The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), in collaboration with Agoda and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), successfully concluded its Hotel Sustainability Training for industry professionals on September 6, 2024, in Cebu, Philippines. This two-day event, held at the Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu, aimed to empower hoteliers with the essential skills and knowledge to implement sustainable tourism practices aligned with GSTC Criteria, the globally recognized standards for sustainability in travel and tourism.
Over 40 participants from the hospitality industry gathered for the training, eager to embrace sustainable practices. The event kicked off with inspiring opening remarks by Ms. Massa Dunnaville, Mission Economist at USAID, Dr. Gelena N. Asis-Dimpas, Assistant Regional Director at the Department of Tourism, and Mr. Mike Hwang, Country Director at Agoda. These leaders emphasized the importance of sustainability and collaboration within the tourism sector.
Under the expert guidance of CB Ramkumar, Vice Chair and GSTC Trainer, and Trang Nguyen, GSTC Trainer, participants delved into sustainable development practices, drawing on real-world hotel case studies. They gained valuable insights into managing environmental impacts, promoting social responsibility, and ensuring economic viability within the tourism industry.
This training marked the 8th collaboration between Agoda and GSTC and the fourth with USAID under the U.S. Support for Economic Growth in Asia (US-SEGA) project. Previous sessions held in Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have already benefitted nearly 400 hoteliers.
“Cebu and its islands are a beautiful cluster that is unspoilt by over tourism – as yet,” highlighted CB Ramkumar, Vice Chair of GSTC. “The hoteliers in this training tool back sustainability principles, practices, and processes to ensure that their hotels specifically and Cebu in general takes the path into sustainability as detailed in the GSTC framework. The general enthusiasm of the hoteliers during the training gives us good reason to believe that they will do all it takes to further their business and sustainability goals. I wish them the very best in their journey.”
Boratay Uysal, CSR & Sustainability Senior Manager of Agoda, shared his perspective on the training’s significance: “The Philippines is recognized as highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, making the tourism sector’s sustainability efforts more crucial than ever. We believe this training arrives at the perfect time and place, and we are thrilled by the enthusiasm and interest shown by our accommodation partners in embracing sustainable practices.”
USAID/Philippines Mission Economist Massa Dunnaville highlighted the importance of collaboration: “USAID supports activities that serve dual goals of sustainable resource management and lifting livelihoods from poverty. Development and business leaders alike recognize that by collaborating and leveraging each other’s unique resources, assets, and skill-set, they can tackle problems together that neither of them could solve alone.”
Upon successfully completing the course, participants received a certificate of attendance, fulfilling the training requirement for the GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism. Furthermore, scholarships were provided through the US-SEGA initiative for the official GSTC Sustainable Tourism Exam, available online within four weeks of the training.
This impactful training signifies a collective commitment to promoting responsible and sustainable tourism practices in the Philippines and beyond. By equipping hoteliers with the necessary knowledge and skills, the GSTC, Agoda, and USAID are paving the way for a more sustainable and thriving tourism industry.
