TrainingAid

09/08/2024

Our employees are the most important sources of sustainability inspiration and action for our organisations.

In addition to effectively engaging staff in sustainability practices within our teams, we can create a ripple effect of positive benefits by actively encouraging staff members to contribute their time and talent to wider social impact and community development initiatives.

So what are some of the benefits and opportunities corporate volunteering programs can provide for organisations? Here are some examples - from different industries - highlighting ideas and lessons on employee volunteering.

👉Corporate volunteering examples & lessons
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7222314679379853313/

26/07/2024

💬How can meetings and events be net-positive - creating sustainable values, offering meaningful experiences and ensuring lasting benefits?

☝ That's the question we asked our virtual panel of industry leaders. And we are thrilled to share great examples, lessons and insights we've received in response.

💡 How we can re-think the way we gather? How can our meetings and events be designed with a focus on sustainable values beyond recycling and offsetting? How we can ensure our gatherings are truly meaningful, creating lasting benefits for hosts and guests?

🌐 Read our panel article and find inspiration for your own organisation and destination to gather meaningfully! https://trainingaid.org/panel/net-positive-meetings-events

🙏 We are grateful to our contributors who have generously shared their valuable insights:
- Kathlin (Kati) Hagedorn, Tourism Cares
- Cara Puah CMP, CEM, DES, NTUC LearningHub
- Alexandra Michat and the Events teams at EXO Travel
- Jana Apih, GoodPlace, Factory of Sustainable Tourism
- Josephine Piplits, Act by Choice
- Judith Mair, The University of Queensland Business School
- Gili Back, TEAM SPIRIT THAILAND

25/07/2024

Sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular sustainable tourism ideas and insights! https://trainingaid.org/subscribe

22/07/2024

♻️What does sustainability management mean for very small tourism businesses, and how is it relevant to them?

📍Our industry is full of family-owned companies, solo entrepreneurs, and micro businesses. To many micro businesses, sustainability management can feel like "it's just for very large corporations."

💬"If I’m a one-person business, do I still need a sustainability management system?"
💬"I don’t have large teams to manage. Are any of these management tools relevant?"
💬"It feels really cumbersome to document and report on things when I’m really the only one responsible for my business at the end of the day."

Sounds familiar?

💡We will break down the why, what and how of sustainability management for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in travel and tourism.

🔗Read the full article here
https://trainingaid.org/ideas-and-insights/sustainability-management-tourism-micro-businesses

18/07/2024

Get started on concrete steps to establishing your sustainability policy and strategy

This self-guided online course helps you develop a clearly defined sustainability policy for your business.

⏱30 minutes per day, 5 days.

Each of the five modules of this course takes half an hour to complete. With a short and focused learning session each day (for example during your break, or on your daily commute), you can finish the course just in one work week.

📒Day 1: Your Sustainability Values, Mission and Vision
📒Day 2: Outline the Scope and Content of Your Policy
📒Day 3: Shape Your Policy Statements on ESG Priorities
📒Day 4: Make It Relevant, Meaningful and Useful
📒Day 5: Assign Actionable, Measurable and Concrete Responsibilities

🛎 For Hotels
Hotel managers, accommodation providers and hospitality professionals seeking concrete action steps to build a solid foundation.
https://trainingaid.org/build-your-hotels-sustainability-policy-and-esg-strategy

📸 For Tour Operators
Tour operators, travel agencies, activity providers and booking platforms committed to concrete and practical sustainability steps.
https://trainingaid.org/tour-operators-sustainability-policy-and-esg-strategy

16/07/2024

Targeted to small and medium tour operators, STOMP (Sustainable Tourism Operations & Measurement Program) is an operations and booking management tool that enables transparent measurement and sharing of data on local sustainability impacts, developed by Ethical Travel Portal.

Read the case study and learn more! https://trainingaid.org/case-study/stomp-sustainability-impact-measurement-small-tour-operators

30/04/2024

TrainingAid April 2024 Newsletter

Find inspiration for promoting collaboration and encouraging co-creation through your own work. https://mailchi.mp/trainingaid/april2024

22/04/2024

🌳Happy Earth Day!

