Agoda, in collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is launching a program to deliver sustainability training to hoteliers across Asia. This initiative aims to bolster sustainability efforts and promote eco-friendly practices within the region's hotel industry, offering models that could be adopted worldwide.
The Sustainable Tourism Development Initiative extends Agoda's successful collaboration with the GSTC, which has already delivered sustainability training to numerous hoteliers in India, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. This effort aims to meet the increasing consumer preference for eco-friendly accommodations. With support from USAID under the US-Supporting Economic Growth in Asia (US-SEGA) activity, this partnership broadens the training's reach to include more markets in South and Southeast Asia.
Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of Agoda, said, “It is our responsibility to raise awareness about sustainability among both our consumers and accommodation partners and are thrilled to support the industry in developing the knowledge and working towards third-party certifications. Partnering with USAID will help elevate and scale our projects which combine Agoda’s extensive supply network with GSTC’s world-leading technical expertise on sustainability to reach even more markets across Asia”.
USAID India Mission Director Veena Reddy stated, “USAID believes it is critical to work in collaboration with the private sector to drive sustainable development progress, including mitigating climate change. Tourism, when sustainable, provides an important pathway for inclusive economic growth and preservation of cultural heritage and can be a valuable tool for environmental conservation. We are proud to launch this regional partnership with Agoda and GSTC in India to support, particularly as they overcome the economic setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability of small and medium enterprises to participate in a more sustainable economy”.
Speaking of the benefits of this initiative, Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC, shared, “The knowledge and skills acquired from these trainings serve as a crucial step for hoteliers to obtain credible third-party sustainability certifications for their properties and effectively navigate the process with a thorough understanding of the GSTC Hotel Criteria. They will also have the opportunity to enhance their professional credentials and marketability in the hospitality industry, opening doors to career advancement opportunities in the future”.
Agoda and GSTC are hosting the fifth edition of their instructor-led hotel sustainability training, marking their inaugural collaboration with USAID. This session is endorsed by the Rajasthan Department of Tourism and anticipates the participation of approximately 60 attendees. The interactive two-day training sessions will take place across all five countries, offering hoteliers the opportunity to engage with GSTC trainers and guest speakers. Attendees will delve into the GSTC Industry Criteria, evaluating their current performance and establishing short-, medium-, and long-term sustainability objectives. Upon completion of the training, participants will be awarded a certificate of attendance by the GSTC. They will also have the option to take an exam for the GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism. Both certificates contribute to fulfilling Criterion A4 of the GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels, which emphasizes the importance of staff possessing relevant qualifications and skills.