GreenSign Hotel
The N°1 sustainability certification for the hotel industry in Europe.
Whether individual hotels or hotel chains, the recognized and transparent certification system of GreenSign is of great relevance for the sustainable success of a business. Hotels that are certified with GreenSign stand for sustainable hotel management and fulfill the most important criteria in harmony with ecological standards, social commitment and economic success. The GreenSign sustainability certificate enables you to position yourself as a sustainable hotel operation in the national and international market and favors a continuous development of the sustainability performance.
In 3 steps to the GreenSign Hotel certification.
1. Submit certification application
By filling out and submitting the application form, GreenSign Institute will receive your request directly. You will quickly receive an application confirmation by email with a quote. We can also discuss open questions on the phone or in a video call.
After signing the contract we will send you further information and access to the certification tool. In the next step, you can fill out the catalog directly online.


2. Log in to the GreenSign tool & self-evaluation
After registration in the certification tool, the independent self-evaluation of your hotel takes place.
The more than 100 criteria of the eight areas of the test catalog were developed on the basis of internationally recognized frameworks for sustainability. These include ISO 14001 (EMAS/Environmental Management), ISO 26000 (Corporate Social Responsibility) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, which were developed by the GSTC for the hotel industry. Since 2022, the GreenSign Hotel Standard has also been officially recognized by the GSTC.
Within about 4 weeks, all questions will be answered in the online tool. To fill in the form, it is advisable to take a look at the marked obligatory criteria beforehand, which you have to prove at the latest for the audit, and to look for the corresponding documents. The classification of the sustainability performance is based on the number of points in GreenSign Level 1 to GreenSign Level 5. For a Level 1 rating, at least 19 percent of the criteria within the eight core areas must be met. The highest award of GreenSign Level 5 requires a sustainability performance of over 90 percent.





3. Audit and award with GreenSign Hotel
All hotels then undergo an on-site inspection in the form of an audit. The auditor requests the obligatory documents and various verifications. The hotelier receives an overview of the required documents in advance.
The audit ends with a qualified audit report that reflects the hotel’s sustainability performance. The certification takes place for three years and enables transparent documentation and authentic communication of the sustainable commitment for the period.
Green Pearls® is an international information platform for sustainable travel – a filter for environmentally friendly vacations without compromise, a sustainable label and a globally operating communication platform for sustainable tourism. The website www.greenpearls.com presents pioneers of green tourism who are committed to environmental protection and take social responsibility.
Your advantage as a GreenSign member? In addition to the Green Pearls® membership you receive a basic communication package with one mention each in the newsletter, on the blog and on Instagram.

- Own microsite
- Green Pearls® Label
- 10+ years of experience in communicating sustainability in tourism
- Weekly press newsletter
- Integration into the Green Travel Blog
- Social media integration
- Support with press inquiries and cooperations


Management and communication are central components of a sustainable corporate orientation. They stand for a system of values and responsible shaping of the future in dialog with stakeholders.
The environmental pillar comprises the ecological areas of energy, water and waste. As essential components and influencing factors on the ecological footprint, strategies and measures to reduce resource consumption are essential.
A biodiverse farm takes responsibility for the surrounding flora and fauna and does its part to protect and grow them.
Purchasing is a central control organ and indicator for sustainable management. Regional, seasonal, organic and fair-trade products are becoming increasingly important in society and the value chain in hotel purchasing.
Regionalität & Mobilität
Regionality contributes to corporate identification and qualitative growth. The topic of mobility requires forward-looking approaches in tourism.
Qualitätsmanagement & nachhaltige Entwicklung
Quality assurance and its further development means securing the future through satisfied and motivated employees, regular guests, as well as trusting cooperation with all stakeholders.
Soziale Verantwortung
Social commitment is the mainstay of sustainable development. It stands for a sense of responsibility and motivation for shaping a sustainable environment in the triad of ecology, social and economic responsibility.
Wirtschaftliche Verantwortung
Economic stability of companies is a supporting pillar and ensures qualitative and quantitative growth. The collection, evaluation and management of financial and economic data represent a sense of responsibility to meet external demands and expectations of guests, investors or the media.
After a successful certification process, the GreenSign Institute awards the GreenSign sustainability certificate at the achieved level. The certification highlights possible weaknesses and potentials for improving the sustainability performance. Recertification takes place after three years with a new on-site audit. With an environmental program on the part of the hotel, sustainability measures will also be implemented in the future. We support your hotel in achieving a better perception among guests, new target groups and stakeholders.
- wooden GreenSign badge for the entrance of the hotel
- GreenSign certificate in the frame with the GreenSign level and individual sustainability barometer
- GreenSign logo for your website
- Widget that displays the sustainability barometer transparently on your website
- Press releases and social media posts by GreenSign
- Listing on the portals greensign.de, greenline-hotels.com, Destinet (Germany Travel), Varta guide and bookdifferent
- Integration into our partner network GreenCommunity
- Access to the partner network with special conditions
Attend our networking and sustainability events:
- 101 Future Hospitality Days
- Green Tourism Camp
- Webinars with industry experts
- Onboarding workshop for premium customers
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