Rewarding hotels doing real sustainability work.

The Eco Stay Awards are backed by verified data, judged independently, and designed for visibility.

They celebrate genuine sustainability leadership across the hospitality industry with ready-made tools that turn achievements into stories that guests actually care about.

Recognition grounded in proof.

Most sustainability awards rely on claims and marketing.

The Eco Stay Awards do not.

Every entry starts with verified data (Bamboo Badge), is independently judged against transparent criteria, and ends with recognition hotels can actually use.

What makes us different…

Only Bamboo Badge recipients, verified by HLB International, are eligible, ensuring every contender starts from a fair, consistent baseline.
Hotels are assessed across four dimensions — Innovation, Implementation, Engagement & Best Practice, and Impact — not against each other.
Winners receive ready-made marketing tools — OTA copy, logos, in-room materials, and judges’ feedback — recognition that shows up where guests make decisions.
Boutique hotels and global brands compete on equal footing. Progress, not size, defines success.
Owners can pool and amplify wins across multiple hotels, creating a group-wide sustainability story backed by verified results.

The rewards of real impact…

Trophy & certificate.

Tangible proof of leadership to display on-property and in reports, and a visible reminder that sustainability delivers real results.

Guest-facing content pack.

Tailored content, including OTA copy, social posts, and in-room materials that make it easy to share your story with the people who care most.

Logo suite for websites & print.

A trusted mark that reinforces credibility where guests make decisions and bookings happen.

Judges’ comments.

Independent feedback that goes beyond a score, and insights you can share with owners, boards, and partners.

Benchmark insights.

A concise view of how your verified results compare across the industry, helping you target next steps and celebrate meaningful progress.

Portfolio amplification.

Recognition that scales. Celebrate multiple wins across your hotels and strengthen your brand’s collective sustainability story.

Find the right fit for your achievements.

We know each property excels in its own way. Some lead on energy or water; others champion local food, cultural heritage, or community empowerment.

The Awards reflect that diversity, with 30 categories judged independently against transparent criteria aligned with the GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels, ensuring recognition that is consistent, credible, and globally relevant.

Explore the four core categories and discover where your work fits best.

