SLH’s Groundbreaking Sustainability CTA Report: How Verified Standards Are Changing Luxury Travel — And How Hotels and Airlines Are Responding

Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has released its landmark Call-to-Action (CTA) Sustainability Report, outlining mandatory sustainability criteria for all 650+ properties across 90 countries. This is one of the most structured and fact-verified sustainability initiatives in the luxury hotel sector.

SLH requires its hotels to align with GSTC-recognized criteria, measure carbon emissions, and comply with the 10 Minimum Sustainability Standards, which will become mandatory by 2027.

The Considerate Collection: SLH’s Verified Sustainable Hotel Portfolio

The Considerate Collection includes hotels that meet:
- independent sustainability certification;
- GSTC-recognized verification;
- full compliance with SLH’s 10 Minimum Standards.

Examples of hotels officially listed by SLH:
- The Datai Langkawi, Malaysia – rainforest restoration and conservation.
- Gangtey Lodge, Bhutan – cultural preservation and community support.
- Finca Serena Mallorca, Spain – regenerative agriculture and water management.
- Keemala, Thailand – ecosystem rehabilitation and low-impact design.

All properties undergo independent evaluation aligned with GSTC criteria.

SLH’s 10 Minimum Sustainability Standards

Mandatory for all SLH hotels by 2027:
- carbon measurement;
- energy efficiency;
- water stewardship;
- waste reduction and elimination of single-use plastics;
- protection of local ecosystems;
- community and local supplier engagement;
- fair employment practices;
- sustainability governance;
- independent verification;
- annual sustainability reporting.

SLH explicitly states that the standards are aligned with GSTC Criteria.

How Airlines Are Responding

While SLH governs hotels, its report influences the broader travel ecosystem. Airlines increasingly adopt:
- transparent carbon reporting;
- sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pilots;
- onboard waste-reduction programs;
- voluntary passenger carbon offset options.

This aligns the aviation sector with the sustainability expectations established by SLH.

What Travelers Gain

Travelers can expect:
-more independently verified sustainable hotel options;
- transparent carbon and impact data;
- luxury experiences that follow strict environmental and social criteria;
- global expansion of the Considerate Collection.
“SLH is setting the most rigorous, verifiable sustainability baseline in global luxury hospitality. Yet compliance costs, the need for independent audits, and climate-related pressures may challenge smaller properties.”