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🌿 Exciting News for the MICE Industry! 🎉 Another step in the right direction. Great to hear about the release of the GSTC MICE Criteria for the Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conferences/Conventions, and Events/Exhibitions industry! 🌍✨ As sustainability continues to be a top priority for businesses and travelers alike, the launch of these criteria by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is a significant step towards promoting sustainable practices in the MICE sector. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and developed through an inclusive process, the GSTC MICE Criteria offer a holistic approach to sustainability, covering aspects such as community support, local employment, cultural interactions, and more. By following these criteria, businesses can enhance their operations, reduce negative impacts, and contribute positively to the environment and local communities. I am excited to see the MICE industry embracing sustainability and moving towards a more responsible future. Let's work together to make a difference and create events that not only leave a lasting impression but also a positive impact on the world! 🌱💼 #Sustainability #MICEIndustry #GSTCCriteria #EventPlanners #SustainableEvents

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that the GSTC MICE Criteria has been published and is available for the public. Developed for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions with support from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the GSTC MICE Criteria will guide businesses toward implementing sustainable practices in response to the growing focus on sustainability. “After a year of dedicated work and effort, we announce the formal release of the GSTC MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. We thank the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), who has been a key contributor to its development. Let’s seize this opportunity together to significantly advance the MICE industry’s journey towards sustainability,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC. The Criteria are used for education and awareness-raising, policy-making for businesses and government agencies and other organization types, measurement and evaluation, and as a basis for certification. They are the result of a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism. They are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; (D) Environmental impacts. Read more here and download the GSTC MICE Criteria today!  https://lnkd.in/dCSuZ8NK #GSTC #GSTCNews #GSTCCriteria #GSTCMICECriteria #MICE #Venues #EventOrganizers #Events #Exhibitions

Great news for everyone in the meeting industry Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)) recently launched the new GSTC MICE Criteria, which is divided into three sub-sectors: Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. The GSTC MICE Criteria aim to serve as the global sustainability standards for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) businesses and provide a common understanding of sustainable practices in the MICE industry worldwide. #sustainablemeetings #sustainablemeetstockholm #miceindustry

The topic of sustainability in the hospitality and tourism industry in Singapore was discussed a fair bit in the media over the past week - with announcements of sustainability-enabled hotels being operated At Changi Airport and Punggol. I was asked to ponder if this was a trend in Singapore. My thoughts on this are, we have moved way beyond the ‘trend’ stage to almost being the norm. Sustainable Tourism is serious business. Most countries have aligned with the UN SDG. Our very own Singapore Tourism Board has 3 primary sustainability focal areas – becoming a sustainable urban destination; building a sustainable tourism sector and showcasing our sustainability efforts. In terms of hotels, there is the global sustainability certification issued by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Most of the major hotel groups/brands are already members of this council, including the Accor group; Four Seasons; Hilton, IHG, our very own Marina Bay Sands, Pan Pacific group and Ascott. Over time, we can expect to see more hotels becoming GSCT-certified. Therefore, any new builds (hotels) should already strongly incorporate sustainability features. This is probably an expectation now. The two main drivers in this push to sustainable operations: a. globally, countries are taking concerted and concrete steps to ensure sustainability is practiced in their economies; b. the international traveller is recognizes the importance of sustainability and are intentional about ensuring travel is carried out in a sustainable manner. So hotels and resorts do not have much of a choice and have to operate with clear practices and policies that are undergirded by the principle of sustainability. #sustainability

Singapore has been named APAC's most sustainable travel destination in the 2024 Global Destination Sustainability (GDS-Index) Index, and ranked 7th globally, up 10 spots from 2023.   The GDS-Index is a sustainability benchmarking and improvement programme for destinations around the world, with 100 participating destinations this year. This achievement reflects our strong commitment to sustainable tourism through our extensive green initiatives and collaborative efforts from our industry partners.   Earlier this year, we introduced the GSTC #MICE Criteria in partnership with Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) to provide guidance for venues and event organisers on sustainable practices. Building on this, we’ve launched a MICE Industry Carbon and Waste Baseline study to track the MICE industry environmental impact and drive effective strategies for waste reduction and decarbonisation.   As we celebrate this milestone, we're excited to share that Singapore will be hosting the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Conference 2024 from 13 to 16 November, convening global experts, tourism industry leaders and professionals to discuss, collaborate and shape the future of sustainable tourism.   Our journey towards sustainability continues, and we look forward to working with our partners to create a greener MICE industry.    For more information on the GDS-Index, visit: https://lnkd.in/dQYdpyhM To register for GSTC Conference 2024, visit: https://lnkd.in/gSzHpVS3   Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) #PassionMadePossible

