Singapore – Digital journey platform Agoda, the International Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and the US Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID) have partnered to supply sustainability trainings for hoteliers throughout Asia, which can strengthen the sustainability transformation and foster inexperienced progress inside the area’s lodge business, with fashions which have the potential for international utility.
The Sustainable Tourism Growth Initiative builds on the success of Agoda’s ongoing partnership with the GSTC, which has offered sustainability schooling for tons of of hoteliers up to now throughout India, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand to help the business to fulfill the rising client demand for extra sustainable lodging choices. This partnership with USAID, by the US-Supporting Financial Development in Asia (US-SEGA) exercise, expands the coaching scope and geographic protection to extra markets in South and Southeast Asia.
- Enlargement of current instructor-led lodge sustainability coaching at 5 locations throughout the area in India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, and the Philippines, will equip hoteliers with the required instruments and information to boost their sustainability practices.
- Growth of a self-paced digital lodge sustainability coaching platform, which can provide localized, interactive studying modules, supplementary research supplies, and quizzes that tackle the distinct sustainability challenges throughout the area. Masking totally different elements of the GSTC Resort Standards, the worldwide commonplace for sustainability in journey and tourism, the platform will present an introduction to sustainability and sustainable tourism, insights into international traits and business greatest practices, and sensible instruments on making use of these learnings. The educational supplies on the platform shall be obtainable in English and regional languages.
- Institution of a sustainability scholarship fund for choose resorts throughout the area , notably resorts which can be small, medium, and women-owned enterprises, to obtain additional coaching and procure third-party sustainability certifications acknowledged by GSTC.
Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of Agoda, mentioned, It’s our duty to lift consciousness about sustainability amongst each our customers and lodging companions and are thrilled to help the business in growing the information and dealing in the direction of third-party certifications. Partnering with USAID will assist elevate and scale our tasks which mix Agoda’s in depth provide community with GSTC’s world-leading technical experience on sustainability to achieve much more markets throughout Asia.
USAID India Mission Director Veena Reddy, said, USAID believes it’s vital to work in collaboration with the personal sector to drive sustainable improvement progress, together with mitigating local weather change. Tourism, when sustainable, offers an essential pathway for inclusive financial progress and preservation of cultural heritage, and generally is a beneficial device for environmental conservation. We’re proud to launch this regional partnership with Agoda and GSTC in India to help, notably as they overcome the financial setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the power of small and medium enterprises to take part in a extra sustainable financial system.
Talking of the advantages of this initiative, Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC, shared, The information and expertise acquired from these trainings function an important step for hoteliers to acquire credible third-party sustainability certifications for his or her properties and successfully navigate the method with a radical understanding of the GSTC Resort Standards. They may even have the chance to boost their skilled credentials and marketability within the hospitality business, opening doorways to profession development alternatives sooner or later.
The fifth iteration of the instructor-led lodge sustainability coaching organized by Agoda and GSTC, and the primary in partnership with USAID, shall be held in Jaipur, India on March 28-29, 2024. This coaching has the help of the Rajasthan Division of Tourism, and is predicted to garner as much as 60 members.
The interactive two-day coaching session shall be held in all 5 international locations and can permit hoteliers to be taught from GSTC trainers and visitor audio system to realize an in-depth understanding of the GSTC Trade Standards and assess their present efficiency to determine higher short-, medium-, and long-term sustainability objectives. Individuals who full the coaching will obtain a certificates of attendance from the GSTC, together with eligibility to take a seat for an non-obligatory examination to obtain the GSTC Skilled Certificates in Sustainable Tourism – each of which contribute to assembly the Workers Engagement Criterion A4 of the GSTC Trade Standards for Resorts, which requires employees to carry certificates and {qualifications} in related disciplines and expertise.
By way of this partnership, Agoda, GSTC, and USAID purpose to not solely practice particular person hoteliers on sustainable lodge administration, however catalyze information sharing on sustainable administration practices throughout the business, and can create a community of sustainability professionals within the native lodge business.
About Agoda
Agoda, a digital journey platform, helps anybody see the world for much less with its nice worth offers on a world community of 4M resorts and vacation properties worldwide, plus flights, actions, and extra. Agoda.com and the Agoda cellular app can be found in 39 languages and supported by 24/7 buyer help.
Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is a part of Reserving Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG) and employs greater than 6,900 employees in 26 markets, devoted to leveraging best-in-class know-how to make journey even simpler.
About GSTC
The International Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages international sustainable requirements, often known as the GSTC Standards. There are three units: Vacation spot Standards for public policy-makers and vacation spot managers, Trade Standards for resorts and tour operators, and MICE Standards for Venues, Occasion Organizers, and Occasions & Exhibitions. These are the guiding rules and minimal necessities that any tourism enterprise or vacation spot ought to aspire to achieve as a way to defend and maintain the world’s pure and cultural sources whereas guaranteeing tourism meets its potential as a device for conservation and poverty alleviation.
The GSTC Standards type the muse for GSTC’s assurance function for Certification Our bodies that certify resorts/lodging, tour operators, and locations as having sustainable insurance policies and practices in place. GSTC doesn’t immediately certify any services or products, however offers accreditation to those who do. The GSTC is an unbiased and impartial USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit group that represents a various and international membership, together with nationwide and provincial governments, main journey firms, resorts, tour operators, NGOs, people and communities – all striving to realize greatest practices in sustainable tourism.
Data for media and the press: www.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/
About USAID
The USA Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID) is the world’s premier worldwide improvement company and a catalytic actor driving improvement outcomes. USAID’s work advances U.S. nationwide safety and financial prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. Study extra about USAID.
