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STEP Application | STEP User's Guide | Intro to Eco-Certification
STEP Required Paperwork | STEP LOGIN
DETAILS
Benefits | Four Steps to Sustainable Tourism | Applying for STEP Tourism Provider Categories | Rating System | Admin | Fees
THE BENEFITS OF STEP
STEP is focused on enhancing tourism providers' triple bottom line of economic profitability, respect for the environment and social responsibility. This approach benefits consumers, resource managers, host communities and the tourism providers themselves.
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BENEFITS OF ECO-CERTIFICATION
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| ENHANCED QUALITY |
STEP is focused on impact management, helping tourism providers to ensure the preservation of destinations and cultures for future generations. This equates to more attractive environments and better products.
STEP provides access to standards recognized as best innovative practices within the travel industry, helping businesses to meet higher standards through continuous improvement. |
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IMPROVED PROFITABILITY
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STEP is a systematic approach that lowers costs through resource productivity and waste reduction while positively contributing to environmental conservation and the well being of local people.
STEP assists tourism providers in adding value to local communities' economies, helping them to safeguard the livelihood of local and indigenous people.
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| BROADER MARKET APPEAL |
Tourism providers licensed to use STEP logos demonstrate their commitment and performance to environmental and socio-economic issues, making them more attractive to sustainable tourists which encompass nearly 36% of the U.S. travel market or 55.1 adult American travelers.1
1 Source: The Geotourism Study - Phase I Executive Summary, Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), National Geographic Traveler 2002
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FOUR STEPS TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
STEP is designed to assist tourism providers in measuring their environmental, economic, and social-cultural impacts while enhancing positive impacts and mitigating negative impacts:
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ECO-CERTIFICATION IN FOUR STEPS
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STEP 1:
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Benchmarking. Tourism providers who wish to be Eco-certified are first required to Benchmark their operations. Benchmarking refers to the first part of the STEP process that measures specific performance indicators. These indicators call for the applicant to submit quantifiable performance data that will be evaluated and scored against national performance data and global best practices.
Benchmarking provides an opportunity for applicants to measure their impacts so that they can assess and improve upon their performance. Tourism providers who submit successful Benchmarking applications receive a STEP "Benchmarked Certificate" and logo.
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STEP 2:
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Performance Requirements. Those who wish to be Eco-certified are then required to conform with the STEP Performance Requirements as well as Performance Requirements that are applicable to their category or niche within the industry.
Self-Audit. To provide applicants with an opportunity to improve upon their performance prior to pursuing an On-site audit, niche-specific performance requirements are detailed in question format within the Self-Audit questionnaire.
This educational-based tool encompasses a set of standards and related questions with weighted point values designed to help determine the extent to which a business meets the principles of sustainable development. For more information, review the Rating System section.
A STEP User's Guide is also available on-line to assist tourism providers in improving their Self-Audit ratings. Interested companies will also be referred onto qualified consultants.
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STEP 3:
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On-site Audit. Tourism providers who complete steps one and two must then notify STI. STI will appoint them to a STEP-certified Auditor to undertake an on-site audit. On-site audits are mandatory for Eco-certification 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 target services first hand.
STEP-certified Auditors undertake on-site audits to verify applicant's performance and document and compare their findings with the information provided by the applicant in their application. The length of time required to complete an audit varies according the size and scope of the applicant's operations. Also, audits are undertaken randomly. However, applicants will be contacted at least seven days prior to the audit.
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STEP 4:
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Evaluation. A separate, voluntary Evaluation Committee will then review the Auditor's report and make the determination of whether or not to certify an applicant and at what level. The Evaluation Committee's decision is based on the auditor's report, the applicant's Benchmarking application, and professional references that are provided by the applicant.
Tourism providers who are successful will receive 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.
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APPLYING FOR STEP
STEP applications and corresponding performance requirements are currently available for tour operators, accommodations, attractions and transportation service providers. For more information, review the Tourism Providers Categories section.
The entire STEP process is normally completed within 30-90 days depending on the complexity of the application and the extent of the background information provided. Applications that are incomplete, fail to clearly define the product for which accreditation is sought, or are internally inconsistent will require further clarification by STEP and will therefore take longer to process. If necessary, the applicant will be contacted for clarification.
Information supplied to STI will be treated as confidential pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement. However, Benchmarking data and information demonstrating best practices may be disseminated to the travel industry as a means of education and raising standards in an aggregated or disguised form that does not betray confidential business information.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ECO-CERTIFICATION IS, IN PART, BASED UPON CONFORMANCE WITH THE STEP PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARIZED BELOW:
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SUSTAINABILITY POLICY AND PERFORMANCE:
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A written policy incorporating relevant criteria under each principle category below appropriate to the location, nature and scale of your operations.
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| ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: |
On-going commitment to Environmental Responsibility.
Identify the ways in which your organization: 1) mitigates the negative environmental and ecological impacts associated with its operations and as appropriate, increases its positive environmental and ecological impacts; 2) regularly assesses and establishes achievable targets to lessen negative environmental and ecological impacts.