🐋Plastic pollution is a major environmental, health and economic risk affecting all facets of our lives - and tourism is both affected by and contributing to the plastic crisis. We need urgent actions to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics, avoid further exacerbating plastic pollution especially in natural areas, and help amplify and scale solutions.

⛱In support of the Earth Day 2024 theme “Planet vs. Plastics”, our latest panel article shares examples of tourism organizations actively addressing plastic pollution, walking the talk on zero waste commitments, supporting circular solutions through our supply chains, and engaging stakeholders across our networks to advocate for meaningful change.

💡Featuring examples shared by the following expert contributors:
- Nishshanka De Silva, Social Entrepreneur | Founder ZeroPlastic Movement
- Kanika Jhunjhnuwala, Executive Director, Sustainability and Environment, HIND Management
- Dr. Kasia Weina, Director, Co-founder, Evergreen Labs
- Brad Nahill, Co-Founder & President, SEE Turtles
- Tatjana Peters, Project Manager, Futouris e. V.
- Laura Kotyga, B2B Sustainability Manager, Evaneos
- Shobhana Jain, Sustainability Officer, Communications, RARE India
- Caitlin McNamara, Senior Travel Expert, Amity Tours

💪Tourism vs. Plastic Pollution
Read our panel article "Tourism and Solutions to Plastic Pollution: Promoting Sustainable Change Through Tourism Value Chains"
https://trainingaid.org/panel/tourism-vs-plastic-pollution

09/04/2024

Cheap, light-weight, and versatile. Plastic is among the most useful and convenient materials ever invented. But plastic pollution is a major environmental, health and economic risk affecting all facets of our lives.

Considering the importance of clean, safe and healthy environments to our destinations, there is a clear case for the tourism industry to actively tackle plastic pollution. And we need to amplify and help scale solutions.

That’s why our upcoming virtual panel in April will focus on Tourism and Solutions to Plastic Pollution in support of the Earth Day 2024 theme “Planet vs. Plastics”. Featuring contributions by industry leaders from around the world, our panel will share examples of tourism organizations actively addressing plastic pollution, creating solutions and advocating for sustainable change.

🗓 Interested? Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us here to get updates when the panel is published!

🔔 Sign up for our newsletter here: https://trainingaid.org/subscribe

28/03/2024

Our latest newsletter is out, with news and updates on sustainable tourism courses and resources for industry professionals - https://mailchi.mp/trainingaid/march2024

16/02/2024

We’re seeking input from destination organisations.

With the shared aim of elevating sustainability practices across the tourism industry, the teams at Travindy and TrainingAid are working together to develop solutions to help destinations effectively engage tourism businesses in sustainability initiatives.

If you are a destination representative or involved in a destination organisation, please fill out this short survey (approx. 5 minutes) about your current practices and future needs around engagement of tourism businesses in sustainability. https://forms.gle/uZMX8HruUSm9fXvg9

Regardless of where you currently are on your sustainability journey, engaging businesses in your destination is a key part of advancing your efforts. We’d like to deepen our understanding of this critical aspect of destination management, so we can create effective solutions supporting destinations.

Thank you in advance for your time and input! 🙏



Ayako Ezaki Anula Galewska

15/02/2024

Want to deepen your knowledge?

You can join professionals from around the world sharing practical insights in the next Sustainable Tourism Online Course, starting on Feb 22!

👉Learn more & join https://www.gstcouncil.org/sustainable-tourism-online-course-gstc-training-st-2402-en/

07/01/2024

Starting soon!🤩

This year's first Sustainable Tourism Online Course starts on Jan 11th.

This is a great opportunity for industry professionals from around the world to ...
✅learn about the GSTC Criteria, the global baseline standard for sustainability in travel and tourism
✅get inspired by great examples of destinations and businesses implementing sustainability steps
✅share ideas, examples, opportunities and solutions with each other.

GSTC Sustainable Tourism Online Course for Industry Professionals (ST-2401-EN)
🗓January 11 - February 9, 2024
🕑Weekly live sessions at 10am PST / 1pm EST / 6pm GMT

👉Learn more & join: https://www.gstcouncil.org/sustainable-tourism-online-course-gstc-training-st-2401-en/

07/12/2023

🌳 Interested in Nature-Positive Tourism? Want to work in tourism that's good for wildlife, biodiversity, people and communities?

