Hospitality Certification
Managing impacts on natural habitats and improving water, energy and waste management. Supporting local communities and wildlife conservation, and helping guests reduce their environmental impact.
About the certification
Hotels, resorts, lodges, campsites and other visitor accommodation make decisions every day about energy, water, food and waste. The Friend of the Sea / Friend of the Earth programme assesses these aspects of a tourism facility.
Travel agencies have a separate assessment route covering their operations and the trips they offer. Applicants should identify whether they are applying for an accommodation facility, travel-agency services or both.
What can be certified
Named tourism facilities and defined travel-agency services. A facility assessment does not automatically cover other properties or every excursion sold through it.
What the standard covers
Assessment covers development in sensitive habitats, environmental policy, assigned staff duties and performance reporting. The facility demonstrates the applicable compliance options for each topic.
Criteria address energy efficiency, water-saving equipment, linen reuse, staff training and waste separation. Some measures include phased installation or improvement plans.
Purchasing covers cleaning supplies, food and uniforms. Food-service criteria include plant-based menu provision, animal welfare in sourcing and quantified food-waste reduction targets, with implementation deadlines.
Guests receive guidance about their stay and local biodiversity. The assessment also covers community support, conservation and the management of sports activities.
A signed environmental policy, designated oversight and twice-yearly checks support measures to reduce resource use and manage waste. Employment practices must meet national law, with non-discrimination covering staff, customers and suppliers.
Agencies progressively favour suppliers with certified environmental and social policies. At least 1% of profit supports conservation or humanitarian projects. At least 10% of travel offers include project donations, and at least 10% include environmental-awareness sessions, with plans to increase participation. The criteria also include annual partnership trips and avoiding tours that threaten endangered species or animal welfare.
Assessment and certification
The assessment checks evidence for the service or facility being proposed. Agree the scope and audit arrangements before work begins, including the locations, activities and records to be reviewed.
Certification fees
Request a quotation for the proposed scope. Confirm assessment charges and any logo-use royalties before proceeding; submitting an enquiry does not commit you to certification.
Check certification status
Check the listed facility or service and its scope before making a booking or using a certification claim. If the listing is unclear, contact the team for confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
No. Accommodation facilities and travel agencies follow separate routes suited to their activities. Tell the team which services you offer so the assessment can be scoped correctly.
Do not assume that it does. Check the named property and scope before using certification claims for other locations.
Some facility criteria include staged actions and deadlines. Certification should not be presented as proof that every planned improvement has already been completed.
No. Confirm certification approval, the permitted scope of the claim and the applicable logo-use agreement before adding the logo to your website or promotional materials.
Request a quotation based on the facilities or services to be assessed. Ask for assessment charges and logo-use royalties to be identified so you can review the full cost.
Use the application link below and describe the activities and locations you want assessed. The team will confirm the appropriate route and next steps.
Apply for certification
Tell us whether you operate accommodation, travel-agency services or both. Include the location, website and a contact person.