The Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard
How did the GER® Standard come about?
The Long Run was founded in 2009 as an initiative of the ZEITZ Foundation, established by entrepreneur and sustainability pioneer Jochen Zeitz with Sir Richard Branson as co-chair.
The Global Ecosphere Retreat® (GER®) standard evolved from this.
What is the Global Ecosphere Retreat® Standard?
It is a leading tourism sustainability certification, aligned to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and other global frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Biodiversity Framework. In 2024, it was recognised by Travalyst. In 2026 the GER® standard declared compliance with the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGTD) and is therefore included in Travalyst’s list of sustainability certification schemes for accommodation providers.
“The Global Ecosphere Retreat’s standard is one of the world’s best standards for privately protected areas.”
The purpose of the standard is to:
Inspire and support the uptake of a balanced and holistic approach to sustainability based on the 4Cs of Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce.
Benchmark leading practices in sustainable tourism-based conservation.
Provide a framework to report on the impact of tourism.