GSTC MICE Standard
for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions
The GSTC MICE Standard (for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions), known previously as GSTC MICE Criteria, aim to serve as the global sustainability standards for the industry and were created to provide a common understanding of sustainable tourism in the MICE industry throughout the world. The GSTC MICE Standard are the minimum that any MICE business should aspire to reach. They are organized around four main themes: effective sustainability planning, maximizing social and economic benefits for the local community, enhancing cultural heritage, and reducing negative impacts on the environment. They have applicability to the entire MICE industry.
The GSTC MICE Standard have been developed for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. The development process was an 18-month-long journey from September 2022 to February 2024, with support from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
Some of the uses of the standard include the following:
- Help define sustainability in a holistic manner
- Raise awareness of the breadth and nature of sustainability
- Serve as the basis for certification for sustainability
- Serve as basic guidelines for MICE businesses to become more sustainable, which includes guidance for identifying more sustainable suppliers and service providers
- Provide greater market access in the growing market for sustainable businesses, serving as guidance for the MICE businesses in choosing suppliers and partners
- Help consumers identify sound sustainable MICE businesses
- Serve as a common denominator for information media to recognize sustainable MICE businesses
- Offer both the public and private sectors a starting point for developing sustainable MICE business requirements
- Serve as basic guidelines for education and training on sustainable MICE by universities, hospitality schools, or associations
- Demonstrate leadership that inspires others to act
The GSTC Standard indicate what should be done, not how to do it or whether the goal has been achieved. This role is fulfilled by performance indicators, associated educational materials, and access to tools for implementation, all of which are an indispensable complement to the GSTC Standard.
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The GSTC MICE Standard has three sets of suggested Performance Indicators:
GSTC Industry Standard
The GSTC Industry Standard, for the Tourism Industry, including performance indicators for hotels and tour operators.
GSTC Industry Standard
GSTC Destination Standard
The GSTC Destination Standard, relates to sustainable management of Tourism Destinations.
GSTC Destination Standard
GSTC Attraction Standard
The GSTC Attractions Standard, relates to sustainable management attractions such as theme parks, museums, and national parks.
GSTC Attraction Standard
GSTC Standard Translations
The GSTC Standards are used for a variety of applications (education and awareness-raising, policy-making for businesses and government agencies and other organization types, measurement and evaluation, and as a basis for certification). Therefore, the GSTC Standards have been translated into many languages, available to the public to download on the GSTC website:
Translations of the GSTC Standards in other languages
Future Revisions of the GSTC Standards
The GSTC Standards are being revised every few years, in a manner to comply with the ISEAL Alliance standard-setting code. The revision process includes two public consultations, allowing anyone interested to comment.
More details on the GSTC Standards Revision & Feedback
Commercial use of the GSTC Standards
The GSTC Standards are available from the GSTC website free of charge for their non-commercial use. As the owner of the GSTC Standards, the GSTC reserves the right to assess and charge fees for the commercial use of the GSTC Standards.