Hotel and Serviced Accommodation Accreditation (ISO 31030)

In an increasingly uncertain world, business travellers face unique risks. Whilst many public venues (like airports, museums, train stations) impose security measures, hotels remain accessible indoor spaces, making them at risk locations in any travel itinerary.

GSA provides an independent global standard for hotel and serviced accommodation security, regarded as one of the most rigorous hotel accreditation programmes in the world. The standard is developed and maintained by former counter terrorism, military, and specialist police/security experts.

GSA’s approach ensures that organisations and their travelling staff, students or guests cab be reassured that accommodation aligning with robust travel risk management and risk control practices is available.

A Global Security Standard for the Hotel and Serviced Apartment Industry

Until now, hotel and accommodation security could not be assessed against a unified standard. At GSA, we believe the safest travel programmes include trusted, accredited accommodation backed by transparent, measurable criteria.

While many hotels invest in security, these efforts often go unrecognised. GSA’s hotel accreditation and security assessment empowers properties to prove their credentials and helps corporate travel, educational institutions, and NGOs make safer lodging decisions.

A GSA accreditation certificate enhances trust in your accommodation choices, strengthens your duty of care and travel safety programme, and differentiates properties to clients prioritising secure stays.

The GSA Security Assessment Standards

Our standards are risk-based, structured to evaluate each property in context of its environment, threat profile, and traveller use. The standards underpin three core categories:

CORE CATEGORY 1 – Strategic, Policy & Governance

Standard 1: Strategic security planning aligned with travel risk frameworks

Standard 2: Policies, procedures and governance for hotel security management

CORE CATEGORY 2 – Physical & Technical Security

Standard 3: Perimeters, car parks, site layout, access zones

Standard 4: Surveillance, lighting, alarm systems, intrusion detection

Standard 5: Access control for guests, staff, contractors/visitors

CORE CATEGORY 3 – Workforce & Training

Standard 6: Staff vetting, ongoing security training, oversight

Each standard is underpinned by clear evidence-based criteria, assessments, and scoring to support independent hotel accreditation and serviced accommodation safety certification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How were the GSA security standards designed?

We convened and co-ordinated counter-terrorism and hotel security experts, government stakeholders, and global industry input. We analysed real-world incidents, and stress-tested standards before formal adoption under a UK Ofqual-regulated awarding body for hotel accreditation.

If a hotel has 5 stars doesn’t that mean it will have good security?

Not necessarily. Star ratings often measure luxury and guest experience, not security. Many top-tier hotels have strong security, but some do not. The GSA standard is designed to assess true accommodation risk and hotel safety credentials.

How can travellers or travel-buyers assess a hotel’s security aside from GSA accreditation?

Currently, few reliable public indicators exist. Star ratings, guest reviews, or amenities rarely guarantee security. GSA accreditation offers an independent, validated recognition of security measures and is integrated into travel risk management decisions.

What are the advantages for hotels of becoming accredited?

Hotel management gain independent validation of their security systems. Stakeholders and travel bookers see transparency. Accreditation helps meet the duty of care obligations of travelling organisations, boosts confidence from corporate clients and travel management companies (TMCs), and may lead to reduced liability or insurance costs. GSA’s assessment report will also be interest to TMCs for this reason. GSA accreditation differentiates hotels from competitors, offering strong potential for increased occupancy rates and reduced insurance premiums.

Who undertakes the inspection for GSA?

Our qualified security professionals, usually with police, military or corporate security backgrounds perform on-site audits, supported by cyber, intelligence, and vetting teams to provide a holistic assessment across hotel security.

Is there any international standard for hotel security?

No central ISO standard exists solely for hotel security. In 2021, ISO published ISO 31030, which addresses travel risk and security management broadly. In 2024, ISO published ISO 31031, focused on educational/youth travel. Both emphasise the importance of accommodation security. Further information about GSA’s role in these guidance standards is available on our website.