This November, the stunning Sentosa Island in Singapore became a hub of inspiration and collaboration as the GSTC 2024 Global Conference welcomed 500 tourism professionals from 55 countries. Organized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC®), this annual event is a cornerstone for driving impactful sustainability initiatives across the travel and tourism sectors. With a focus on actionable solutions and future-forward discussions, this conference was no exception.

The GSTC 2024 Singapore conference was a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues and partners while building new relationships. UCSL's Thailand Representative, Claudine Nagiah, took part in insightful discussions, productive meetings, and idea exchanges with leading sustainability experts in travel and tourism.

The conference offered participants valuable insights, inspiring examples, and practical tools to advance their sustainability efforts. It explored four core themes: Driving Sustainable Urban Tourism, Sustainable Hospitality, Integrating Sustainability Across the Value Chain, and Preserving Culture, Heritage, and Communities. While GSTC 2024 Singapore covered much ground, here are a few of the panel discussions from the event which are relevant to hotels and tour operators.

The conference commenced with an inspiring opening ceremony led by Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry & Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Mr. Alvin Tan. His message was clear: sustainability is a collective journey, and Singapore is making strides to lead by example. The nation has committed to having 60% of its hotel rooms GSTC-certified by 2025, with Sentosa Island setting its sights on 100% certification as early as next year.

Singapore’s choice of GSTC certification is no coincidence, as GSTC leadership, including Randy Durband, Luigi Cabrini, and Mihee Kang, emphasized how credible certification and impartiality are essential in building trust and upholding quality. Their insights set the tone for the dynamic discussions that followed.

Getting Everyone on Board: Strategies for Hotel Chains. During this dynamic panel session, leaders from Six Senses, The Ascott Limited, and BWH Hotels shared their journey toward sustainability within their hotel chains, emphasizing that sustainability is a team effort requiring the commitment of everyone involved. Speakers provided examples of applicable actions for engaging teams and stakeholders throughout the different and diverse locations where they operate. This includes the pursuit of certification by GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies. The panel also debunked the myth of high costs, showing that even moderate investments in sustainability yield strong ROI and Return on Sustainability (ROS).

Driving Profitable Sustainability: Business Opportunities in ASEAN’s Sustainable Tourism. This forward-looking session explored new business opportunities in region’s sustainable tourism landscape. Speakers from Trip.com and Traveloka introduced new tools empowering travelers to make eco-conscious choices: Trip.com now highlights GSTC-certified hotels, while Traveloka features GSTC-aligned accommodations and is testing an AI-powered Sustainability Chatbot. Their insights underscored the growing demand for eco-conscious travel choices in Southeast Asia. The session closed with a crucial reminder: travelers expect pristine destinations, but if they arrive to find environmental degradation, it risks disillusionment — a serious challenge the industry must address to maintain trust and appeal.


Tour Operators and Local Culture. The session examined how tour operators can promote and preserve local cultures, showcasing best practices and addressing challenges in fostering cultural sustainability through tourism. Speakers from Intrepid Travel, Viavia Tour, Yamabushido Training, and the Malaysian Association Of Tour And Travel Agents (MATTA) discussed strategies to preserve local culture and empower locals through community engagement and partnerships. These approaches demonstrated how local partnerships can drive cultural sustainability and create meaningful impact on the local communities.

The Role of Distributors in Advancing Sustainability. Distributors, like OTAs, hold a powerful position in driving sustainability across the tourism industry. During the panel session OTAs, such as Booking.com and Klook, stressed the importance of simplifying the journey to certification for the accomodation providers, while emphasizing the OTAs unique role at the center of the travel ecosystem — guiding suppliers and travelers alike toward greener practices and experiences.

Sustainable Luxury Resorts. In an era where travelers demand both luxury and responsibility, several of the world’s most luxurious hotel groups, including Mandarin Oriental, are proving that sustainability is not just compatible with luxury — it’s essential to it. In an inspiring session, speakers from Four Seasons, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and The Apurva Kempinski Bali demonstrated that true luxury incorporates responsibility. Moderator Andrew Jones from Sanctuary Resorts shared impactful case studies from Southeast Asia, while Grace Hu, Dossen International Group, emphasized the need to redefine luxury — placing sustainability at its very heart.

Recordings of these panel sessions are now available on the GSTC’s YouTube channel, providing access to the insights and inspiration shared at the event for both attendees and those who couldn’t attend.

The GSTC 2024 Singapore Conference emphasized the value of collaboration within the tourism industry and the impact of collective efforts in driving meaningful change. It provided a platform to build new connections and strengthen relationships with the potential for future partnerships. Participants left with actionable insights and a shared sense of purpose.

At UCSL, we are grateful to have been part of this inspiring community and look forward to continuing our journey alongside GSTC, our partners and industry leaders to achieve a sustainable future for tourism. Mark your calendars for the next GSTC Global Conference, which will take place in Fiji from August 5th to 8th, 2025!