Preliminary Considerations: You can't manage what you don't measure. This is the basic premise behind integrating sustainable practices into any businesses' operations.

Tourism providers who wish to be eco-certified should first consider how they're going to approach establishing a system for measuring and managing their impacts. We suggest the following:

	Measure your impacts over a period of time and establish a baseline level of performance utilizing quantifiable variables.
	Set goals and objectives and develop action plans for minimizing your negative impacts and enhancing your positive impacts. Track your performance by using current impact levels as a benchmark.
	Appoint an employee to monitor and execute scheduled activities as well as record and review the results. Compare future levels to set targets or to similar businesses.
	Educate your staff and clients about how they can help you to achieve your goals.

For more information, review STEP Eligibility. STI's Guide to Sustainable Tourism is also available to assist you in establishing a system of this nature.

Self Assessment: This educational-based tool encompasses a set of required standards and related questions with weighted point values designated to help determine the extent to which a business meets the principles of sustainable development.

Applicants have 30 days to complete the Self-Assessment questionnaire and submit the results and required information, providing them with an opportunity to improve upon their performance within this timeframe. Please note that STI's Guide to Sustainable Tourism is designed to assist tourism providers in improving their Self-Assessment ratings. STI will also refer companies interested in improving their performance on to qualified consultants.

Tourism providers who submit the required information may receive Eco-certified status, including a STEP "Eco-certified Certificate" and the appropriate "Self-assessment Completed" logo. For more information, review the Rating System section.

On-site Audit: Tourism providers who wish to receive a higher level of Eco-certification and who have completed steps one and two must notify STI. STI will appoint them to a STEP-certified Assessor to undertake an on-site audit. On-site audits are mandatory for "Professionally Audited" Eco-certification status as they ensure the credibility of STEP and prevent greenwashing. Also, it is important for a person from an objective and credible source to experience the applicant's services first hand.

STEP-certified Assessors undertake on-site audits to verify applicant's performance and document and compare their findings with the information provided by the applicant in their Self-assessment application. During the on-site audit, applicants must provide STEP-certified Assessors with evidence and documentation in order to justify that they are compliant with any given STEP criteria.

The length of time required to complete an audit varies according to the size and scope of the applicant's operations and the level of Eco-certification they wish to receive.

Evaluation: A separate, voluntary Evaluation Committee will then review the assessor's report and make the determination of whether or not to eco-certify an applicant and at what level. The Evaluation Committee's decision is based on the assessor's report, and the applicant's Self-assessment application.

Tourism providers who are successful will receive "Professionally Audited" Eco-certified status, including a STEP "Eco-certified Certificate" and the appropriate logo, detailing the extent to which their operations are contributing to sustainable tourism outcomes. For more information, review the Rating System section.