How we evaluate sustainable tourism businesses
GoGood listings are curated by professional researchers and local experts, and evaluated with the Stewardship Scan — an assessment built on Green Destinations' Good Travel Scan (GTS) and extended with GoGood Bonus questions on local ownership and third-party certification. Scores range from 0 to 100 and reflect real community, environmental, and economic impact.
What the score means
How we measure stewardship
Every listed business is assessed across 10 dimensions drawn from the Green Destinations Good Travel Scan. Points are weighted by the depth and difficulty of each area, totaling 104 points on the base rubric.
Sustainability policies, goals, reporting, and how the business communicates its practices to guests.
Community engagement, human rights, local benefit, and relationships with neighbors and guests.
Fair wages, training, equal opportunity, worker well-being, and local hiring practices.
Energy efficiency, renewable energy use, emissions tracking, and climate action.
Waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and elimination of single-use items.
Water conservation, efficient fixtures, responsible sourcing, and wastewater management.
Air and water quality, chemical use, noise, and light pollution controls.
Local and seasonal sourcing, sustainable supply chains, and responsible procurement.
Biodiversity protection, wildlife-friendly operations, and habitat stewardship.
Cultural heritage protection, authentic storytelling, and respectful representation.
On top of the 104-point Good Travel Scan, GoGood recognizes two additional indicators of sustainable tourism that travelers care about. These are bonus points only — there is no penalty for businesses that don't qualify.
Majority-owned and operated by residents of the destination community, keeping travel dollars local.
Verified by a recognized sustainability certification body (e.g. GSTC-recognized schemes, B Corp, LEED).
How a business gets listed
Our researchers and local experts vet each business for authenticity, local ownership, and community impact before invitation.
Businesses complete a detailed self-assessment covering the 10 dimensions above, typically taking 20–30 minutes.
Our team reviews responses, requests supporting documentation where needed, and confirms the score.
Listed businesses commit to an achievable improvement plan and track progress over time.
Take the free Stewardship Scan to see where you stand and get a tailored improvement plan.