Performance areas include: facilities and program management; green house gas emissions; solid waste and wastewater management; parks, protected areas and unique ecosystem conservation; flora and fauna protection; water and non-renewable energy consumption; employee and service provider training.
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| SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS: |
On-going commitment to Social Responsibility.
Identify the ways in which your organization: 1) mitigates the negative social and cultural impacts associated with its operations and as appropriate, increases its positive social and cultural impacts; 2) regularly assesses and establishes achievable targets to lessen negative social and cultural impacts.
Performance areas include: customer service; group management; safety and emergency preparedness; cultural sensitivity and community benefit.
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| ECONOMIC IMPACTS: |
On-going commitment to Economic Responsibility.
Identify the ways in which your organization: 1) mitigates the negative economic impacts associated with its operations and as appropriate, increases its positive economic impacts; 2) regularly assesses and establishes achievable targets to lessen negative economic impacts.
Performance areas include: direct and indirect economic benefits to host communities and conservation organizations; public health; ethical business practices.
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| INNOVATIVE BEST PRACTICES: |
Actions your organization has taken that demonstrate exemplary performance within the travel and tourism industry in any of the above areas. |
STEP TOURISM PROVIDER CATEGORIES
STEP is designed for the following segments of the U.S. travel and tourism industry. Please note that a separate eco-certification is currently being developed for Small Businesses and Community-based Tourism:
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STEP TOURISM PROVIDER CATEGORIES
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TOUR OPERATORS
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Tour Operators are defined as companies whose main business is taking individuals or groups of people to one or several places. Tours typically combine multiple vacation elements such as walking and driving and viewing and interacting with the environment. This category encompasses both in-bound and out-bound tour operators as well as tour wholesalers and travel agents.
Tour Operators may offer air or land transportation and overnight accommodations as separate services, but these services are to be assessed separately.
Medium-sized Tour Operators are defined as tourism providers whose annual gross revenues from their operations range from $125,001 - $2,000,000 (USD).
Large Tour Operators are defined as tourism providers whose annual gross revenues from their operations range from $2,000,001 - Plus (USD).
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ACCOMMODATIONS
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Accommodations are defined as facilities designed for transient occupancy to house overnight visitors or travelers. Accommodations typically include, but are not limited to bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, condominiums, cottages, eco-lodges, home-stays, hostels, hotels, inns, lodges, motels and resorts.
The accommodation may offer air or land transportation and tours as separate services, but these services are to be assessed separately. Please note that swimming pools, golf courses, or restaurants associated with the properties are not included in eco-certification.
Medium-sized Accommodations are defined as tourism providers whose annual gross revenues from their operations range from $125,001 - $2,000,000 (USD).
Large Accommodations are defined as tourism providers whose annual gross revenues from their operations range from $2,000,001 - Plus (USD).
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ATTRACTIONS
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Attractions are defined as facilities and or natural areas with fixed infrastructure that offers entertainment and or educational experiences for the public. Attractions typically include, but are not limited to aquariums, heritage centers, museums, theme parks, visitor centers and zoos.
The attraction may offer air or land transportation, overnight accommodations and tours as separate services, but these services are to be assessed separately.
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| TRANSPORTATION SERVICE PROVIDERS |
Transportation Service Providers are defined as companies whose main business is offering tourism-related, motorized air, water, or land transport services to individuals or groups of people. This category encompasses taxi, shuttle and charter services as well as small airlines, scenic cruises, off-road vehicle tours and the like.
The transportation service provider may offer overnight accommodations and tours as separate services, but these services are to be assessed separately.
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| SMALL BUSINESS |
Small business is the backbone of the travel and tourism industry. Small businesses are microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees whose annual gross revenues from their operations range from $0 - $125,000 (USD).
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COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM
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Community-based tourism is socially sustainable tourism that is initiated and operated by local people, fostering traditional culture and responsible stewardship of the land while balancing power within communities so that conservation and community well-being are emphasized over individual profit.
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RATING SYSTEM
One, two, or three points are assigned to each question in the Self-Audit questionnaire. Two or three points are assigned to questions that encourage preventative and proactive actions towards contributing to conservation efforts and community well being. Questions involving a more reactive approach, such as doing no harm or mitigating negative impacts, will receive one or two points.
Up to 100 points are awarded for STEP principle criteria and up to 20 bonus points are awarded for best practices. Best practices refer to specific measurable indicators that demonstrate how the company is achieving exemplary performance. Applicants must provide documentation, such as photographs and reports, in a separate attachment for any proposed best practices that they would like to submit.
A final rating will be assigned to applicants based on a four level rating system including Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories as detailed below.
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RATING SYSTEM
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Level 4. Eco-certified Platinum (80-100+ Points). These Eco-certified tourism providers 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.
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Level 3. Eco-certified Gold (60-79+ Points). These Eco-certified tourism providers 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.
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Level 2. Eco-certified Silver (40-59+ Points). These Eco-certified tourism providers 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.
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Level 1. Benchmarked Bronze. These tourism providers are Benchmarked NOT Eco-certified. As a Benchmarked company, they have met a 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-certified Auditor, the extent to which they have integrated sustainable business practices into their operations is unknown.
