Luxury Eco Certification Standards (LECS)
The Luxury Eco Certification Standard (LECS) is offered by Sustainable Travel International (STI). Sustainable Travel International is a global non-profit organisation that provides sustainable travel solutions for the tourism industry.
LECS is designed to assist luxury hotels in creating and implementing a sustainability management framework. LECS is the only voluntary,
global sustainable tourism certification program offered by a non-profit organization that is specific to the luxury accommodation sector
and that focuses on Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet and Profit).
100 Steps to Sustainability
The LECS program is designed for both newcomers and those who have experience in sustainable business practices. The LECS standard, in the form of questions, consists of 100 environmental and social criteria for the hotels to meet in order to be eco-certified. These are the '100 Steps to Sustainability' and they are covered in five areas of the evaluation:
- policy and documentation
- energy conservation
- water conservation
- recycling
- community
Benefits
The benefits associated with becoming LECS certified include:
- Implementing sustainable business practices, increasing resource efficiencies and reducing waste, to save money in the long term.
- Competitive advantage in the market place, based on third-party certification, which addresses the issue of green washing.
- Recognition as a green certified hotel in STI’s Responsible Travel Report and in a press release.
- Preferred marketing and sales opportunities, including a complimentary listing on www.Green.travel.
- Logo license and usage rights.
The Inspection Process
In order to become LECS certified, hotels must undergo a preliminary desk audit followed by an on-site, third-party assessment handled by Leading Quality Assurance. The process of becoming LECS certified is challenging and requires a serious commitment on behalf of the hotel.
