Green Key Global program recognized by the GSTC - A new guarantee of reliability for Transat-certified hotels

MONTREAL, April 11, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - With Green Key Global's Green Key Eco-Rating Program, which is favoured by hotel establishments in North America, just recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Transat is pleased to announce that all of the hotel certification programs it promotes now comply with GSTC criteria, the global benchmark for sustainable tourism. Transat's customers can now be secure in the knowledge that, whichever eco-friendly hotel they choose, it conforms to the highest social and environmental responsibility standards.

"We are very pleased to see the Green Key Global program earn this official recognition from the GSTC," says David Mounteer, Vice-President and General Manager, Jonview Canada, a Canadian incoming tour operator and business unit of Transat. "We had already been promoting Green Key-certified hotels in our brochure and on our website given the importance of this certification in our market, but this attestation from the GSTC is a boost to the program's credibility and to customer confidence as well."  

Of the establishments offered by Jonview Canada, 33% have Green Key ratings of 4 or 5, which are the two top tiers of the certification program. Jonview Canada promotes these hotels in its marketing tools, as does Canadian Affair in the United Kingdom and Vacances Transat in France, two Transat brands that commercialize Canada as a destination in their respective markets. "To this we can add our hotelier partners which, by earning 1, 2 or 3 Green Keys, are showing their interest in implementing best practices in sustainable management. This means that an additional 19% of our establishments are in the process of being certified," Mr. Mounteer concludes. 

In addition, 25% of Transat's hotelier partners at its Sun destinations are certified under programs recognized by the GSTC and endorsed by Transat. These programs are: Biosphere Responsible Tourism, Certification for Sustainable Tourism, EarthCheck, Green Globe, Rainforest Alliance, Travelife and now Green Key Global.

About Transat
Transat A.T. Inc. is an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 50 countries. A holiday travel specialist, Transat operates mainly in Canada and Europe, as well as in the Caribbean, Mexico and the Mediterranean Basin. Montreal-based Transat is also active in air transportation, accommodation, destination services and distribution. Transat's firm commitment to sustainable tourism development is reflected in its multiple corporate responsibility initiatives. (TSX: TRZ).

About Green Key Global
Green Key Global is a leading international environmental certification body with over 2000 members offering a suite of sustainability programs designed specifically for the lodging industry. For more than 20 years its flagship program, the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, has been evaluating, inspecting, and certifying lodging properties based on their commitment to sustainable operations. In support of this, Green Key Global also works diligently to educate members on the value these initiatives have on an environmental, social and economic level. The Green Key Eco-Rating Program and its sister program, the Green Key Meetings Program, are  affordable, comprehensive audits enabling members to leverage organizational CSR activities in support of enhanced sustainable initiatives, community relations and fiscal performance.

www.transat.com

SOURCE Transat A.T. Inc.

Media: Michel Lemay, Vice-President, Communications and Corporate Affairs, Transat A.T. Inc., [email protected], 514 987-1616, ext. 4523; Andrea Myers, Director, Program Development, Green Key Global, [email protected], 613 237-7149, ext. 102