodation sustainability certifications, standards, and schemes against a set of Travalyst-defined criteria designed to increase transparency globally.
Now, the second iteration builds on this foundation but shifts to full alignment with the legally mandated criteria of the ECGT. At Travalyst, we no longer assess schemes; instead, we publish a list of entities that self-declare compliance. This transition ensures that the initiative supports both regulatory alignment and system-level transparency for the entire industry.
In the second iteration onwards, Travalyst no longer “assesses’’ schemes; instead, it:
- Publishes a list of schemes that self-declare compliance,
- Hosts this (in time) on our open-access Data Hub,
- Enables partners to choose what schemes to display.
The change in approach between iterations followed extensive consultation with stakeholders from across the certifications and travel and tourism industry. A full copy of the consultation process and stakeholder feedback is available here.
To participate in the second iteration list of compliant schemes:
- All schemes, including those on Travalyst’s first iteration list, are required to self-assess and declare compliance with the ECGT-mandated criteria, by submitting the declaration form.
- Whilst the first iteration was open to various entities within the certifications landscape, the second iteration is open only to certification schemes in alignment with the ECGT.
The first iteration list of certifications has now been retired. Please contact [email protected] to request this archived list.
As of 31st March 2026, the logo has been retired to avoid confusion with sustainability labels under the ECGT.
The EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGT), set to enter into application in the European Union on 27 September 2026, mandates all sustainability labels displayed to European consumers to be based on certification schemes that meet criteria set by the Directive:
“(Recital 7) the displaying of sustainability labels which are not based on a certification scheme, or which have not been established by public authorities should be prohibited by including such practices in the list in Annex I to Directive 2005/29/EC.”
It is important to note that this Directive has already been adopted by the Commission, and leaves no room at EU level for the industry to suggest changes to the criteria. It strengthens consumer rights by banning misleading claims and ensuring clearer, more transparent product information.
The Directive references and distinguishes between:
- Trader (i.e. accommodation provider making the claim)
- Certification scheme (and corresponding sustainability label)
- Third-party auditor
The ECGT defines a certification scheme as:
“A third-party verification scheme that certifies a product, process or business against defined requirements, enabling a sustainability label.”
A certification label is defined as:
“A symbol or logo placed on a product, service or business to show that it has been independently verified as meeting specific standards set by a certification scheme.”
Alignment with the ECGT:
- Provides a mechanism for consumer-facing platforms to display sustainability labels.
- Establishes a mandatory minimum threshold for all certification schemes operating labels in the EU.
- Criteria focus on transparency, governance and independent verification — fundamentals for consumer trust.
- This enables access to clear, consistent and compliant sustainability information, aligned with Travalyst’s mission.
From September, compliance will be legally required for sustainability labels displayed to EU consumers. Early alignment gives the industry time to:
- Prepare,
- Identify challenges,
- Build shared understanding.
Travalyst is monitoring the regulatory landscape and will continue to iterate in line with the latest guidance expected to have a global impact.
No. The ECGT criteria do not assess the impact of sustainability practices.
Instead, the ECGT lays a minimum threshold for governance processes that a scheme must have to display a sustainability label to the consumer. This is the first and important step to increasing consumer trust in sustainability labels that Travalyst’s Certifications initiative is aligning with.
The Certifications initiative invites schemes to self-declare their compliance with the criteria set out by the ECGT. However, responsibility for compliance lies entirely with the scheme.
Travalyst recognises that a self-declaration model requires robust safeguards to prevent inaccurate or incomplete representations of compliance. Ensuring that industry stakeholders and travellers can rely on this information requires proactive steps to address any potential misalignments.
To protect the integrity and credibility of the list, Travalyst has introduced a grievance procedure (previously referred to as “Due diligence”) to enable members of the public to raise complaints and feedback about the ECGT compliance of schemes on the list.
Any member of the public may make a submission via a dedicated Google Form. Whilst the form and policy are publicly available, it is anticipated that complaints will come from individuals working within the travel and tourism or certifications landscape.
Travalyst will accept complaints from competitive entities, however these will be reviewed with scrutiny to ensure substantiation is sufficient.
Submissions made through the policy must include the following:
- Name of certification scheme on Travalyst’s list which the submission relates to.
- Criterion/a of the ECGT which the feedback/complaint relates to.
- A detailed explanation of feedback or concerns about the certification scheme in relation to the ECGT criterion/a selected, substantiated with clear evidence (such as web links, official documentation, or screenshots) that directly supports the claim.
Note: Travalyst reserves the right to review and query the substantiation of proof provided in any complaint. If the proof or details submitted are deemed insufficient, or outside of the scope of this policy, the complaint may be dismissed or deemed resolved at Travalyst’s sole discretion without further action. In such cases, the complainant will be informed.
- All submissions will be handled confidentially by the Travalyst team and our legal counsel, Vedder, and will be stored for Travalyst’s records.
- Submissions will remain anonymous to all external parties, including Travalyst coalition partners.
- Travalyst will only share anonymised information about the contents of the submission with the certification scheme in question, and other relevant stakeholders when appropriate, including with our coalition.
- Information relating to the submission will not be shared publicly.
To maintain the integrity and transparency of the Travalyst list while strictly respecting stakeholder confidentiality, Travalyst intends to publish high-level, anonymised findings and summary statistics regarding the complaints received and resolved under this policy on an annual basis.
The Data Hub will host two sets of Certifications information:
- The list of schemes who have submitted a self-assessed declaration confirming compliance with ECGT. This will continue to be available via travalyst.org.
- Certified properties data from compliant certification schemes (who have submitted the self-declaration).
No, contributing data on certified properties is not a requirement to participate in the initiative.
Travalyst encourages schemes that have signed the self-declaration to participate in this additional step, to help promote greater transparency for the industry on which properties are certified by schemes that have declared compliance with ECGT.
Travalyst is collating data on certified properties (i.e. supply data) and making it free and openly accessible for ingestion by industry stakeholders, including partners. We are working to make this information available via our Data Hub.
It is up to individual partners to ingest the certified properties data. Several Travalyst partners have indicated they will ingest this data once technically available. While Travalyst creates all the conditions to ingest this data, we cannot guarantee that all industry stakeholders and partners will display this data.
Partners determine their ingestion timeline given organisational considerations.
The certified properties data, when available, will be freely accessible and open access. The Data Hub is not being used by Travalyst to power any downstream scoring, benchmarking, or commercial functionality.
The Data Hub aims to create a single source of truth for sustainability data, covering key aspects of travel and tourism, to ultimately help people make more informed travel decisions.
Current use cases include:
- For platforms and other stakeholders to display certified properties to consumers.
- Providing visibility and transparency of this property data, ingested in the Data Hub, to all stakeholders.
Individuals and entities contributing data of any kind to the Data Hub will be continuously consulted on other use cases for this data. We welcome the opportunity to explore other ways in which available data might be used in future to further benefit transparency in the industry.