YHA Australia has achieved a significant sustainability milestone, becoming the first accommodation network globally to certify its entire portfolio with Ecotourism Australia, with 18 properties receiving ECO or Sustainable Tourism Certification.

The landmark achievement, achieved in January this year, represents a committed and collaborative effort across the network to meet rigorous global standards across sustainable management, environmental stewardship, socio-economic impact and cultural engagement.

Founded on a desire to support the exploration of our planet with minimal ecological impact, YHA Australia offer curious travellers low cost, quality short-stay accommodation spanning from thriving city destinations to off-the-beaten-path locations.

Ecotourism Australia CEO Elissa Keenan congratulated YHA Australia for setting the benchmark as the first accommodation network to certify their entire network with Ecotourism Australia.

“YHA Australia’s certification journey demonstrates the power of embedding sustainability across their entire portfolio of 18 properties. By committing to Ecotourism Australia’s internationally recognised certification programs, YHA is aligning its operations with global best practice and showing true leadership in sustainable tourism.

“For travellers, trusted certification gives confidence that their choices make a real difference, and when a well-recognised network like YHA adopts rigorous, independently assessed standards, it sends a clear message that sustainable tourism can be both meaningful and accessible, while supporting nature and local communities.

“We thank the YHA team for trusting Ecotourism Australia as their partner in this journey, and we look forward to continuing to work together as YHA champions sustainable tourism across Australia.”

YHA Australia’s achievement reflects a whole-of-portfolio approach to sustainability, supported by its Sustainable Properties Fund, which invests in initiatives to reduce energy use, carbon emissions, waste and water consumption across its network. Projects include renewable energy installations, solar hot water systems, smart building technology and water conservation measures such as rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling.

Waste reduction is embedded across the portfolio through comprehensive recycling, composting of organic waste, and the elimination of plastic bottled water in favour of refill stations and reusable alternatives.

Community initiatives, including guest swap shelves and food sharing programs, sit alongside a genuine commitment to First Nations engagement connecting guests with Indigenous-led experiences, cultural programming, and community partnerships that deepen what sustainable travel means.

YHA Australia CEO Paul McGrath said that YHA Australia’s 87 years of community-focused, affordable accommodation prove that sustainable travel and accessible properties aren’t mutually exclusive.

“We are exceptionally proud that all 18 of our properties have now achieved certification with Ecotourism Australia, making us the first accommodation network in the country to achieve 100% Certification across our entire portfolio.

“Increasingly, travellers want to know not just where they go but how the places they stay align with their values, and Ecotourism Australia’s certification offers those travellers a clear and trustworthy answer. Ecotourism Australia’s certification provides us with a globally recognised benchmark to apply consistently across our network, which is a clear competitive advantage for YHA.”

YHA Australia CEO Paul McGrath will present at Ecotourism Australia’s flagship Global Sustainable Tourism Summit on the Gold Coast in June, exploring YHA’s approach to how purpose and profit intersect – where bold sustainability missions drive success and profits fuel further impact.

Achieving global best-practice Sustainable Tourism Certification and ECO Certification is a meticulous process, involving more than 200 key criteria across four pillars of sustainability. Ecotourism Australia’s certification programs involve an initial third-party audit to award certification followed by periodic independent audits to maintain certification and demonstrate ongoing commitment to responsible practices.

Accommodation providers who have obtained ECO or Sustainable Tourism Certification from Ecotourism Australia benefit from formal global recognition across leading international booking channels, ensuring their independently verified sustainability performance is acknowledged and trusted by global distribution partners and travellers worldwide.