Saturday, August 24, 2024 The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recently concluded its Hotel Sustainability Training for industry professionals on August 2nd, 2024. Organized in partnership with Agoda and the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID), this two-day event in Colombo, Sri Lanka, aimed to equip hoteliers with the skills necessary to implement sustainable practices according to GSTC Criteria, the global benchmark for sustainability in tourism. Hosted at the Taj Samudra Colombo Hotel, the training drew over 50 participants from various segments of the hospitality industry. Attendees included representatives from international hotel chains such as Hilton Colombo and Radisson Hotel Group, as well as domestic brands like Aitken Spence and Oak Ray Hotels and Resorts.
Independent establishments like The Merchant Galle Fort and Galadari Hotel Colombo were also represented. “The concept of sustainable tourism is gaining momentum as more travelers become aware of the environmental and social impacts of their journeys,” said DCM Sonnek . “Whether it’s seen as a trend or something more enduring, we all share a responsibility—both as travelers and as part of the tourism industry—to reduce any negative effects on the environment.
The United States supports sustainable tourism because it not only protects our planet but also ensures that communities around the world can benefit from tourism in a way that is fair, responsible, and long-lasting.” This event offered a dynamic platform for hoteliers to deepen their understanding of sustainable development, guided by GSTC experts Mr. CB Ramkumar, Vice-Chair & Trainer, and Mr.
Chinthana Duminduhewa. Notable attendees at the opening ceremony included Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Douglas Sonnek from the U.
S. Embassy in Sri Lanka and Deputy Director General Mr. Upali Ratnayake from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.
“Tourism has traditionally been an important sector for Sri Lanka, but more so now as it embarks on its journey towards full economic recovery. The sector and its professionals are doing their best to contribute towards this and we saw evidence of this during the training. The enthusiasm of the executives and active participation was commendable.
Their passion, keenness to absorb new knowledge and wholehearted commitment to sustainable tourism was fully evident. It was an absolute pleasure to work with the group, and I wish them all the very best,” said Mr. CB Ramkumar , Vice Chair of GSTC .
“Sri Lanka is an important market for Agoda, and expanding our training program in partnership with GSTC and USAID has been a great way to support the sustainable development of the local tourism industry. It was also insightful to meet our partners and learn about their ongoing sustainable initiatives over the two days. We hope this training will accelerate their journey towards certification,” said Boratay Uysal , CSR & Sustainability Senior Manager of Agoda .
This training represents the 7th collaboration between Agoda and GSTC and the third partnership with USAID under the U.S. Support for Economic Growth in Asia (US-SEGA) project.
Previous sessions in Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, India, and Nepal have collectively trained over 360 hoteliers. Participants gained insights from best practices and real-world case studies, with a particular focus on the GSTC Hotel Criteria. Upon successful completion, participants received a certificate of attendance, fulfilling the requirement for the GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism, which can be earned through an online exam within four weeks of the training.
US-SEGA’s Sustainable Tourism Development Initiative also offers scholarships for participants to take the official GSTC Sustainable Tourism Exam..
