Four readiness areas to organise first
- Evidence ownership — for each requirement, one person who knows where the records are and keeps them current.
- Document gaps — policies, procedures and records that are missing, outdated or held only in someone’s head.
- Public claims — what your website, OTA listings and sales decks already say, and whether you can support it.
- Operational responsibility — whether departments actually run the practices the documents describe.
Local and community evidence is often the weakest part
Standards such as those recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) include social, cultural and local-economy criteria alongside environmental ones. Hotels often have good utility data but thin evidence on local hiring, local purchasing, community engagement or cultural respect. Organising that evidence honestly—what is planned, observed or measured—is where place-based readiness work helps most.
Regenera has no affiliation with, or approval from, GSTC or any certification body.
Questions to ask before hiring a certification specialist
- Is the body accredited or recognised for the standard we want?
- What exactly will they assess, and what evidence format do they expect?
- How are site visits, sampling and non-conformities handled?
- What does it cost, including surveillance and renewal?
- Where does their role end and our implementation responsibility begin?
Clear boundary
- Certification decisions, audits and formal assessments belong to an appropriate certification body under its own process.
- Regenera Thailand does not issue certification, act as a certification body or auditor, guarantee certification outcomes, or provide formal ESG assurance, carbon verification, ecological surveys, engineering or legal advice. Where those are needed, we say so and help you brief the right specialist.
Frequently asked questions
Can Regenera certify our hotel?
No. Regenera supports readiness, evidence organisation and implementation. Certification is issued only by an appropriate certification body.
Does readiness work guarantee we will pass?
No. It helps you understand gaps and organise evidence so the formal process is clearer. The outcome depends on your performance and the certification body’s assessment.
When should we start preparing?
Ideally before you commit to an application date, so you can close real gaps rather than rush documentation.