1. Climate and Tourism Leadership Recognises hotels that actively engage in climate action and sustainable tourism planning, demonstrating leadership in fostering resilience and sustainability within their communities. GSTC Criteria: A3, A10
2. Sustainability Compliance Excellence Recognises hotels with robust sustainability management systems and excellence in adhering to legal and regulatory requirements, emphasising the importance of both internal sustainability practices and external legal compliance. GSTC Criteria: A1, A2
3. Staff Sustainability Engagement Recognises hotels that actively involve their staff in the sustainability journey, providing regular training, and ensuring their understanding and commitment to sustainability practices. GSTC Criteria: A4
4. Guest-Driven Sustainability Celebrates hotels that effectively monitor and enhance customer satisfaction regarding sustainability, showing responsiveness to feedback and commitment to continuous improvement. GSTC Criteria: A5
5. Health and Wellness Integration Recognises hotels that integrate health and wellness into sustainability practices, promoting physical, mental, and environmental well-being. GSTC Criteria: A4
6. Sustainable Design and Operations Innovation Recognises hotels demonstrating exceptional innovation in sustainable design, construction, and operational practices, including responsible land use and the integration of cultural and environmental considerations. GSTC Criteria: A7, A8
7. Transparent Sustainability Communication Recognises hotels excelling in all facets of sustainability communication, ensuring transparency, accuracy, and educational value in their interactions with stakeholders, guests, and the community. GSTC Criteria: A3, A6, A9
8. Sustainable Event Planning Recognises hotels that excel in planning and executing sustainable events, including eco-friendly logistics and waste management. GSTC Criteria: A3, A4, A6, A10 (MICE)
9. Eco Champion Award Recognises the staff member at each hotel who excels in promoting sustainability, driving eco-friendly initiatives, and ensuring accurate and timely submission of all required data for the property's eligibility for the Eco Stay Awards. GSTC Criteria: A4, A6
1. Community Impact Leadership Recognises exemplary engagement with and impact on the local community, focusing on supporting community infrastructure and development without jeopardising essential local services. GSTC Criteria: B1, B8
2. Local Economic Empowerment Recognises efforts to bolster the local economy through employment, sourcing, and support for local entrepreneurs, emphasising economic empowerment. GSTC Criteria: B2, B3, B4
3. Inclusive Employment Practices Recognises ethical employment practices, including anti-exploitation efforts, non-discrimination, and promoting diversity, underlining a commitment to high ethical standards and fostering an inclusive workplace. GSTC Criteria: B5, B6
4. Exemplary Work Environment Celebrates hotels that ensure labour rights, provide safe working conditions, offer a living wage, and support employee development. GSTC Criteria: B7
5. Sustainable Livelihoods Advocacy Honours hotels that ensure their activities do not adversely impact local access to livelihoods, maintaining respect for local land and resource use. GSTC Criteria: B9
6. Inclusive Event Practices Recognises hotels that ensure events are inclusive and accessible to all, promoting diversity and equity. GSTC Criteria: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 (MICE)
1. Cultural Heritage Preservation Recognises hotels for their overall excellence in managing cultural interactions and actively contributing to the protection and preservation of cultural sites and traditions. GSTC Criteria: C1, C2
2. Authentic Cultural Integration Recognises hotels that integrate authentic elements of local culture into their operations, design, decoration, cuisine, or retail offerings, ensuring respect for intellectual property rights and active engagement with the local community. GSTC Criteria: C3
3. Artefact Stewardship Acknowledges hotels that responsibly manage historical and archaeological artefacts, ensuring they are not sold, traded, or displayed inappropriately and are in compliance with local and international laws. GSTC Criteria: C4
4. Responsible Event Management Honours hotels that ensure responsible management of events, including minimising environmental impact and promoting social responsibility. GSTC Criteria: C1, C2, C3, C4 (MICE)
1. Sustainable Food Excellence Recognises excellence in providing sustainable food and beverage options, emphasising local, organic, and ethically sourced ingredients. GSTC Criteria: D1.2, D2.4
2. Sustainable Procurement Leadership Recognises hotels that excel in implementing environmentally preferable purchasing policies, prioritising sustainable suppliers and products. GSTC Criteria: D1.1
3. Carbon and Energy Leadership Recognises hotels that excel in managing their carbon footprint and energy consumption, prioritising renewable energy sources usage and implementing innovative energy-saving practices. GSTC Criteria: D1.3, D2.1
4. Eco-Friendly Transportation Honours hotels that significantly reduce transportation-related emissions by encouraging the use of cleaner, more efficient transport options and by optimising their supply chains to minimise transportation requirements. GSTC Criteria: D2.2
5. Eco-Friendly Pollution Management Recognises hotels that excel in reducing various forms of pollution, including minimising harmful substances and ensuring their responsible storage, use, and disposal, thereby protecting local ecosystems and enhancing guest experiences. GSTC Criteria: D2.5, D2.6
6. Waste Reduction Excellence Honours hotels that excel in waste management, emphasising the reduction of waste through efficient purchasing as well as the implementation of practices to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste effectively. GSTC Criteria: D1.2, D2.4
7. Event Waste Reduction Recognises hotels that have implemented effective waste reduction and recycling programs specifically for events and conferences. GSTC Criteria: D1.2, D2.4
8. Water Stewardship Celebrates hotels that demonstrate excellence in comprehensive water management, including sustainable water use, conservation strategies, and effective wastewater treatment. GSTC Criteria: D1.4, D2.3
9. Biodiversity Conservation Recognises hotels that excel in the conservation and management of biodiversity and ecosystems, emphasising the protection of native species and the prevention of invasive species. GSTC Criteria: D3.1, D3.2
10. Responsible Site Visitation Celebrates hotels that adhere to best practices for managing and promoting visits to natural sites, ensuring minimal impact and promoting environmental awareness. GSTC Criteria: D3.3
11. Ethical Wildlife Practices Recognises hotels that uphold the highest standards in wildlife interactions, ensuring ethical treatment and conservation of wildlife through responsible practices and adherence to local, national, and international regulations. GSTC Criteria: D3.4, D3.5, D3.6

How entry works.

The Eco Stay Awards recognise hotels doing real work in sustainability in ways that data alone can’t always capture.

Verified Bamboo Badge hotels select the categories that best reflect their strengths and submit a short written entry with supporting materials, from photos and supplier attestations to measurable results.

Each entry outlines three simple points: Context (the challenge you addressed), Initiatives (what you implemented), and Outcomes (the impact achieved, backed by proof).

The judging process.

Entries are reviewed by a panel of sustainability experts, hoteliers, NGO representatives, and industry leaders, all operating separately from Tuu and overseen by HLB International to ensure fairness and consistency.

Meet the judges

Judges score each entry against four clear, weighted criteria:

Only Bamboo Badge recipients, verified by HLB International, are eligible, ensuring every contender starts from a fair, consistent baseline.
Hotels are assessed across four dimensions — Innovation, Implementation, Engagement & Best Practice, and Impact — not against each other.
Winners receive ready-made marketing tools — OTA copy, logos, in-room materials, and judges’ feedback — recognition that shows up where guests make decisions.
Boutique hotels and global brands compete on equal footing. Progress, not size, defines success.
Owners can pool and amplify wins across multiple hotels, creating a group-wide sustainability story backed by verified results.

Results and recognition.

The Eco Stay Awards don’t rank hotels.

Entries are judged on their own merit, and only those meeting the threshold are recognised, celebrating progress rather than competition.

Every entrant receives written feedback highlighting key strengths and areas for improvement, so even without a win, you gain insight to build on.

There are no entry fees. Only winners pay for their Winner Packs, which include trophies, certificates, and ready-to-use marketing assets.

The result is a transparent, independent process that celebrates measurable progress — and gives your sustainability story the visibility it deserves.

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