The Code of Business Conduct is a foundational element of the establishment’s corporate social responsibility framework, and helps ensure ethical, lawful and responsible operations across the organisation, building trust with stakeholders and supporting long-term social sustainability.
The establishment develops and implements a Code of Business Conduct. This is a dated, internal document, and covers all of the following key dimensions:
- policies and corporate culture: how the organisation fosters ethical business conduct and an integrity-driven corporate culture;
- anti-corruption and bribery: policies aligned with international frameworks (e.g. UN Convention against Corruption) and identification of at-risk functions;
- business ethics: upholding values of fairness, transparency and integrity;
- corporate governance: structures defining decision-making, accountability and control;
- human rights and social safeguards: commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, including protections against abuse, exploitation and harassment (with attention to vulnerable groups); and
- animal welfare: where applicable, policies addressing the welfare of animals on-site.
The Code of Business Conduct is:
- formally approved by general management and dated;
- reviewed at least once every 4 years; and
- shared with all staff (e.g. via onboarding, handbook, training) and made publicly available upon request.
A chain-wide Code of Business Conduct may be used, provided that it demonstrably applies to the applicant establishment (relevant brand, country, property type); staff at the establishment are aware of and have access to it; and the establishment can show how the Code of Business Conduct is implemented in practice at property level. Chain-wide documents alone are not sufficient; the establishment still demonstrates awareness and implementation during the audit.
During the audit, the establishment presents a dated and management approved Code of Business Conduct document covering all required dimensions.
When relevant, the auditor also verifies:
- evidence of staff awareness and training (e.g. onboarding materials); and
- interviews with management and staff if the auditor has any doubt about implementation or understanding.
The Code of Business Conduct is a foundational element of the establishment’s corporate social responsibility framework, and helps ensure ethical, lawful and responsible operations across the organisation, building trust with stakeholders and supporting long-term social sustainability.
The establishment develops and implements a Code of Business Conduct. This is a dated, internal document, and covers all of the following key dimensions:
- policies and corporate culture: how the organisation fosters ethical business conduct and an integrity-driven corporate culture;
- anti-corruption and bribery: policies aligned with international frameworks (e.g. UN Convention against Corruption) and identification of at-risk functions;
- business ethics: upholding values of fairness, transparency and integrity;
- corporate governance: structures defining decision-making, accountability and control;
- human rights and social safeguards: commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, including protections against abuse, exploitation and harassment (with attention to vulnerable groups); and
- animal welfare: where applicable, policies addressing the welfare of animals on-site.
The Code of Business Conduct is:
- formally approved by general management and dated;
- reviewed at least once every 4 years; and
- shared with all staff (e.g. via onboarding, handbook, training) and made publicly available upon request.
A chain-wide Code of Business Conduct may be used, provided that it demonstrably applies to the applicant establishment (relevant brand, country, property type); staff at the establishment are aware of and have access to it; and the establishment can show how the Code of Business Conduct is implemented in practice at property level. Chain-wide documents alone are not sufficient; the establishment still demonstrates awareness and implementation during the audit.
During the audit, the establishment presents a dated and management approved Code of Business Conduct document covering all required dimensions.
When relevant, the auditor also verifies:
- evidence of staff awareness and training (e.g. onboarding materials); and
- interviews with management and staff if the auditor has any doubt about implementation or understanding.