7th International Conference – Standards in Tourism
September 22, 2025

Paragraph Freedom Square Hotel, Tbilisi
Moderator: Teona Nemsitsveridze

09:30 Registration
10:00-10:30 Welcome Speech

•  Natalie Kvachantiradze – Chairperson of Georgian Tourism Association Host of the conference
• Teona Nemsitsveridze – Head of Standards committee, Project Author
• Andria Basilaia – Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi
• Maia Omiadze – Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA) Georgian National Tourism Administration is a Legal entity of Public law, a part of the system of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
• Nino Memanishvili – Her Royal Highness Archduchess Herta Margarete Habsburg – Lothringen – International organization “Flame of Peace” representative in Georgia.

10:30 – 12:00 SESSION 1 –Sustainable Destination

• Teona Nemsitsveridze – Head of Standards Committee (GTA). Sustainable Destination – ESG for Less known destinations.
•  Berdia Chankseliani -Deputy Governor in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region.
• Gia Oniani – Mayer of Lentekhi Municipality – talks about Climate change challenges for the highland region. The road to tourism.
•  Ekaterine Gujabidze– First Deputy Mayor of Lanchkhuti Municipality
• Mako Chkoidze – Business Development Director, Landmarker Group. The role of the private sector for destination development.
• Susan Santos de Cardenas – President & CEO Society for Sustainable Tourism, and Founder of International Alliance of Regenerative Tourism. Talk – Regeneration Now: Reviving Destinations, Empowering Futures – Beyond sustainability – tourism that heals, revives and creates living legacies for destinations and communities.
• Koko Tang – Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Board Member – CEO and cofounder of Colorful Earth.
• Topic – “From Global Lessons to Local Pathways: Building a Sustainable Future for
• Georgia’s Tourism”

Quick summary – Q&A

12:00 – 12:45 Coffee break

12:45 – 14:00 SESSION 2 – Hotel and Accommodations

• Founder and CEO of Infinite Solution – Role of feedback and digitalization in hospitality for sustainable development.
• Teona Nemsitsveridze – Head of Standards Committee – GTA recommendations and Evaluation system benefits for the Hotels. Certification Awarded Process.
• Invited speaker: Glenn Mandziuk – CEO World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.

Panel discussions will join:

• Landmarker Group – Mako Chkoidze – Business Development Director.
• Glenn Mandziuk – CEO World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
• Sergo Nozadze – President of HR Professional’s Association HRPA.

Quick summary – Q&A

14:00 – 15:00 Lunch break and NETWERKING
15:00 – 15:45 SESSION 3 – “Georgian Tourism Summit – Tourister 2025”
Moderator: Mamuka Berdzenishvili – Executive Director of the Tourism Institute and Coorganizer of Tourister

Panelists:

• Davit Makharadze – CEO of Shindi and Co-organizer of Tourister
• Tinatin Goguadze – Co-founder of eConsul
• Shota Lobzhanidze – Director of Exely

Workshop – Touroperating
URS WAGENSEIL- Professor of the Institute of Tourism and Mobility at HSLU-Switzerland,
expert/ assessor of destination management and sustainable tourism, GSTC trainer.  

• The Tourism product and destination framework
•  Introduction Sustainability and Sustainable Tourism
• Examples of Sustainable tourism strategies of countries, businesses and tour operators
• Sustainable measurement and assessments
• Sustainability certification systems
• GSTC Standards for Tour operators

Short panel-discussion
Short summary and farewell

Quick summary – Q&A