ITB Asia 2023 logoITB Asia is being held at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, on the 25- 27 of October 2023. This annually held B2B trade show and convention for the travel industry, is organized by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau. 

ITB Asia is co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia covering the key verticals in the travel industry such as Leisure, MICE, Corporate, and Travel Technology. With three shows in one event, it has become Asia’s largest travel showcase. Last year, ITB Asia 2022, more than 27,000 business appointments were made.

GSTC will participate at ITB ASIA with two insightful sessions:

Sustainable Business Travel based on GSTC’s Framework
Day 1, 25 October, Wednesday, at 3:30pm to 4:30pm, at the MICE Show Asia 

Business travel is an important factor in national and international business. However, it also has a negative effect on our environment. Using the GSTC Criteria as a reference point allows corporates and organizations to improve their commercial performance and enhance their reputation by adopting sustainable working policies and practices.

This session is a conversation between the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and American Express Global Business Travel (AMEX GBT).

Learn from AMEX GBT’s initiatives that highlight sustainable hotels meeting the GSTC Criteria. Spotlighting such accommodations and steering travelers towards eco-friendly choices enables corporate clients to make impactful choices. With millions of room nights booked annually, AMEX GBT has the potential to drive industry-wide change.

Join us to understand better the GSTC framework for the business travel sector and how AMEX GBT’s commitment to preferring certified sustainable hotels drives change globally.

Speakers:
• Roi Ariel, General Manager, GSTC
• Vibhav Singh, Principal Consultant – Commercial Lead, Global Business Consulting, AMEX GBT

Standards and Criteria for Sustainability in Travel and Tourism
Day 3, 27 October, Friday, at  10:30am to 11:30am, at Knowledge Theatre

Sustainable tourism is not just a concept but a global imperative. As the travel and tourism industry continues to grow, so does the need for sustainable practices. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) stands at the forefront of this movement, managing the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainable travel and tourism that ensure tourism benefits local communities, preserves cultural heritage, and safeguards the environment.

During this session, GSTC General Manager Roi Ariel will share valuable insights into the importance of standards, and how they serve as a compass, guiding destinations, businesses, and travelers towards making a more sustainable tourism industry.

As GSTC acts as an international body providing assurance for sustainable tourism certification, we will understand better the importance of certification in providing assurance, with case studies of strict regulations and market benefits.

For example, Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) has developed the first mandatory national program for accommodations based on the GSTC Criteria and GSTC Assurance program. From 2022 through 2030, all accommodations Türkiye must be certified through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.

Another example is Singapore’s Hotel Sustainability Roadmap launched by the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Hotel Association. By 2025 its goal is for 60% of hotel room stock to achieve hotel sustainability certification through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.

Speaker: Roi Ariel, General Manager, GSTC

Discount for GSTC Members

If you are a GSTC Member you can purchase the All-Access Trade Visitor’s pass at 50% off. A special code will be provided by our Membership Team, please email members@gstcouncil.org to solicit it.  Deadline for registration with your GSTC discount code is October 6, 2023, 23:59 (Singapore time)

More information about ITB Asia 2023: https://www.itb-asia.com/

The agenda of ITB Asia 2023: https://www.itb-community.com/itbasia2023/conference-agenda/