As part of GSTC’s Annual Meeting, we are hosting a series of hands-on workshops for sustainable tourism practitioners and destinations on the morning of September 27, 2012. We’re bringing together experts in the field so that you’ll have an opportunity to learn practical tips on how to best manage, measure and market your sustainability in a small setting.  Check out the full schedule of workshops and training courses.

All workshops and training courses are free for GSTC members – you can register for them here. Non-members are also welcome to attend for a small attendance fee – please register here. 

Note: If you are interested in becoming a GSTC member to take full advantage of the workshops and training courses, you can find out more information on GSTC membership.

Location: George Washington University School of Business, Funger Hall on 2201 G Street, NW Washington, DC

Workshop 1: Sustainability Reporting Workshop: Linking the GSTC and the Global Reporting Initiative Framework

Time: 8:00 to 8:55, Room: Funger 620

Speakers: Eric Ricaurte Co-founder Green View and Amos Bien, GSTC Technical Director
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has become a de facto standard for sustainability reporting in large corporations. There is much overlap between the GRI and the GSTC Criteria. This talk will discuss how to combine reporting and linkages between the two initiatives.

Non-Members Registration Fee: $ 75

Workshop 2: Smart Destinations

Time: 8:00 to 9:50, Room: Funger 520
Speakers: Angel Diaz, ALS and Carlos Romero, Segitur, City of Barcelona

Innovation, technology, and sustainability are the core pillars of a smart destination. Learn from the advancements of case studies and participate in a dialogue to identify key stakeholders and the dynamics to implement a smart destination.

Non-Members Registration Fee: $120

Workshop 3: Are Travelers Looking for Sustainability? Getting a Return on Your Social Media, Marketing & Content Development

Time: 9:00 to 10:45, Room: Funger 651
Speakers: Richard Edwards, Founder of Ecoism; Audrey Scott & Daniel Noll, Founders of Uncornered Market; Alexi Huntley Khajavi, Vice President of MercuryCSC

The key to positioning Sustainable Tourism is demonstrating what sustainability is, communicating why sustainability matters, and convincing customers to act. This workshop will help participants understand:

  • the concept of story and the importance of effective storytelling in creating engaging content that leaves deep and lasting impressions
  • strategies, platforms, and tools that enable exposure, engagement and conversion
  • application in sustainable tourism for product differentiation and consumer education

Non-Members Registration Fee: $ 120

Workshop 4: Aligning with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria – Adopting and Adapting the Criteria

Time: 9:00-9:55, Room: Funger 620
Speakers: Cathy Parsons, Chair of the Accreditation Panel; Amos Bien, Technical Director GSTC

The speakers will discuss how tourism businesses, certifiers, and others can align their activities and
standards with the GSTC Criteria, as well as how to adapt their standards to local conditions. For the more
technical aspects of the process, please sign up for the Sustainable Tourism Certification Training Course on
Saturday, September 29th

Non-Members Registration Fee: $ 75

Workshop 5: The GSTC Process: Recognition of sustainable tourism standards, Approval and accreditation of certification processes

Time: 10:00-10:50, Room: Funger 620
Speakers: Cathy Parsons, Chair of the Accreditation Panel; Amos Bien, GSTC Technical Director

This workshop provides a general overview of GSTC Recognition of sustainable tourism standards that are aligned with the GSTC Criteria, GSTC Approval of certification programs and their certified businesses, as well as GSTC-endorsed accreditation of certification bodies. For the more technical aspects of the process, please sign up for the Sustainable Tourism Certification Training Course on Saturday and Sunday, 29-30 September.

Non-Members Registration Fee: $ 75

Workshop 6: Animal Welfare and Sustainable Tourism

Time: 10:00 to 10:50, Room: Funger 520
Moderator: Maximiliano Brandt, World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
Speakers: Catherine Ardagh, Center for Responsible Travel (CREST); Elizabeth Hogan, WSPA

This forum presents case studies and findings around the issues of a green economy, sustainable tourism
and animal welfare, a newly introduced concept to sustainable tourism.

Non-Members Registration Fee: Sponsored by the World Society of the Protection of Animals (WSPA)