Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has launched a new collection promoting "actively sustainable" luxury properties.

The Considerate Collection debuts with 26 properties in 16 countries that meet the “highest criteria” in sustainability, including Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa in Costa Rica (pictured), France’s Domaine de Manville, Forestis in Italy and Gangtey Lodge in Bhutan.

The collection currently includes member hotels already within the SLH portfolio, though the brand has said it has an “exciting pipeline” of new properties to add in the coming months.

SLH has collaborated with accredited sustainable tourism organisations to create a “trusted and transparent” framework for acceptance into the collection. These include Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), the international, independent body established by the United Nations Environment Program and the United Nations World Tourism Organization, and Greenview, whose platform is the only GSTC-recognised sustainable tourism management tool.

SLH said criteria for the Considerate Collection align with the GSTC Criteria across three key pillars - Community Minded, Cultural Custodians and Environmentally Conscious.

Each hotel has been certified by a GSTC Accredited Certification Body, certified to a GSTC Recognized Standard or has passed an assessment by the SLH Sustainability Advisory Panel with review by the GSTC.

“We’ve carefully curated the Considerate Collection to spotlight luxury boutique hotels exemplary in their sustainability efforts, making it easier for customers and the travel trade to make better-considered choices,” said SLH’s vice president of development, Daniel Luddington.

“Staying in small, independent hotels goes hand in hand with travelling sustainably and all SLH hotels are already steeped in the many facets of sustainable hospitality, so we haven’t had to look far outside of our portfolio for the launch collection. We also have an exciting pipeline of new hotels to add in the coming months. 

“This is not about creating a new brand, but rather building on the strong brand values that have existed within SLH since inception - independent spirits, community-centric, questioners, storytellers and the ultimate belief that Small is beautiful and a better way to travel.”

Randy Durband, chief executive of Global Sustainable Tourism Council added: “SLH has impressed us with their dedicated support of their member hotels, and we’re delighted to collaborate with them to devise a robust framework, consistent with GSTC measures but uniquely matched for all luxury boutique hotels.  We are sure it will be a huge success.”

SLH has added a dedicated Considerate Collection section on its website to make it easily accessible. Web pages for participating hotels are also marked with a sage leaf and include content outlining their sustainable initiatives.

To coincide with the launch, SLH had announced new sustainable initiatives forming part of a "renewed strategic vision" to mark its 30th anniversary.

The brand is working with hospitality sustainability consultancies The Considerate Group and H2 Sustainability Consulting to develop bespoke toolkits to help support its member hotels.

The company’s quality inspection reports, carried out annually by its international mystery hotel inspectors, have also been revamped and are currently being trialled to include a 50-point Considerate module focusing on customer-facing, front of house initiatives.

SLH has also updated its corporate head office policies, including implementing volunteer days for staff and the launch of a partnership with social change and reforestation charity, TreeSisters.