GSTC European Regional Meeting: Building Sustainability in European Tourism, Athens, Greece, 23-24 November 2016

BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY IN EUROPEAN TOURISM

Experts and tourism practitioners joined from throughout Europe in Athens to debate best strategies in today’s environment to utilize sustainable tourism management mechanisms for destinations and businesses. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) was organizing a lively and informative two-day workshop to review and discuss relevant issues and solutions in the European context of today.

PROGRAMME | SPEAKERS | VENUE & ACCOMMODATION | TRAVEL INFORMATION | SPONSORS

PROGRAMME

E-BOOKLET

Conferience App (agenda, attendees list, Q&A platform)

e-Programme

November 23^rd: 14:00-18:00 Day 1 (full programme)

18:00 Welcome Cocktail

November 24^th: 8:30-17:30 Day 2 (full programme)

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

Current and Future Tourism in Greece
The host country will provide an update on national policies and strategies relating to sustainable tourism.

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.

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.

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.

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.

KEY SPEAKERS

Full list of speakers

Melvin Mak, Manager of Sustainability, TUI Benelux	Dimitris Malliaropulos, Chief economist, Bank of Greece
Dr. Xavier Font, University of Surrey	George Drakopoulos, Special Adviser, UNWTO
Lonneke de Kort, CEO, BookDifferent.com	Ioannis Spilanis, UNWTO Observatory Program, Aegean Islands
Luigi Cabrini, Chair of the Board, GSTC Advisor on Sustainability to the Secretary-General, UNWTO	Mary-Mulvey, CEO, Ecotourism Ireland
Martina von Münchhausen, Tourism Expert, WWF	Albert Salman, Founder & Director, Green Destinations

Full list of speakers

VENUE & ACCOMODATION

Venue: Zappeion Conference and Exhibition Center, Athens, Greece. Zappeion is easily accesible by public transpotation, just in the center of Athens, below the Acropolis.

Accommodation: Zappeion is in the center of Athens, with a variety of accommodation options nearby, either a walking distance or reachable by public transportation. Accommodation should be booked separately by participants.

Athens: Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with history dating from the first settlement in the Neolithic age. The city’s values and civilization from the 5th Century BC (the “Golden Age of Pericles”) acquired a universal significance that shapes our modern world. Over the years, a multitude of conquerors occupied Athens, and erected unique, splendid monuments – a rare historical palimpsest. In 1834, it became the capital of the modern Greek state and in two centuries since it has become an attractive modern metropolis with an unrivalled charm.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Visa: Do you need a visa to enter Greece? Read more here.

Travel Arrangements: International travelers should arrive Athens International Airport (ATH) November 23rd prior to 11:00 to join the opening reception on time; departure times on the 24th or 25th should allow one hour travel time from Athens to ATH plus adequate check-in time.

How to reach the venue: Reaching the Zappeion Conference and Exhibition Center is easy through public transpotation, the most sustainable way. Follow this instructions.

HOSTS