2016 GSTC European Regional Meeting: Themes & Speakers

GSTC Overview of Activities and Updates | Current and Future Tourism in Greece | Sustainability Standards and Programs for European Tourism | European Best Practices for Sustainable Management of Destinations and Enterprises | The Value of a Global Sustainability Brand for the Tourism Industry in Greece | Marketing sustainable tourism in European destinations to European markets | Apply Standards and Certification To Destinations and Enterprises

GSTC Overview of Activities and Updates

A presentation from the GSTC on the organization’s role in global sustainable tourism and an update on recent developments and activities.

Luigi Cabrini, Chair of the Board, GSTC

Advisor on Sustainability to the Secretary-General, UNWTO

Randy Durband, CEO, GSTC

Current and Future Tourism in Greece

An overview of sustainable tourism policies and key activities

Dimitris Malliaropulos, Chief economist, Bank of Greece

Sustainability Standards and Programs for European Tourism

How can programmes for managing sustainable tourism in Europe best complement each other? Representatives from key certification programmes in Europe will debate on the roles and values of their schemes and how the global GSTC Criteria and GSTC activities fit into the European context.

Andrés Fellenberg van der Molen, Technical Director, GSTC

Director & Senior Lead Auditor, Green Partner

Sören Stöber, Commercial Director, Travelife for Hotels

Martin Balas, TourCert

Albert Salman, Founder & Director, Green Destinations

Riza Epikmen, FEE Green Key

Nikos Bakaris, Lead Auditor, Control Union

European Best Practices for Sustainable Management of Destinations and Enterprises

Presentation of best practice case studies from Greece, Iceland, Denmark, Germany, Ireland and Spain. Representatives of destinations, hotel chains, and tour operators will present their experiences and lessons learned on the application of sustainability parameters.

Mary-Mulvey, CEO, Ecotourism Ireland

Tom Johnston, Senior Manager Sustainability – Product & Purchasing, TUI Group

Ioannis Spilanis, UNWTO Observatory Program, Aegean Islands

Silvia Barbone, Founder and Director, Foundation for European Sustainable Tourism (FEST)

Naut Kusters, Manager, Travelife for Tour Operators

Fivos Tsaravopoulos, Manager, Paths of Greece

Marketing sustainable tourism in European destinations

This session will discuss challenges in the actual GSTC marketing model promoting Destinations, hotels and tour operators certified by approved certification programmes and how the forthcoming GSTC Certified model will impact the marketing of destinations.

Dr. Xavier Font, University of Surrey	Lonneke de Kort, CEO, BookDifferent.com
Melvin Mak, Manager of Sustainability, TUI Benelux	Olaf Schlieper, Sustainability & Innovations Manager, German National Tourist Board
Martina von Münchhausen, Tourism Expert, WWF	Rika Jean-François, Corporate Social Responsibility Commissioner, ITB Berlin

The Value of a Global Sustainability Brand for the Tourism Industry in Greece

This session will discuss hotel certification new developments, destination certification, and the relevant refugee challenges.

George Drakopoulos, President & CEO, tourism generis

Special Adviser, UNWTO

Athanasia Nikolopoulou, Crete Project Coordinator, The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (ARCHELON)

George Politis, Secretary of the Board, Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature

Gerasimos Damoulakis, Mayor of Milos Island

President of Tourism Board, Central Union of Greek Municipalities

Panos Thomakos, English Site Editor, Tornos News

Diogenis Venetopoulos, Commercial Director, Variety Cruises

Apply Standards and Certification To Destinations and Enterprises

Practical tips on applying what the GSTC and other organizations offer businesses and destination managers, and a review of key learnings from the two days.