Businesses — Ratings

STEP Rating System

You will not receive a rating if you are only purchasing the project management & self-assessment license as a Sustainability Planning & Reporting tool. If you wish to become Eco-certified, you first have to provide STI with “Required” Policy & Documentation (P&D) to demonstrate your compliance with STEP. Those who are successful will receive a 1 star Eco-certified logo. Those that wish to receive a 2-5 star Eco-certified logo have to have an on-site assessment, which verifies that they comply with a predetermined percentage of the available points.

There are eight Sections in the online self-assessment. Each Section is broken into Categories and associated Practices that include individual criteria. Business Practices are scored based on difficulty and are awarded 1 point, 3 points, or 9 points respectively. Criterion and questions involving a more reactive approach, such as doing no harm or mitigating negative impacts, receive a lower point value. Higher point values are assigned to criteria that are considered best practices, including those that encourage preventative and proactive actions.

Applicants may opt to answer Not Applicable (N/a) for select questions. In each of these instances, the applicant will have to provide proof that N/a applies during the on-site audit process. Applicants who answer N/a for select questions will receive a final rating percentage score based only on the applicable items. For more information, please visit the Document Your Policies & Procedures section of our website.

Final ratings will be assigned to applicants based on the STEP 3.0 rating system detailed below. Note that the rating system for STEP 1.0 (i.e., applications received prior to April 30, 2009) is available here:

	Eco-certified - 5 Stars: These Eco-certified tourism businesses are industry leaders. They make sustainable development and environmental and socio-cultural issues their priority. They are striving to be environmentally innovative and socially responsible. They have a positive impact on the environment, local communities, and their clients. They will invest both time and money to maintain sustainable travel practices. These Eco-certified tourism businesses have had an on-site audit, which verified that they've received 85-100% of the available points.
	Eco-certified - 4 Stars: These Eco-certified tourism businesses are highly environmentally and socio-culturally responsible. They are continuously working to better their operations and enhance their sustainable travel practices. The management is knowledgeable about environmental/social issues related to their business, and they are working to become industry leaders. These Eco-certified tourism businesses have had an on-site audit, which verified that they've received 65-84% of the available points.
	Eco-certified - 3 Stars: These Eco-certified tourism businesses are somewhat low-impact, and may consider environmental and social issues in their operational decisions and programming. They also may make choices based on environmental and social responsibility, but due to monetary, time, or efficiency issues, may forego their commitment to best practice ecological sustainability. These Eco-certified tourism businesses have had an on-site audit, which verified that they've received 30-64% of the available points.
	Eco-certified - 2 Stars: These Eco-certified tourism businesses are somewhat low-impact, and may consider environmental and social issues in their operational decisions and programming. They also may make choices based on environmental and social responsibility, but due to monetary, time, or efficiency issues, may forego their commitment to best practice ecological sustainability. These Eco-certified tourism businesses have had an on-site audit, which verified that they've received 30-64% of the available points.
	Eco-assessed - 1 Star: These Eco-assessed tourism businesses have completed a self-assessment and met a minimum set of core criteria, thereby demonstrating their commitment to sustainable tourism outcomes. However, since they have not received an on-site audit from a STEP Accredited Auditor, the extent to which they have integrated sustainable business practices into their operations may be unknown. Eco-assessed tourism providers who provide the required impact data for less than 12 months and a minimum of three months receive 1 Star. Those who provide data for 12 months or more receive 2 Stars.

Disclaimer: The Sustainable Eco-Certification Program™ (STEP), the STEP Logos, and the Sustainable Travel International™ (STI) logo are trademarks of Sustainable Travel International. No company or person shall use the marks in connection with a program or service or in any way that indicates the program or service is certified until written authorization is provided by STI. STI may pursue legal recourse if the mark is misused.