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Please Note: Applicants may answer Not Applicable (N/A) for selected questions where N/A is an answer from which they may choose. Applicants who answer N/A for these selected questions will receive a final rating percentage score based only on the applicable items.
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ADMINISTRATION DETAILS
STEP LOGO USAGE
Pursuant to a license agreement with STI, all applicants who fulfill the essential criteria for sustainability through the STEP process are entitled to use and display the appropriate STEP logo, including expiration date, in their printed and on-line marketing materials. Logos displayed on-line must be hyper-linked the STEP Ratings web description which provides information to consumers on what the logos mean.
PERIOD OF VALIDITY
Benchmarking and Eco-certification are valid for two years from the date of issuance. Thereafter, new applications with the appropriate fees must be submitted 30 days before the expiration of the two-year period.
Tourism providers interested in renewing their Benchmarked and Eco-certified status will be required to complete the 4-STEP process again. In addition, applications must introduce any significant changes to the scale and / or nature of the tourism provider's operations that may affect compliance with STEP principles.
ONE-YEAR REPORT
STI wishes to credit tourism providers for their successes in their first year of being Benchmarked or Eco-certified. Tourism providers who are interested in upgrading their Benchmarking or Eco-certification rating are required to provide a one-year report introducing any significant changes to the scale and / or nature of their operations that may improve or affect their rating. This report will be reviewed and evaluated by the Evaluation Committee and may or may not require a new on-site audit.
MONITORING
STEP is initially based on a voluntary self-assessment process as described under STEP: A 4-Step Process. Throughout the two-year Benchmarking or Eco-Certification period, both internal and external monitoring, are undertaken by STI to help ensure continued compliance with STEP principles.
The utilization of professional references and direct feedback from clients, resource area managers, local communities, and service providers comprise the monitoring component. STI will review, evaluate and score this feedback to help ensure compliance to STEP principles.
WITHDRAWAL FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
If a tourism provider appears to be in non-compliance with STEP principles, at STI's sole discretion, through the monitoring and auditing processes, or if it fails to assist STI in such processes, a written warning will be issued. The tourism provider shall be required to supply proof of compliance with STEP principles or assist STI in the monitoring and auditing process, as applicable, within seven (7) days of receiving STI's written warning.
If the tourism provider fails to do so, at STI's sole discretion, their Benchmarked or Eco-Certified status will be immediately withdrawn. Upon the withdrawal of their status, the tourism provider must cease to market their products and / or services as Benchmarked or Eco-Certified, remove any STEP logos (if applicable) from all marketing materials including those promoted by third parties, notify all relevant government agencies and other key stakeholders, and comply with all post-removal obligations.
APPEALS PROCESS
If a tourism provider's application for Benchmarking or Eco-Certification is denied or if Benchmarking or Eco-Certification is withdrawn, then the tourism provider may appeal this decision to STI within seven (7) days. STI's Evaluation Committee will then evaluate the appeal.
If STI's Evaluation Committee finds that a tourism provider is still in non-compliance with core criteria, the company does not have the right to appeal the final decision. However, if a tourism provider submits a new application(s) within 60 days of Benchmarking or Eco-Certification withdrawal or denial, only one-half of the applicable Application fees will be due. If the new application is submitted after 60 days, the full fee is due.
FEE STRUCTURE
Fees for STEP Benchmarking and Self-Audit Application submission, review, evaluation, processing and logo licensing are detailed below. To provide the best value possible and to help eliminate any barriers to entry, application fees are based on annual gross revenues from overall annual operations as detailed below.
STEP fees are non-refundable and are tiered for STI members versus non-members. For more information on becoming a member of STI, visit our Memberships page. Application fees for non-members include a "Supporting Business" membership with STI and associated benefits.
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GROSS REVENUES
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MEMBERS
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NON-MEMBERS
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$0 - 125,000
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$150
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$200
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$125,001 - 250,000
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$175
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$250
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$250,001 - 500,000
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$250
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$375
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$500,001 - 2,000,000
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$500
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$750
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$2,000,001 - 5,000,000
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$1000
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$1250
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$5,000,001 - Plus
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$2000
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$2250
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PLEASE NOTE
STEP fees are reviewed annually and may be adjusted from time to time. The fees detailed above represent STEP Benchmarking and Self-Audit only. Fees do NOT include the cost of an on-site audit from a STEP-certified Auditor. Applicants are responsible for incurring the cost of the Auditor's assessment as well as any related travel expenses.
As part of the STEP process, applicants agree to provide reasonable access through either free of charge or at-cost entry for STEP-certified Auditors to evaluate their products and or services.
Applicants who gross less than $125,000 annually may qualify for financial support. Contact STI for more information.
ON-SITE AUDIT FEES
STEP-certified Auditors are subcontracted by STI. Our fee structure is currently being finalized. However, the going industry rate for on-site audits range from $1000-1200 per day for larger businesses and $600-800 for smaller, less complex businesses. These fees do not include related expenses and travel time, which are normally charged at one half the full time rate. Contact STI for more information.
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