Rita Kuan, Market Development Manager at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), took the stage at the MICE Show Asia and ITB Asia 2024 which was held on October 23 to 25, 2024, at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
Her participation in the session “Driving Sustainability: Strategies for a Greener Future in the MICE Industry,” provided insights into the importance of sustainable practices in the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector and the recently launched GSTC MICE Criteria.
Kuan’s participation alongside co-speakers Chua Mun Yuen (Vice President of Research & Sustainability at Resorts World Sentosa), Ian Gan (Chief Sustainability Officer at Singapore EXPO), and Adam Piperdy (Founder & Chief Experience Officer of Unearthed Production), created a dynamic dialogue about innovative strategies to enhance sustainability within the MICE industry. The session attracted a diverse audience eager to learn how to integrate sustainable practices into their operations, driving positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes.
She was also at ITB Asia, Asia’s leading travel trade show, co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, in the session “Driving Sustainability: Harnessing GSTC Standards for a Resilient Tourism Future” held on the 24th of October.
A significant emphasis of Ms. Kuan’s talk was the necessity for collaboration among industry stakeholders. She advocated for tracking performance metrics and establishing accountability to achieve long-term sustainability goals. By aligning with the GSTC MICE Criteria, organizations can ensure that their sustainability efforts are not only impactful but also measurable.
“Sustainability is not simply a destination, it’s an ongoing journey. I am honored to present at ITB Asia and MICE Show Asia to address this important concept to the audience, inviting industry professionals to start their sustainability initiatives into their operations. The discussions with our MICE Criteria Early Adopters also highlighted how a unified criteria is playing a critical role in shaping more sustainable and efficient MICE operations. Throughout such collaborations between event organizers and venue providers, we can collectively drive progress toward a more responsible and innovative future,” said Rita Kuan, the Market Development Manager at GSTC.
Ian Gan and Adam Piperdy will also be speaking at GSTC Global Conference #GSTC2024Singapore at the panel “Sustainable Events” where along with other colleagues, will share insights on implementing sustainable practices throughout the event lifecycle, from venue selection and waste management to catering and transportation. The GSTC conference would be held at Resort World Sentosa, where it is certified against GSTC-D Criteria, while the hotel sector is also a GSTC-certified hotel.
