Friday, May 16, 2025
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), the internationally recognized authority on sustainable tourism standards, has partnered with easyJet holidays to launch a bespoke, co-branded online training course aimed at advancing sustainability in the hospitality sector.
This innovative initiative targets easyJet holidays’ hotel partners exclusively, providing them with a comprehensive educational platform to strengthen their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in line with global benchmarks.
This partnership exemplifies the growing momentum within the travel industry to integrate sustainability at every operational level, enhancing the capacity of hotels to meet evolving consumer expectations and regulatory requirements for responsible tourism.
Course Overview: Practical Training Rooted in Global Sustainability Standards
The training program is meticulously designed for hospitality and accommodation professionals who wish to implement and enhance sustainable operations aligned with the GSTC Hotel Standard, the world’s leading framework for sustainable hotel management. It also supports easyJet holidays’ proprietary sustainability strategy, Holiday Better, reflecting the company’s commitment to responsible tourism.
Participants will engage in a self-paced, digital learning experience featuring:
- Expert presentations by sustainability specialists offering actionable insights.
- Practical resources and tools including an implementation checklist aligned to the GSTC Hotel Standard.
- Real-world case studies and industry lessons that demonstrate successful sustainability initiatives.
- Goal-setting modules to help hotels define short-term, medium-term, and long-term sustainability targets.
The course empowers hotel professionals to evaluate their current sustainability performance, identify gaps, and plan strategic improvements across multiple dimensions of hotel management—from energy efficiency and water conservation to community engagement and waste reduction.
Aligning with National and International Sustainability Frameworks
The initiative complements sustainability policies and frameworks advocated by leading government bodies such as:
- The UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which promotes environmental responsibility in tourism through best practice guidelines.
- The Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which supports sustainable tourism development as part of national biodiversity and natural resource conservation efforts.
- The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which endorses the GSTC criteria as part of global efforts to foster sustainable travel and meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By aligning with these standards and government objectives, the training assists hotel partners in fulfilling regulatory requirements and enhancing their market competitiveness through sustainability certification.
Supporting easyJet holidays’ ESG Strategy: Holiday Better
easyJet holidays’ Holiday Better initiative reflects the company’s holistic approach to reducing its environmental footprint and promoting social responsibility across its travel offerings. The sustainable hospitality training is a cornerstone of this strategy, designed to engage hotel partners directly in raising their ESG standards and certifying their operations as part of easyJet holidays’ Certified Sustainable portfolio.
Matt Callaghan, Chief Operating Officer at easyJet holidays, emphasizes:
“Education is fundamental to our sustainability mission. Following the success of our first training phase with GSTC, this new course provides our hotel partners with practical tools to build more sustainable operations, helping them to join our Certified Sustainable range and deliver better holiday choices for customers.”
The Importance of Education and Training in Sustainable Tourism
Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC, articulates the complementary roles of education and training in advancing sustainability within the hospitality sector:
“Education raises awareness and understanding of holistic sustainability principles, while training equips professionals with the skills to apply these principles effectively. Our partnership with easyJet holidays focuses on translating knowledge into action, empowering hotels to meet global sustainability standards and make measurable progress.”
This dual approach addresses one of the key barriers to widespread sustainability adoption—the lack of practical expertise and resources available to many hospitality operators, particularly smaller and mid-sized hotels.
Course Benefits: From Awareness to Certification
The training supports hotels in several critical ways:
- Operational improvements: Hotels learn how to implement energy-saving measures, reduce water consumption, minimize waste, and improve procurement policies to favor ethical and sustainable suppliers.
- Strategic planning: Participants develop clear sustainability goals with measurable targets, integrating ESG considerations into their long-term business strategies.
- Certification readiness: The course prepares hotels to meet the rigorous requirements of GSTC Hotel Standard certification, a globally recognized credential that enhances credibility and market appeal.
- Customer trust: Sustainable certification signals to increasingly eco-conscious travelers that the hotel prioritizes responsible practices, potentially boosting bookings and guest loyalty.
Addressing Industry Challenges with Practical Solutions
The hospitality industry faces growing pressure from governments, consumers, and investors to demonstrate sustainability commitments. The UK’s Tourism Sector Deal and Australia’s Tourism 2030 Strategy both highlight the necessity of environmental stewardship and social responsibility as critical success factors for future competitiveness.
However, many hotels struggle to navigate complex sustainability criteria and translate them into effective actions. By offering accessible, tailored training, GSTC and easyJet holidays provide an essential resource that bridges the gap between sustainability aspirations and implementation.
Global Impact: Scaling Positive Change in Tourism
This training initiative is part of a wider global movement to embed sustainability deeply into tourism value chains. The UNWTO’s Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, the International Tourism Partnership, and similar programs advocate for industry-wide collaboration to reduce environmental impacts and enhance social benefits.
GSTC’s standards, which form the foundation of this course, are recognized by multiple governments and tourism authorities worldwide as benchmarks for sustainable tourism development.
How to Access the Training
The online course is exclusively available to easyJet holidays’ hotel partners. The self-paced format allows participants to engage with the material flexibly, accommodating diverse schedules and resource availability.
easyJet holidays supports its partners through this training as part of their broader commitment to ESG excellence, encouraging wider adoption of responsible practices across their supplier network.
Future Directions and Opportunities
Following the rollout of this tailored training, GSTC and easyJet holidays plan to expand educational initiatives, including webinars, workshops, and additional modules focused on emerging sustainability challenges such as climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and social equity.
Such continuous professional development ensures that hotel partners remain equipped to respond to evolving standards and stakeholder expectations, securing long-term viability and positive environmental and social impacts.
Conclusion: Empowering Hotels for a Sustainable Tourism Future
The partnership between GSTC and easyJet holidays to deliver a tailored sustainable hospitality training program marks a significant step toward advancing responsible tourism practices.
By equipping hotel professionals with practical knowledge and tools aligned with globally recognized standards, the initiative fosters meaningful progress toward sustainability certification and operational excellence.
This training not only helps hotels meet regulatory and consumer demands but also contributes to the broader vision of building a resilient, equitable, and environmentally responsible tourism industry.
For easyJet holidays, empowering their hotel partners through education and training strengthens their Holiday Better strategy, supporting a travel ecosystem where both businesses and travelers can thrive sustainably.
