TOKYU HOTELS. Implemented the policy outlined in the cooperation memorandum with GSTC into hotel operations.
THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA obtains GSTC certification
~ TOKYU HOTELS Starting from the first acquisition, we expanded operations based on international standards to each hotel ~
TOKYU HOTELS & RESORTS CO., LTD.
TOKYU HOTELS & RESORTS CO., LTD. (Tokyo Shibuya-ku, President and CEO: Takashi Takei) is pleased to announce that on September 25, 2026, our company's operated "THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA KYOTO TOKYU, A Pan Pacific Hotel" (Kyoto Kyoto City, hereinafter "THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA") obtained third-party certification (hereinafter referred to as "this GSTC Certification") based on the "GSTC Standard," an international standard for sustainable tourism.
In June 2026, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which formulates and manages international standards for sustainable tourism. We are committed to utilizing the GSTC Standard as a framework for future sustainability strategies and to promote initiatives including sustainable hotel management, human resource development, and supply chains.
Obtaining this GSTC certification reflects the evaluation and certification of our sustainability efforts in hotel operations through third-party audits based on the GSTC standards, and it is a concrete implementation of our policies in hotel operations. For our company, this marks a significant step in verifying our past efforts against international standards and clarifying the direction of our future hotel operations.
Going forward, we will position the GSTC Standard as one of the key guidelines in our hotel operations, and will expand the knowledge and systems gained through obtaining GSTC certification to hotels in TOKYU HOTELS. Furthermore, we will continue to obtain certifications tailored to the hotel's brand and area characteristics, establish sustainability initiatives as a quality and brand value for hotels, and aim to become a hotel chain chosen by both domestic and international guests, including inbound and MICE.
The significance of obtaining this GSTC certification at THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA
Located in Kyoto, a city that attracts many tourists from both Japan and abroad, THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA has been promoting initiatives toward sustainable tourism, including coexistence with the local community and consideration for the cultural and natural environment, as a hotel that disseminates Japanese tourism and culture to the world. This time, we have systematically reviewed these initiatives based on the GSTC standards and obtained certification after a third-party audit, which has given us an opportunity to confirm our sustainable hotel operations in light of international standards.
Furthermore, in Kyoto, a tourist city that attracts many visitors from both within Japan and internationally, we believe it is important to clearly demonstrate our hotel's commitment to sustainable tourism in order to fulfill our responsibility as a company involved in the tourism industry.
About the GSTC certification process and the international certification body "Vireo"
GSTC certification is a system in which a third-party certification body accredited by GSTC reviews and certifies the efforts of businesses such as hotels, based on the "GSTC Standard," an international standard for sustainable tourism.
The certification audit for THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA was conducted by Vireo (headquartered in Padua, Italy), a third-party certification body accredited by GSTC. Vireo provides international certification services in the environmental and sustainability fields, and under GSTC certification, it certifies hotels, accommodations, tour operators, and destinations around the world.
Future developments
Our company will not simply view the GSTC standards as "criteria for obtaining certification," but rather will utilize them as guidelines for achieving sustainable hotel operations.
Going forward, we will accumulate the knowledge and operational mechanisms gained through this certification and continue to pursue certification for multiple hotel brands and areas, using the GSTC standard as an international guideline, while taking into account the brand characteristics and location/regional characteristics of each hotel. Furthermore, we will not limit sustainability to just one area of hotel operations, but will integrate it into the entire hotel management, including service quality, human resources, relationships with local communities, and the supply chain, and communicate it as one of the elements that underpins the quality of our brand. In particular, with an eye on the increase in foreign tourists visiting Japan and the rise of international MICE demand, we will connect sustainable hotel operations based on international standards to our brand communication capabilities and operational competitiveness, and aim to become a global hotel operator of choice for customers both domestically and internationally.
Vireo CEO Mr. Luigi Mazzaglia
We are very pleased that TOKYU HOTELS & Resorts has obtained GSTC certification at THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA. This initiative marks an important step in linking international sustainability standards to hotel management practices in Japan's hotel industry. For Vireo, it is highly significant that we have been able to collaborate with TOKYU HOTELS & Resorts, one of Japan's leading hotel operators, and launch initiatives with an eye toward expansion across multiple domestic brands and areas. We are very pleased to be able to evaluate the company's accumulated efforts based on international standards and further advance toward sustainable hotel operations.
With this certification as a starting point, we expect TOKYU HOTELS & Resorts to expand its efforts to more hotels and drive the development of sustainable tourism in Japan's hotel industry.
Takashi Takei, President and CEO of TOKYU HOTELS & Resorts
We believe that obtaining GSTC certification is an important step in re-examining our sustainability efforts in light of international standards and implementing them in our hotel operations. In June, we signed a memorandum of understanding with GSTC, indicating our intention to utilize GSTC standards as a framework for our sustainability strategy.
This certification represents a concrete implementation of this philosophy in the operation of a single hotel. We do not consider obtaining certification itself to be the goal. We believe that true meaning lies in integrating international standards into our daily hotel operations, changing the behavior of each individual, and enhancing the quality and brand value of our hotels. Moving forward, we will use this certification as a catalyst to expand our initiatives to various brands and areas, establishing sustainable hotel management as our new standard.
About the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is an international non-profit organization that develops and manages the "GSTC Standards," international standards for sustainable travel and tourism. Established in 2007 with the support of organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO, now UNTourism), it currently includes a diverse range of stakeholders from around the world as members, including national governments, tourism boards, hotels, travel agencies, certification bodies, and NGOs.
GSTC is not an organization that directly certifies tourism businesses. Instead, it supports the promotion of sustainable tourism through the accreditation of third-party organizations that provide sustainable tourism certification, the dissemination of international standards, and human resource development and training.
What is Vireo?
Vireo is a certification company based in Padua, Italy, providing environmental and sustainability certification services to Italian and international companies. They handle internationally recognized certification schemes such as FSC, MSC, and GSTC, and have a proven track record in international certification and auditing.
Vireo is a GSTC-accredited third-party certification body that certifies hotels, accommodations, tour operators, and destinations worldwide based on GSTC standards. For hotels and accommodations, certification is based on the "GSTC Hotel Standard."
Overview of TOKYU HOTELS & RESORTS CO., LTD.
- location
-
3rd floor, Goto Educational Building, 1-10-7 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku Tokyo
- Representative
-
Takashi Takei, President and Representative Director
- Business Contents
-
Hotel, restaurant and membership resort management
The nationwide network of TOKYU HOTELS
We operate flagship brands such as "THE CAPITOL HOTEL TOKYU," "TOKYU HOTEL," "TOKYU RESORT HOTELS," "EXCEL HOTEL TOKYU," and "TOKYU REI HOTEL," as well as a group of hotel brands with unique personalities such as "DISTINCTIVE SELECTION," MEMBERSHIP-TYPE RESORT "TOKYU VACATIONS," and "PARTNER HOTELS," both domestically and internationally.
Upcoming Openings at Tokyo Kojimachi TOKYU REI HOTEL (February 1, 2027)