169 of 335 properties certified
The Ascott Limited, the Singapore-based hospitality group wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment, announced on 11 November 2026 that half of its eligible properties had achieved GSTC certification. As of October 2026, 169 of 335 properties had been certified by bodies accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
The scope covers properties the group manages under its own brands that have been operating for more than two years. Ascott aims to have this entire portfolio certified by 2028.
The group had already been one of the first hospitality players to achieve GSTC-Committed status, in 2024. The drive comes during a period of strong growth: Ascott signed 19,000 units in 2025 and passed the milestone of 1,000 properties worldwide.
Seven markets fully certified
Ascott is the first hospitality group to have certified all of its eligible properties in the Philippines, Malaysia and Japan. It has achieved the same result in India, Laos, Europe and Australia. The certified portfolio includes La Clef Tour Eiffel Paris by The Crest Collection and Oakwood Premier Melbourne.
Indonesia is the next step. Seven properties there are already certified, including Citadines Berawa Beach Bali, and the group plans to cover its entire eligible portfolio in the country by the end of 2026. That would add more than 50 properties, lifting the certified share of the portfolio above 65%.
To be certified, each property must undergo an independent audit carried out by a GSTC-accredited body. The criteria cover sustainable management, impact on local communities, preservation of cultural heritage and environmental protection.
A commercial differentiator
Beh Siew Kim, Chief Financial & Sustainability Officer, Lodging, at CapitaLand Investment and Managing Director, Japan and Korea, at Ascott, presents certification as a selling point. She said sustainability certification is fast becoming a differentiator: travellers increasingly look for credible assurances when they book, and corporate travel buyers require them. In her view, GSTC certification builds guests’ confidence in the group’s properties and improves its visibility across booking and distribution channels. She added that it also supports operational efficiency and strengthens the long-term value and resilience of the portfolio.
She praised the commitment of the group’s teams and the support of its owners and partners. In her view, the milestone shows that economic performance and positive impact go hand in hand, to the benefit of guests, owners and the communities in which the group operates.
Randy Durband, CEO of the GSTC, sees the result as proof that a long-term sustainability strategy can translate into measurable progress. He said he looks forward to further progress towards the 2028 goal.
Carbon and water footprint shown at booking
The programme builds on Ascott CARES, the group’s global sustainability framework, which is aligned with GSTC standards. Under this framework, Ascott launched the Ascott CarbonClear Initiative in 2024. The programme aims to improve its properties’ performance on energy, water, waste and carbon, with a target of net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050.
On DiscoverASR.com, its global booking platform, the group highlights certification on the pages of the properties concerned. Nearly 70% of its properties also display their carbon and water footprint there, and the roll-out is continuing.
Accessibility, biodiversity and local communities
In Australia, Quest became the country’s first multi-property hospitality brand to achieve the highest level of Accessible Accommodation accreditation, with more than 90 properties certified as accessible. Ascott employees also gave 498 hours of volunteer work to Foodbank Australia and collected 2,400 kg of food for the organisation. The group also supports Housing All Australians, the Sony Foundation and Project Net Zero.
In India, Somerset Greenways Chennai became the first property in Ascott’s global portfolio to achieve GSTC certification, in 2023. The residence has installed an automated water-bottling system that avoids more than 168,000 single-use plastic bottles every year. Local teams also help protect olive ridley turtles, a threatened species, and take part in coastal clean-ups.
In the Philippines, all 25 of the group’s eligible properties have been certified since 2024. In partnership with Rural Rising, the local team has planted more than 500 native trees across several cities and helped turn a former dumpsite in Payatas, Metro Manila, into a neighbourhood park. Riverbank clean-ups in Luzon and the Visayas have so far collected more than 600 kg of waste.
Analysis – Ascott presents certification first and foremost as a commercial issue. By linking it to visibility on distribution channels and to the requirements of corporate travel buyers, the group makes it a selection criterion rather than a mere statement of principle. The challenge will be keeping up the pace. Only properties that have been open for more than two years are eligible, so the openings now under way will widen the base to be certified by 2028.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Ascott hits halfway mark towards full GSTC certification
Certified: 169 of 335 eligible properties (October 2026)
Fully certified: Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, India, Laos, Europe, Australia
Next: Indonesia by end-2026, adding 50+ properties and lifting certified share above 65%
Target: entire eligible portfolio certified by 2028
Climate goal: Net Zero (Scope 1 and 2) by 2050
