The Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Hotel Sustainability Training for Industry Professionals, organized in partnership with Agoda and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), successfully concluded on the 10th to 11th of October 2024. This two-day training held in Bali aimed to equip hoteliers with the skills and knowledge necessary to implement sustainable tourism practices in line with GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism.
The training brought together 55 participants from the hospitality industry, making it the largest hotel sustainability training organized in Indonesia to date. The event began with opening remarks from Gede Gunawan, Senior Country Director of Agoda, and Phillip Greene, Deputy Director Economic Growth and Education Office of USAID/Indonesia, followed by IB Agung Partha Adnyana, Chairman of Bali Chapter of The Indonesian Tourism Industry Association and Dr. Agus Made Yoga Iswara, Chairman of Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association.
The event offered hoteliers a valuable opportunity to deepen their knowledge of sustainable development under the expert guidance of Mochamad Nalendra, GSTC Trainer, alongside Herdi Andrarilachi, GSTC Co-Trainer.
This marks the 9th training in collaboration between Agoda and GSTC and the fifth in partnership with USAID through the U.S. Support for Economic Growth in Asia (US-SEGA) project. The training was the last in-person training hosted this year under the partnership with USAID/US-SEGA. It builds on the success of previous trainings held in Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, which benefited over 450 hoteliers.
“As GSTC trainer, I am thrilled to reflect on the recent GSTC Hotel Sustainability Training in Bali by Agoda and USAID. This event underscored the vital importance of sustainable tourism in Bali, a destination renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. By fostering sustainable practices, we can ensure that Bali remains a thriving destination for generations to come. I was particularly impressed by the participants’ active engagement throughout the training. Their enthusiasm and willingness to learn showcased a strong commitment to integrating sustainable practices in their operations,” said Mochamad Nalendra, GSTC Trainer.
Reflecting on the event, Boratay Uysal, CSR & Sustainability Senior Manager at Agoda, shared, «Agoda has been actively involved in environmental sustainability initiatives and corporate volunteering programs in Bali and greater Indonesia for several years. It is very rewarding to be able to support our accommodation partners on their sustainability journey, helping them strengthen their efforts and obtain sustainability certifications through this training.»
“The Indonesian tourism sector is an important contributor to the country’s economy. However, to maintain and grow the tourism sector, it will require incorporating sustainable environmental practices across the whole sector. This starts with improving the knowledge of those in the tourism industry” said Phillip Greene, Deputy Director Economic Growth and Education Office, USAID/Indonesia.
Participants learned from best practices and real-world hotel case studies and were able to dive in-depth into the GSTC Hotel Criteria.
Upon successful course completion, participants receive a certificate of attendance and meet the training requirement for earning the GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism, which can be obtained through an online exam provided by the GSTC in the following four weeks of the training. US-SEGA, Sustainable Tourism Development Initiative partner, provides scholarships for participants to take the official GSTC Sustainable Tourism Exam.
If you are eager to be part of the industry’s sustainable transformation, consider exploring GSTC’s upcoming courses here.