💚 Then you'll love this story by Aukje van Gerven, co-founder of MOYO Training Foundation and a nature-based tourism leader with a wealth of experience in this area.

💡 In this article Aukje shares how she's come to focus on tourism done right, with respect for people and the planet, and how she's combined her passion, skills and expertise to help industry professionals positively contribute to nature, biodiversity and wildlife.

💬 "Tourism is uniquely positioned to be a positive force for nature, wildlife and biodiversity, because people are more receptive to key messages around conservation when they experience warm hospitality, fun and enjoyment."

👉 Read the story here: "Tourism for Nature and People: Training and Skills Building for Nature-Positive Tourism Professionals" https://www.trainingaid.org/people/upskilling-nature-positive-tourism-professionals

👉 Our Sustainability Journeys series with stories by tourism professionals from around the world! https://www.trainingaid.org/theme/people

29/09/2023

The next edition of the Sustainable Tourism Online Course is starting soon! 🤩

Schedule | Testimonials | Certificate | Trainer & Presenters | Registration Info | Discounts Sustainable Tourism Online Course for Industry Professionals The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP) provides the

31/08/2023

TrainingAid August 2023 News & Updates - https://mailchi.mp/trainingaid/aug2023

31/08/2023

Getting started on measuring your sustainability practices may seem difficult and complex. But you don't need to wait until you know everything to get started! You can get started with small steps, and continue expanding your efforts over time as you gain more knowledge, experience and capacity.

This and many other great insights in this case study by Weeva 👇👇👇

Sustainability Data Management Solution for Tourism and Hospitality Businesses: Weeva Case Study
https://www.trainingaid.org/case-study/sustainability-data-management-weeva

24/08/2023

🎬https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm4B_omiA_xAlg2QPc29Q4iSDjEztXfOI

Curso de Turismo Sostenible GSTC | Testimoniales

🌿Wendy Franco fue alumna del Curso Turismo Sostenible de GSTC en 2022. Es guía de turismo en Biodiverso Travel, Colombia.

🌿Paulina Galeno fue alumna del Curso Turismo Sostenible de GSTC en 2023. Es Directora Ejecutiva en Mujeres y Turismo Chile, y es parte de AMINA, en Chile.

🌿Betza Gomez fue alumna del Curso Turismo Sostenible de GSTC en 2023. Ex-Gerente del Hotel Porta en Guatemala.

Capacitación en Turismo Sostenible del GSTC (20 de septiembre – 20 de octubre de 2023)
👇👇👇
https://www.gstcouncil.org/capacitacion-en-turismo-sostenible-del-gstc-septiembre-octubre-2023/



Global Sustainable Tourism Council - GSTC Natalia Naranjo Jorge Moller Rivas

23/08/2023

For those seeking work in sustainable tourism or interested in pursuing a career in this field - one of the best ways to find your path is to learn from those of others that have gone before you.

In our Sustainability Journeys article series, tourism industry professionals from around the world share their stories of learning about, becoming involved in, and creating their own paths for working in sustainable tourism.

💡Our latest addition to the series - "Achieving Wisdom Through Helping One Another: Small Steps Leading To Tomorrow's Sustainability" by Antonio Rivas, a community tourism and development specialist https://www.trainingaid.org/people/tourism-and-development-collective-welfare-antonio-rivas

👉 Read all stories https://www.trainingaid.org/theme/people

18/08/2023

Ideas, insights and inspirations to help your tourism organization improve sustainability practices.

💡Learn from real-life examples of destinations and businesses working on minimizing negative impacts and maximizing benefits for people and places.

💡Strengthen your knowledge of the GSTC Criteria, the global baseline standards for sustainability in travel and tourism.

💡Connect with and learn from fellow sustainable tourism practitioners from around the world.
.. and much more!

The upcoming edition of the Sustainable Tourism Online Course is starting soon, and there's still time to join!
https://www.gstcouncil.org/sustainable-tourism-online-course-gstc-training-st-2309-en/

28/07/2023

Our latest newsletter is out! Find stories, examples and resources to help you increase your knowledge in sustainable tourism best practices.

