The Global Sustainable Tourism Council exists to increase knowledge, understanding, adoption and demand around sustainable business travel.

Sustainable business travel is becoming an increasingly important consideration for organizations worldwide. Companies large and small are looking for ways to offset their travel-related emissions while minimizing their carbon footprints to the greatest extent possible. 

As the parent to the leading travel management company, JTB is committed to helping corporations reach their sustainability goals as they relate to business travel. In pursuit of that commitment, we have joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). GSTC is a non-profit established in 2007 with a focus on “formulating and promoting best practices for sustainable global travel and tourism.”

Here’s more about our commitment to sustainability, as well as details on the GSTC and its role in the travel industry.

How JTB Bolsters Sustainable Business Travel

On March 3, 2022, JTB signed a memorandum of understanding with the GSTC, which launched a new chapter in corporate history. One focused on helping to build more sustainable travel and tourism industries. 

The memorandum of understanding is focused on 2 primary areas.

First, JTB is committed to using the GSTC’s standards, expertise and market access to better align the company’s management, operations and value chain with the GSTC’s sustainability criteria.

Second, JTB is committed to using the GSTC’s knowledge, tools and network to drive all sustainability efforts — both internal and external.

On that last point, JTB will specifically focus on educating and inspiring the next generation of travel industry decision-makers, which will help ensure the long-term future and viability of business travel and the travel industry at-large. One primary avenue for JTB to express its commitment to sustainability is through the JTB Business Travel brand.

“A growing number of businesses around the world are expanding their sustainability initiatives in alignment with GSTC global criteria,” said Eijiro Yamakita, President and CEO of JTB Corp. “It is clear to JTB that the time is ripe to step up the pace of the industry’s journey towards sustainability in the domestic Japan market and beyond.”

The GSTC: Global Standards for Sustainable Travel and Tourism

The GSTC exists to provide widely accepted, global standards that drive us all toward more sustainable travel and tourism. The organization’s standards can be used and implemented by:

• Hotels and other accommodation vendors
• Tour operators
• Governments and leaders in travel destinations
• Corporations that travel
• Certification bodies
• Travelers
• Others

The organization’s vision is to see tourism fulfill its potential as a vehicle for social, cultural and economic good while also removing its negative impacts on the environment and society. Its mission is to be an agent of change in sustainable travel and tourism by fostering the increased knowledge, understanding, adoption and demand for sustainability in tourism practices. 

“GSTC well recognizes the importance of JTB in the marketplace and we are delighted to support their continued enhancement of sustainable approaches to their business practices,” said Randy Durband, GSTC CEO. “We look forward to a productive collaboration.”

Pursue Sustainability with JTB Business Travel

No matter where your organization stands in its journey toward more sustainable business travel, we can help. JTB Business Travel works each day with organizations around the world, supporting their travel-related objectives while also supporting their Travelers. We use a common-sense approach to business travel to inform the recommendations we make and the services we provide.

Get in touch to learn more about traveling more sustainably.