Recognition Decision Making Committee (RDMC)
The Recognition Decision Making Committee (RDMC) is responsible for reviewing sustainable tourism standards applying for GSTC Recognition, making decisions regarding the recognition of sustainable tourism standards. RDMC members are selected for their knowledge of standards and related systems and their expertise in tourism. The committee strives for balanced representation across various tourism sectors, including hotels, tour operators, MICE, destinations, and attractions.
Current members of the RDMC are listed below:
Nicola Koschel
Nicola Koschel serves on the Accreditation Panel on behalf of WWF. She is an independent tourism consultant based in Germany with a focus on the sustainable development and environmental management of tourism. After graduating from a BBA in Tourism Management and Consultancy (NHTV-NL) she obtained a Master in Sustainable Tourism Management (HNEE-DE). Since 2007 Nicola has worked with and for NGOs, specialist researchers, federal ministries, the German Development Cooperation, the European Commission as well as by order of renowned consultancy firms. Her work portfolio involves product and destination development, feasibility studies, project evaluation, consumer market research, design of appropriate marketing strategies and the organization of study trips, tourism awards, and conferences. She is also a member of GSTC’s International Standards Working Group.
Richard Denman
Richard is Director of The Tourism Company, a small specialist tourism consultancy based in the UK. Following a degree in Economics from Cambridge University and a doctorate based on tourism research, Richard worked for ten years as development and marketing director for the tourist board in central England. He has been a consultant since 1990 and has worked in over fifty countries. In 2005 he wrote the policy guide Making Tourism More Sustainable for UNEP and UNWTO, and has continued to work with them and a number of international agencies on sustainability issues, including the preparation of various good practice guides.
Richard has worked at a local level with many destinations around the world and has a particular interest in tourism in protected areas. In 2009/10 he undertook the initial work on developing the accreditation process for the predecessor body to the GSTC. Richard is a former Board Director of The International Ecotourism Society and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Travel Foundation.
Kathy Colgan
Kathy has over 25 years of experience working in natural resource management with specific experience in sustainable tourism auditing as a lead auditor and trainer. She has completed training as an environmental auditor in ISO14001 and also has qualifications in Quality Auditing, Integrated Management Systems, and Environmental Management Systems auditing. She has worked for both the government and the private sector over her career. She is currently undertaking work related to sustainability and conducting environmental audits and training around the world.