Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel becomes first Sustainable Tourism Certified Marriott in Australia

Ecotourism Australia is delighted to announce that Sydney Harbour Marriott has met globally recognised sustainable tourism criteria to become the first Marriott International Hotel in Australia to achieve their prestigious Sustainable Tourism Certification.

Photo credits: Sydney Harbour Marriott

This recognition by Ecotourism Australia highlights Sydney Harbour Marriott’s commitment to meeting best-practice standards across environmental, socio-economic, cultural and sustainable management principles. The hotel’s initiatives include ‘Serve 360’, their sustainability and social impact platform guiding eco-conscious actions such as implementing energy efficiency systems, prioritising water conservation, and championing sustainable and local produce sourcing for menu items. Additionally, their ‘Connect Responsibly’ initiative allows their numerous event planners and attendees to meet sustainability objectives.

Ecotourism Australia CEO, Elissa Keenan applauded the exceptional commitment of Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel.

“Congratulations to Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay for taking this significant step on their sustainability journey. Their enthusiasm for and alignment to globally recognised sustainable tourism standards is a testament to their team and their commitment.

“We are proud to announce that Sydney Harbour Marriott is the first Marriott property to achieve our Sustainable Tourism Certification, and we look forward to working with Marriott to certify more of their Australian properties over the coming years.”

Sydney Harbour Marriott General Manager, Bernhard Langer, said achieving Sustainable Tourism Certification represents a significant step forward in the hotel’s ongoing journey towards sustainability and responsible tourism.

“Achieving Ecotourism Australia’s Sustainable Tourism Certification is a proud milestone for the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay. Guided by Marriott’s Serve 360 Sustainability Program, we’ve embedded environmentally responsible practices across every aspect of our operations, from reducing energy and water consumption to improving waste management and building strong partnerships with our local community.

“This recognition reaffirms our commitment to minimising our environmental footprint as a hospitality leader, while continuing to deliver exceptional guest experiences as we work towards a more sustainable future.”

Achieving global best-practice Sustainable Tourism Certification is a meticulous process, involving over 200 key criteria across four pillars of sustainability. Certification involves an initial third-party audit, followed by periodic independent audits to maintain certification and demonstrate ongoing commitment to sustainability.

Accommodation providers who have obtained Sustainable Tourism Certification from Ecotourism Australia now have the option to add their certification to their Booking.com listing, making demonstrating sustainability credentials easier than ever.