EUROPE: BeCause, a sustainability data management company for the hospitality sector, launched a universal reporting framework for destinations, as well as a new tool for hotels and certifications, in March. We asked BeCause for a few more details to see how the two tools work within the tourism and hotel sectors and how they help as another step towards data transparency.
Certification Co-Pilot summary
BeCause announced the launch of its Certification Co-Pilot in March. The new tool is designed to “streamline the eco-certification process for hotels and certifiers.”
It is essentially a platform, which allows stakeholders to manage certification applications in one place “reducing manual effort and improving efficiency”.
The Certification Co-Pilot works by connecting hotels directly to certifiers via the BeCause sustainability hub.
Applicants fill in their application on the platform, which then sends the application to auditors for evaluation.
Sustainable Hotel News asked how this worked and how it helped organisations who would have to upload the data themselves.
“Certification Co-Pilot uses automated workflows, intelligent prompts, and data mapping to drastically reduce manual input and accelerate certification timelines. In fact, organisations using the platform experience up to a 60 per cent reduction in time spent compared to traditional processes.”
We also asked about the verification process.
“BeCause’s platform enables real-time updates and synchronisation with third-party certifiers, which helps ensure credibility. For example, certification statuses are connected directly to certifiers and updated automatically, reducing the chance of outdated or incorrect information. Additionally, the Certification Co-Pilot includes built-in prompts to flag incomplete or inconsistent data before submission to auditors, helping maintain data quality from the outset.”
The tool also aims to automatically help hotels keep up with changing legislation and new reporting standards. Figures used to comply with the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) or carbon emission metrics calculated through HCMI are automatically mapped to the hotel’s chosen certification and can then be applied to the application.
BeCause works with globally recognised certifiers such as Green Key, Green Globe, and GreenSign — many of which are also recognised by initiatives and organisations like the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and Travalyst,
Julian Reingraber, strategic development manager at GreenSign said during the launch of Co-Pilot at ITB: “We are excited to be one of the first certifications available through Because’s Certification Co-Pilot and are proud to advance the digitalisation of the certification process, especially helping hotels to a very accessible, fast and smooth process leading to certification.”
Sustainable Hotel News asked how BeCause monitors all different hotel certifications being submitted in the Co-Pilot and whether quantity of submissions could be favoured over the quality of certification.
“The platform doesn’t dilute certification quality; it enhances access to high-standard certifications by removing manual barriers and improving efficiency. Hotels can choose from vetted, respected certifications, and auditors still evaluate each application according to their specific standards.”
And although the people who upload this data maintain ownership and oversight of their submissions within the platform, we asked BeCause if the centralisation of data in this case was a force for good or whether decentralisation was the real path to data democracy?
BeCause said it positions centralisation “as a force for good when it supports transparency, standardisation and real-time access for all relevant stakeholders. By consolidating data in a single, shared hub, the platform eliminates redundancy, improves accountability, and ensures consistent updates across booking engines, certifiers, and tourism organisations.”
The tool is currently being piloted by customers in several markets and will be fully available at the end of Q2 2025.
Destination Framework summary
The new framework for destinations is for members of the Green Destination-backed Good Travel Alliance (GTA) and aims to help destinations measure, track, and showcase their sustainability efforts.
The Green Destination network includes more than 600 destinations in 60 countries. Currently, Lanzarote is the first official pilot destination with plans to add more destinations over the year.
The GTA framework allows stakeholders to track the key sustainability performance indicators of hotels and tourism companies in their markets, including carbon emissions, water usage, waste management, energy consumption and certification status.
Travel businesses can add their data to the framework, creating a centralised database accessible to Good Travel Alliance members.
A destination management organisation can then use this information to inform investment decisions, develop incentive programmes, identify trends, or launch targeted campaigns encouraging local businesses to pursue specific green certifications.
Sustainable Hotel News asked BeCause how long it will take to enter data to the system and whether the framework favours larger destinations and hotels and organisations with bigger budgets?
“The new tools are specifically designed to streamline data entry and reduce the time and resources required — making them accessible to hotel and travel brands and destinations of all sizes… The Good Travel Alliance (GTA) framework integrates directly with existing systems and offers free access to tourism businesses through partnerships, helping to level the playing field for smaller organisations.”
Albert Salman, president of Green Destinations said: “By integrating the data management hub with our reporting framework, we’re providing GTA members with a comprehensive, one-touch overview into the sustainability activities of travel-related businesses — something which was previously not possible.
”Now, when they inquire about the sustainability impact measurement of tourism activities in their regions, they can trust that the data is accurate, standardised, and truly comparable.”
Frederik Rubens Steensgaard, CEO and co-founder of BeCause said: “We are proud to partner with Green Destinations to launch the Good Travel Alliance universal KPIs. In a world where travellers and businesses are demanding greater accountability for sustainability claims, this step ensures that destinations have the information they need to meet their goals.
“Once data is uploaded to the platform, it’s reflected across the hub’s entire ecosystem. E.g if a hotel renews or upgrades its sustainability certification, the updated status is immediately reflected across the platform.”
Salman added: “When you consider that data-gathering for sustainability verifications has often been fragmented, inconsistent, or manually updated, that level of automation, accuracy and transparency is truly invaluable.”
While BeCause says GTA members will get a 50 per cent discount for the framework, when pushed on an actual price Sustainable Hotel News was told “pricing will vary based on specific requirements and features.”
In November BeCause partnered with the Global Destination Sustainability – Movement (GDS-Movement).The partnership will mean tourism and event organisations, including Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs), Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) and National Tourism Organisations (NTOs), will have insight into their region’s sustainable accommodations and offerings.
BeCause partners with GDS-Movement to give tourism sector vital data