CST CST CST

We are busy preparing for the CST in the Harmony Hotel, hoping to win five leaves upon our first evaluation (which has never been done thus far!).

The Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST) is a rigorous certification system, administered by the Costa Rican ministry of tourism, that awards hotels with a sustainability rating of “leaves” based on a scale of one to five that is similar to the Mobile Star evaluation of hotel services.

The CST bases its judgments on four factors:

1. Biological-Physical: How does the property impact and protect its surrounding environment?

2. Services and Infrastructure: How do the property’s operations affect the environment?

3. Social-Economic Environment: What effect does the property have on nearby communities, including staff and community education as well as working with community service providers?

4. External Client: How does the property promote and teach responsible
tourism with guests?

People frequently ask us why is it necessary for the Harmony Hotel to be “certified” as a green hotel when we are already implementing a number of sustainability practices. We have found that, in a climate where “green-washing” has exploded as a
marketing ploy, it is an important part of our mission to identify the Harmony Hotel as genuine in its passionate commitment to the environment and local community throughout every level of its operations. In doing so, we can help travelers to create an itinerary that is truly aligned with their ecological interests and concerns.

The CST is not currently mandatory for all properties in Costa Rica, which
makes it even more imperative that the consumer chooses from CST certified
properties. By doing so, they will support fair, honest and, above all,
truly sustainable business practices.