Case studies, tools and more: https://mailchi.mp/trainingaid/july2023

17/07/2023

📢New case study added!

Tourism Development That Benefits Rural Communities Directly: Communityhomestaynetwork Case Study
https://www.trainingaid.org/case-study/community-tourism-development-chn-nepal

With the aim of maximising tourism’s benefits for rural grassroots communities, Community Homestay Network (CHN) in Nepal invests in tourism products and value chains through participatory approaches where locals are both participants and beneficiaries in tourism development.

11/07/2023

In this latest addition to our Tourism Professionals Sustainability Stories series, we asked Inês Francisco of COMPASSO DMC in Portugal to share her experience and lessons working as a sustainability coordinator, facilitating sustainability management steps as part of a certification process.

💬 "At first, I felt overwhelmed: so many questions, so many criteria to fit in, I didn’t know where to start. Then, the more I talked to people within the industry and experts on the subject, the more I realized it didn’t have to be so complicated. We were also actually doing many of the things necessary, without being aware of it."

💬 "As a leader in the Portuguese scouts association (CNE), I have strong values and practices that I apply every day. Teamwork and sense of community are two that I appreciate the most. I know I can trust my teammates, I’m not alone in this path and there will always be someone who knows more and is willing to help."

💬 "As I joined a course organized by TrainingAid for small businesses from across Europe, the experience showed me a totally different community of industry professionals sharing the common goal of sustainability; each with different challenges but learning from each other as we shared our experiences and lessons."

For those in similar positions working towards sustainability at small businesses, we hope you'll find inspirations and ideas from Inês' story!

👉Read full article here:
https://www.trainingaid.org/people/collaboration-sustainability-coordinator-ines-francisco

👉Find more articles like this https://www.trainingaid.org/taxonomy/term/91

28/06/2023

"If you could change one thing about how technology is currently used in the sustainable tourism space, what would it be?"

We asked expert contributors from around the world to share examples of incorporating technology to scale sustainable solutions, and their views on how such solutions can bring positive change to tourism.

👉Find ideas and inspirations on technology and sustainable tourism: https://www.trainingaid.org/panel/technology-and-sustainable-tourism

25/06/2023

💬"Our purpose and values must be incorporated into what we sell, how we work, and how we treat people"

💡In this latest addition to our Sustainability Journeys article series, Alexandra Michat, Chief Purpose Officer at EXO Travel, shares her personal and professional journey combining experiences in development, social entrepreneurship, and purpose-driven business.

👉Read full article https://www.trainingaid.org/people/responsible-travel-business-leading-with-purpose

30/03/2023

Khusvegi English & Nomadic Culture Camp is a community-led slow tourism initiative in Sagsai Soum, Western Mongolia, started by Marinel de Jesus (Equity Global Treks).

By fostering local leaders driving tourism projects, Khusvegi Camp cultivates storytellers from within the community to narrate their own stories to the world, and helps preserve eagle hunting and nomadic culture.

Khusvegi Camp is built on a non-extractive community tourism model, ensuring the community have full control and ownership of tourism development efforts, and not just receive support and expertise.

➡️ Read Khusvegi Camp Case Study: https://www.trainingaid.org/case-study/community-led-cultural-tourism-khusvegi-camp-mongolia

24/03/2023

Our latest addition to the Sustainability Journey article series is the story shared by Ameer Virani (Group Sustainability Manager, Asian Trails, Founder, Share The Wonder)

Ameer highlights how he found his passion for tourism and its potential as a tool for development, and his experiences working in emerging tourism destinations.

💡We invite you to learn about Ameer's journey, and his hopes for a more responsible and equitable tourism industry.

💬"Responsible destination management is key if we want to see the tourism industry genuinely contributing to development in a holistic way."

👉 "Scaling Positive Solutions through Tourism and Development: a Vision for a More Responsible and Equitable Tourism Industry" https://www.trainingaid.org/people/tourism-as-a-tool-for-development-ameer-virani

👉 More ideas and inspirations from tourism professionals around the world: https://www.trainingaid.org/taxonomy/term/91