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Belize Tourism Board have made history, here at ITB Berlin, by forming the Alliance's first #Destination Partnership, to advance #sustainabletourism across the country's #hospitalityindustry and worldwide. As a well-known leader in #sustainable and responsible #tourism, #Belize develops projects that encourage travellers to engage with the #biodiversity and natural beauty of the country, as well as #community-based tourism clusters that preserve #IndigenousCommunities. We are proud to welcome Belize as our first #countrypartner and look forward to working with the Belize Government to champion and share its #sustainableinnovation. Together, we will play a leading role in the development of the inaugural World #SustainableTravel & #Hospitality Awards, taking place later this year. To find out more about the awards, which are the result of close #collaboration between the World Travel Awards, the Alliance and Belize, please visit https://lnkd.in/dK49vXEv. What's more, Belize will also participate in our Accelerator programs, with the aim of advancing engagement and #innovation across the country's #hospitalitysector, in turn providing a blueprint for further collaboration with #governments around the world - to drive sustainable tourism development and deliver Net Positive Hospitality. To find out more about this ground-breaking new partnership, visit https://lnkd.in/gZqg5hMw #NetPositive #Partnership #InnovativePartnerships #DrivingInnovation #ResponsibleTourism #GlobalSustainability #CollaborationforChange

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We hear a lot about transparency in the sector when it comes to data reporting and with that comes trust. BeCause has partnered with 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. Frederik Rubens Steensgaard, CEO of BeCause said: “Trust is the foundation of sustainability. By automating the verification of sustainability claims with direct communication from certification bodies, we ensure that trust is prioritised across the entire value chain – from consumers to tourism organisations.” #data #reporting #sustainability #hotels #CSRD #certifications

🌍 Incredible First Day at #GSTC2024Singapore united 500 tourism professionals from over 55 countries in Sentosa, Singapore, to exchange insights! 🇸🇬   The ✨Opening Ceremony was inspiring as always. Singapore’s Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Mr. Alvin Tan, welcomed attendees. With a goal of having 60% of hotel rooms GSTC-certified by 2025 and Sentosa Island aiming for 100% by next year, Singapore is setting an impressive pace toward “large experiences, small footprints.” Their choice of certification was no coincidence, as #GSTC leadership, Randy Durband, Luigi Cabrini, Mihee Kang, shared how credible certification and impartiality are essential in building trust and upholding quality.   Today, we're offering a snapshot of just a few of the impactful sessions that filled Day 1:   🏨 In a dynamic discussion “Strategies for Hotel Chains”, Jeffery Smith (Six Senses), Siew Kim Beh (The Ascott Limited) and Rod Simpson (BWH Hotels) shared their journey toward sustainability within their hotel chains, emphasizing that sustainability is a team effort requiring the commitment of everyone involved. Siew Kim Beh highlighted the importance of supporting hotel staff and suppliers in learning about sustainability by providing training opportunities. Jeffrey Smith explained how they motivate team through practical team-building events focused on community and environmental initiatives. The panel also debunked the myth of high costs, showing that even moderate investments in sustainability yield strong ROI and Return on Sustainability (ROS). 
💼 The forward-looking session “Driving Profitable Sustainability in ASEAN” explored new business opportunities in region’s sustainable tourism landscape. Edison Chen and Loic Dujardin presented new tools empowering travelers to make eco-conscious choices: Trip.com now highlights GSTC-certified hotels, while Traveloka features GSTC-aligned accommodations and is testing an AI-powered Sustainability Chatbot. Loic closed with a crucial reminder: travelers expect pristine destinations, but if they arrive to find environmental degradation, it risks disillusionment — a serious challenge the industry must address to maintain trust and appeal.   🌿 “Tour Operators and Local Culture”session highlighted a unique role TOs play in preserving local culture. Leaders from Intrepid Travel, Viavia Tour, Yamabushido Training and Malaysian Association Of Tour And Travel Agents (MATTA) shared approaches to engaging and empowering communities, showing how local partnerships can drive cultural sustainability and create meaningful impact.   The GSTC Conference is always a whirlwind of insights and inspiration. Stay tuned — we’ll be sharing more soon! 🌱💡 #UCSL #GSTC2024 #GSTCAccredited #GSTCCertification Claudine Nagiah

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that the “Sustainable Operations Guidelines” of Six Senses has gained GSTC-Recognized Standard status, meaning that the guidelines document has been fully recognized as equivalent to the GSTC Industry Criteria. Neil Jacobs, CEO of Six Senses, said: “Sustainability drives every decision we make at Six Senses. Quite simply, it’s non-negotiable. Sustainability has been ingrained in our DNA from day one in 1995, long before it became a focus for others in the luxury hospitality space. We lead by example through who we are, what we do, and the experiences we deliver to our guests. You could say Six Senses was a pioneer in that sense.” Jeff Smith, Vice President of Sustainability, added: “Sustainability is at the heart of all that we do, and it’s important to clearly define exactly what we aim to achieve. Over the past three years, my team, with great support from our operational departments, has been upgrading our policy framework, Six Senses Sustainable Operations Guidelines. The previous version has been in place since 2014, and with these extensive revisions, we have taken the additional step of requesting a review from GSTC. The feedback we received was valuable, and we are thrilled to have achieved GSTC recognition status for our guidelines.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dFuMtEPf #GSTC #GSTCNews #GSTCRecognizedStandard #SixSenses #sustainability  Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas