A group of sustainable luxury properties are being brought under the Small Luxury Hotels umbrella.
The Considerate Collection initially comprises 26 boutique hotels in 16 countries from Costa Rica to France.
SLH is making it easier for travel trade and customers to identify each Considerate Collection hotel by featuring them within a specific section on its website.
Each hotel must meet the highest criteria in sustainability, with SLHcollaborating with sustainable travel and luxury hospitality players to create a trusted and transparent framework.
These include Global Sustainable Tourism Council, a not-for-profit body established by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO); and Greenview, whose platform is the only GSTC-recognised sustainable tourism management tool.
Criteria for the Considerate Collection align with the GSTC’s across three key elements ensuring all the hotels are community minded, cultural custodians and environmentally conscious, all underpinned by a strong sustainability management system.
SLH development vice president Daniel Luddington said: “We’ve carefully curated the Considerate Collection to spotlight luxury boutique hotels exemplary in their sustainability efforts, making it easier for customers and the travel trade to make better-considered choices.
“Staying in small, independent hotels goes hand in hand with travelling sustainably and all SLH hotels are already steeped in the many facets of sustainable hospitality, so we haven’t had to look far outside of our portfolio for the launch collection.
“We also have an exciting pipeline of new hotels to add in the coming months.
“This is not about creating a new brand, but rather building on the strong brand values that have existed within SLH since inception – independent spirits, community-centric, questioners, storytellers and the ultimate belief that small is beautiful and a better way to travel.”
Global Sustainable Tourism Council chief executive Randy Durband added: “SLH has impressed us with their dedicated support of their member hotels, and we’re delighted to collaborate with them to devise a robust framework, consistent with GSTC measures but uniquely matched for all luxury boutique hotels.”