The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) concluded its Hotel Sustainability Training in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on August 2, 2024. Organized in partnership with Agoda and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the two-day event aimed to equip hoteliers with the skills needed to implement sustainable practices according to GSTC Criteria, the global benchmark for sustainability in tourism. Held at the Taj Samudra Colombo Hotel, the training attracted over 50 participants from various sectors of the hospitality industry.
Attendees included representatives from international hotel chains such as Hilton Colombo and Radisson Hotel Group, domestic brands like Aitken Spence and Oak Ray Hotels and Resorts, and independent establishments like The Merchant Galle Fort and Galadari Hotel Colombo. Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Douglas Sonnek from the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka and Deputy Director General Mr. Upali Ratnayake from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority were among the notable attendees at the event’s opening ceremony. GSTC experts including Vice President and Trainer Mr. CB Ramkumar and Mr. Chinthana Duminduhewa conducted the training. The event highlighted the growing trend of sustainable tourism as more travelers became aware of the environmental and social impacts of their travels. The training provided participants with practical knowledge and best practices for sustainable development and compliance with GSTC hotel criteria. Upon completion, participants received a certificate of participation that meets the requirements for the GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism. This training is the seventh collaboration between Agoda and GSTC and the third collaboration with USAID under the Support for Economic Growth in Asia (US-SEGA) program. Previous events in Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, India and Nepal have trained 360 hoteliers.