The Long Run’s Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard — one of tourism’s most comprehensive — opens for public consultation.
Sustainability is a continuous journey rather than a checkbox exercise, but standards and certifications can play an important role in ensuring the journey is robust, ambitious, and meets global needs.
The Long Run's Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard and certification is widely considered one of the industry's most rigorous. In line with the organisation's commitment to integrity and transparency, the standard has been updated and is open for public consultation until 3rd November 2024. This transparent, multi-stakeholder approach aligns with The Long Run's values of collaboration, accessibility, and inclusivity.
Anne-Kathrin Zschiegner, Executive Director of The Long Run, comments, "We are incredibly excited about the launch of Global Ecosphere Retreat® 3.0. This updated version builds on the solid foundation of other standards and global frameworks and raises the bar again for what is possible when nature-based tourism businesses put their hearts and minds into driving positive impact on the ground. It embodies our collective commitment to continually push boundaries, setting new benchmarks for sustainability, climate action, conservation, and community resilience."
The Long Run's Global Ecosphere Retreat standard is holistic, considering impact across people, place, and nature.
Enhanced criteria.
The standard is divided into five sections and contains the following key changes:
Commitment (formerly business requirements): Expanded business governance requirements reflect the importance of embedded purpose.
Commerce: Strengthened requirements for financial resilience, sustainable procurement, and risk management.
Conservation: Refined to address the importance of nature restoration, climate crisis resilience, and landscape connectivity, with integrated water risk management and aspirational environmental targets in line with global climate targets.
Community: We have elevated the importance of and expanded external community collaboration, and within the internal community focus (employees), we have expanded requirements for well-being, mental health support, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Culture: Enhanced and refined existing criteria with additional points focused on business culture (internal).
Better benchmarking.
The standard is also benchmarked to exceed or align with:
The Sustainable Development Goals
The IUCN Green List
ESG frameworks
More about the Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard.
Recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and Travalyst, the Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard is unique in:
Being truly holistic, which means giving equal weight to a business's impact on people, culture, and nature, and its commitment to responsible business operations.
Awarding positive impact rather than merely mitigating negative impact.
Requiring proof of active, continuous improvement rather than just compliance.
Involving comprehensive onsite assessments led by independent auditors.
Requiring a business to be commercially profitable, proving that system change is possible, and protecting people and the planet make good business sense.
There are 11 certified Global Ecosphere Retreats®, each a leader working at the intersection of conservation and sustainable tourism.
Please download the updated standard here.
Send any comments to anne-kathrin@thelongrun.com.
Nature restoration is a cornerstone of the Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard. Photo: Tahi, New Zealand