Six Senses has received the highest level of certification by Control Union – a certification body accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Six Senses properties* underwent an extensive audit by Control Union to verify their efforts in sustainability planning, reducing negative environmental impacts, enhancing cultural heritage, and maximizing social and economic benefits for surrounding communities.
Jeff Smith, Six Senses Vice President of Sustainability , shares, “GSTC Certification is a mark of trust and credibility in sustainability. While this certification is issued globally, it marks a proud moment for our individual Six Senses properties included in this certification and their sustainability teams, who work proactively to provide uncompromising hospitality, environmentally cognizant operations, an outstanding guest experience, and high levels of engagement among colleagues and the local community.”
The GSTC Certification is a respected seal of sustainable travel and tourism, offering an antidote to “greenwashing” in the hospitality industry. The extensive certification criteria aim to give credibility to sustainability claims, ensuring they are both measurable and can be upheld through meaningful action. Certification is based on third-party audits of hotels and corporate processes by accredited auditors, and is granted for a period of three years, providing a continuous commitment to improvement and accountability.
Jeff adds: “Sustainability is ingrained in the Six Senses culture and has been from the very beginning in 1995. It is an important component of every decision we make – from the way we run our hotels, to how we design their architecture and interiors, the amenities and supplies found within them, and our pursuit for Plastic Freedom, through to the impact we have on the local communities and ecosystems, and the legacy we leave with guests.”
Turning criteria into impacts
The GSTC Criteria verify sustainable practices across four key areas: effective sustainability planning, reducing negative environmental impacts, enhancing cultural heritage, and maximizing social and economic benefits for surrounding communities.
Dedicated Sustainability Directors at each Six Senses hotel lead each property’s net-positive impact. Earth Labs serve as a place dedicated to engagement and innovation, communicating the work happening on and off site at each property, for example, marine conservation, forestry or farming initiatives, harnessing renewable energy from solar or biomass, and bottling drinking water.
To further support local projects on the ground, each resort allocates a Sustainability Fund comprising 0.5 percent of total hotel revenue coming directly from guest bookings that goes towards meaningful and measurable initiatives outside the walls of the hotel.
Planning for the planet: effective sustainability planning
Six Senses aims for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification as a minimum for all new hotels. It has achieved LEED Platinum at Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, the first hotel in Saudi Arabia to be awarded the highest available accreditation and at Six Senses Vana, India’s first retreat to have attained this environmental design standard, plus LEED Gold at Six Senses Rome, within the UNESCO listed-Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini. Issued by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), LEED puts properties through a rigorous third-party review.
Turning the tide: reducing negative environmental impacts
Six Senses has also been making strides towards a future of plastic-free hospitality through the launch of the Journey to Plastic Freedom Playbook. A journey which began in the 1990s with guest amenities and drinking water, this initiative saw Six Senses spearhead a campaign to research and aim to remove plastic within hospitality. This resulted in 82 tried and tested solutions across four main operating areas that have been recorded and shared with the wider hospitality industry.
Authentic experiences: enhancing cultural heritage
Remote or urban, Six Senses weaves into the local fabric. Whether joining monks to light butter lamps; playing archery or celebrating annual tshechu festivals in Bhutan; learning the art and craft of Sadu weaving, which holds immense historical and economic significance in Saudi Arabia; or dancing with warriors while passing around the yaqona in Fiji, Six Senses brings friends and family together to celebrate local traditions and beliefs. These moments of connection forge a shared understanding and spirit of togetherness.
People power: maximizing social and economic benefits for surrounding communities
When people think of sustainability, they often think of environmental credentials. But Six Senses also targets social responsibility and local socio-economic development, starting with a local hiring policy and local sourcing of products. Resorts incorporate local food and influences, building menus around them. They purchase local art and artifacts and invite artisans to share local culture.
To increase the financial impact, Six Senses also partners with local NGOs, schools, or hospitals to ensure local services are developed and access to life’s essentials such as clean water or education is improved. Local skills training achieves lasting benefits as part of a ripple effect.
Supporting IHG’s broader sustainability strategy
Six Senses joins other IHG Hotels & Resorts in the mission to drive positive change for people, planet and communities, as part of IHG’s ambitious Journey to Tomorrow plan. Six Senses is a trailblazer in this area, providing exceptional guest experiences while prioritizing sustainable practices within the properties and their local communities.
*All operating Six Senses hotels are included in the GSTC group certification excluding new openings in Kyoto and Grenada and further pipeline properties, which were not open and eligible at the time of audit. These properties adopt the same sustainability philosophy as the wider Six Senses portfolio, and it is the brand’s intention that they will become certified at the next available opportunity.
Six Senses Kaplankaya and Six Senses Kocataş Mansions, İstanbul are already GSTC Certified within the Türkiye National Sustainable Tourism Program and therefore are also not included in this same group certification program, however they are equally compliant with GSTC and Six Senses sustainability criteria.
