Are you a Tourism Business that is looking to become more sustainable by improving your environmental, economic and social operation? And you want a credible and recognizable way to promote your efforts to consumers?

Contact us to receive an information pack on how to join the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS).

GTBS has proven its use, time and again as a powerful tool for businesses, delivering demonstrable environmental benefits, operating efficiencies and cost savings; as well as by providing consumers with a clear and credible signpost to sustainable tourism products and services.

The Scheme's flexibility reinforces our policy of inclusion and allows participation from a wide range of tourism businesses. Allied to quality assurance we can promote both quality and the environment, two themes at the heart of sustainable tourism.

GTBS is a proven tool, which:

 Reduces  your environmental impact
 Identifies cost savings through efficiencies
 Improves your public image
 Offers a credible sustainable choice for consumers
 Clearly links Quality with the Environment

Benefits of joining GTBS
Who can join GTBS?
Quality requirements
Why is certification important?
Fees
Joining GTBS
Join Us England
Join Us London
Join Us Scotland

Benefits of joining GTBS

GTBS offers independent certification for your business and much more. The benefits include:

• Comprehensive criteria that provide a framework to help your business work towards sustainability
• An on-site grading carried out by trained environmental professionals with considerable experience in tourism
• A report with tailored advice and recommendations based on the grading visits
• Opportunities for marketing your services as green
• A plaque, certificate and digital logo
• Access to comprehensive technical resources, including website and regular newsletters
• Access to discounts and special offers
• An entry on the GTBS website

Who can join GTBS?

The scheme is aimed at all types of tourism businesses:

• Accommodation Providers - including serviced accommodation ( Hotel, B&B’s, Guest Houses, etc.), self catering, hostels, and holiday parks
• Visitor Attractions
• Activity providers - including boat and cycle hire operators
• Food and Retail - including cafés, restaurants and shops
• Others -  Corporate offices, tourist information centres, conference and event venues

If you are an interested business, but are unsure whether you can join the scheme just contact us

Quality requirements

A prerequisite for businesses joining the scheme is a commitment to quality. For Tourism Accommodation this means a quality grading assessment to the National Quality Assurance Scheme (NQAS) standard as provided by one of the following organisations. Quality grading assessments by independent organisations or agencies not working with NQAS are not eligible.

• VisitScotland
• VisitBritain (operated by QiT)
• VisitWales
• The AA

For other businesses the GTBS expects that there is a commitment to quality, which may be evidenced through a policy, procedures or certification to a quality management system.

Why is certification important?
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of sustainability related issues. In particular, demand has grown for simple labels that allow consumers to make purchasing decisions based on environmental and ethical grounds. 

The key distinction between an environmentally sound business with certification and one without is credibility.  Certification provides the evidence that the business has been assessed against a credible standard by an independent organisation.  So in essence GTBS provides the means by which customers can make discerning choices about the companies they use when making leisure or business travel choices.

Fees
GTBS is run by Green Business UK Ltd, a not for profit company. We endeavour to keep our costs as low as possible for members and any profits are invested back in the company. There is a one-off joining fee and an annual fee, which is based on the size of your business. Once we receive your application we will invoice you for your joining fee and first year's annual fee, as appropriate.

You can down load the appropriate fee scale for you on the appropriate Join Us documents page ( see below) or contact us and we can send you one.

Joining GTBS
Although you can apply to the GTBS at any time, it may be worthwhile for you to have a chance to go through the criteria first. You can get an overview on the Criteria pages or you can request an information pack from us, which will include the full criteria.

You will find the appropriate application form, FAQ’s and Fee Scale for your region on the following pages.