TOKYU HOTELS & Resorts and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Sign the First Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Hotels in Japan
— Full-scale promotion of sustainable hotel management through the introduction of international standards and human resource development —
TOKYU HOTELS & RESORTS CO., LTD.
TOKYU HOTELS & RESORTS CO., LTD. (Tokyo Shibuya Ward, President and CEO: Takashi Takei) has partnered with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (USA, CEO Randy Durband, hereafter GSTC), an international nonprofit organization that manages international standards for sustainable tourism, on June 10, 2026. We would like to inform you that we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Memorandum Of Understanding, hereinafter referred to as MOU).
GSTC is an international non-profit organization established in 2007 with the aim of promoting sustainable tourism. It manages the "GSTC Standard," which is the international standard for the tourism industry. This international standard is used for international accreditation of sustainable tourism certification bodies and as a guideline for creating sustainable tourist destinations around the world.
Background of the MOU signing
In recent years, sustainability initiatives have become increasingly important in the tourism industry. There is a growing need to promote sustainable tourism from a multifaceted perspective, encompassing reducing environmental impact, coexisting with local communities, and preserving cultural heritage.
Our company aims to contribute to local communities and the environment through hotel operations, and we will further strengthen our efforts while deepening our understanding of the international sustainable tourism standards established by GSTC.
The circumstances leading to the first agreement
A key feature of this initiative is that, in addition to foundational content for all employees, it systematically develops advanced application content for managers, creating an optimized operational system for each hierarchical level. This kind of company-wide, unified, and pioneering initiative is unparalleled, and the high level of organizational unity was also highly praised. Furthermore, strong support for our company was received not only for our strong network and brand power, but also for our steady commitment to sustainability and our forward-looking stance.
Main purpose of signing the MOU
By signing this MOU, both parties will cooperate to promote sustainable tourism and hotel management, and will work to continuously improve the dissemination of international standards, human resource development, and information sharing. The specific details are as follows:
1. Utilization of the GSTC Standard Framework
Our company will consider using the GSTC Standards as a framework in the sustainability roadmap, goals, and KPIs that we will formulate and promote in the future. GSTC will provide our company with access to GSTC Standards, international expertise, case studies, and networks to support our sustainable initiatives.
2. Promoting sustainable hotel operations and supply chains
Based on GSTC standards, our company aims to expand our products, services, and operational systems to reflect environmental, social, cultural, and economic considerations. We will also promote close collaboration with partners, suppliers, and GSTC-certified hotels to advance sustainable practices throughout the entire supply chain.
3. Education, Training, and Human Resource Development
Both parties will cooperate on educational, training, and awareness-raising activities aimed at improving knowledge of GSTC standards and sustainable tourism among employees of our company and the hotels we operate, suppliers, and related stakeholders. Furthermore, recognizing the importance of developing the next generation of tourism and hospitality professionals, they will also consider future talent development and collaboration with educational institutions.
4. Information dissemination and knowledge sharing
The two parties will cooperate to promote understanding and awareness of sustainable tourism in Japan and the international market through seminars, workshops, case studies, and knowledge sharing. They will also discuss expanding sustainability-related content for the Japanese market.
comment
GSTC CEO Mr. Randy Durband
We are very pleased to begin our collaboration with TOKYU HOTELS & Resorts. The company's adoption of the GSTC Standard as a guideline for sustainability promotion marks an important step toward realizing sustainable tourism and hospitality. Going forward, we look forward to collaborating with TOKYU HOTELS & Resorts to further promote sustainable initiatives across Japan's hotel operations and supply chain through sharing knowledge and human resource development.
TOKYU HOTELS & Resorts President Takashi Takei
Taking this agreement with GSTC as an opportunity, we intend to further enhance and promote our sustainability strategy by utilizing international knowledge and standards, thereby contributing to the globalization of Japan's tourism and hotel market and improving its international competitiveness. By incorporating GSTC standards into our mindset, we will drive behavioral change and strive to improve our brand strength and operational competitiveness as a global hotel operator.
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 UN Tourism), 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.
Overview of TOKYU HOTELS & RESORTS CO., LTD.
- location
-
Tokyo Shibuya-ku Dogenzaka 1-10-7 Goto Ikueikai Building 3rd floor
- Representative
-
Takashi Takei, President and CEO
- Business Contents
-
Hotel, restaurant and membership resort management
The nationwide network of TOKYU HOTELS
THE CAPITOL HOTEL TOKYU and the 'TOKYU BRAND HOTELS' which includes TOKYU HOTEL, TOKYU RESORT HOTELS, EXCEL HOTEL TOKYU, and TOKYU REI HOTEL brands, as well as 'DISTINCTIVE SELECTION' consisting of hotels with unique personalities such as BELLUSTAR TOKYO and STREAM HOTEL, STORYLINE of hotel condominiums, and TOKYU VACATIONS of 'MEMBERSHIP-TYPE RESORT' are operated nationwide (60 stores domestically / 4 other domestic stores and 3 overseas stores under 'PARTNER HOTELS').