• 8th International Conference – Standards in Tourism

Date: 22 September, 2026
Time: 10:00 – 18:00
Language: Georgian/English
Address: Paragraph Freedom Square Hotel, Tbilisi

Moderator: Teona Nemsitsveridze

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

• Natalie Kvachantiradze – Chairperson of Georgian Tourism AssociationHost of the conference
• Andria Basilaia -Deputy Mayor, Tbilisi City Hall
• Maia Omiadze – Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA)
  Georgian National Tourism Administration a Legal entity of Public law, a part of the system of the
  Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
• Teona Nemsitsveridze – Head of Standards committee, Project Author

10:30- 10:40 MoU Signing Ceremony

Georgian Tourism Association – World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance  

10:40 – 12:00 SESSION 1 –Sustainable Destination

Strategic Destination management and sustainable urban planning. level challenges, solutions, regulatory frameworks, and approaches to sustainable development.  Audience: mayors, DMO representatives, and tourism service providers.

Panel discussions will join:

•  Glenn Mandziuk – President &CEO World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
• Vakhtang Lomjaria – Head of the Municipal Department of Economic Development, Tbilisi City Hall
• Tinatin Kolbaia – Deputy head of Lepl Spatial And Urban Development Agency of Georgia (SUDA)
• Bulut Bagci – President at World Tourism Forum Institute – Key Note Speaker
• Olga Stowell – Managing Director URPEAK Sarl, UN Tourism Expert
  Panel discussions
  Quick summary – Q&A

12:00 – 12:45 Coffee break

12:45 – 14:30 SESSION 2 – Hotel and Accommodations

Hospitality Sector: Dedicated to sustainability, global evaluation frameworks, and hospitality standards. Implementing ESG frameworks, operational efficiency, and Net Positive Hospitality standards.

A mixture of panel discussions and interactive with national experts and international speakers

• Teona Nemsitsveridze – Head of Standards Committee – GTA
  Recommendations and Evaluation system benefits for the Hotels.
  -Local Business Representative –Hospitality industry
  -CEO of Infinite Solution – Digital Transformation for the hotels.
• Invited speaker: Peter Andrews– Senior Director of Global Programmes, Policy and Public Affairs,
  World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance UK.
  Meet Vera-FY: The New era of Sustainability Data for Global Hospitality.
  Pannel session with all speakers
  Quick summary – Q&A

14:30 – 15:30 Lunch break and NETWERKING

15:30 – 17:30 SESSION 3 – Workshop
The Business of Adventure Tourism

• Introduction the Business of Adventure Tourism
• Examples of Adventure tourism strategies of countries, businesses and tour operators

Constantinos Sofikitis Internationally acclaimed visual storyteller, documentary creator, and the
founder of Responsible Explorer. (National Geographic &UNESCO)
Specializing in authentic, community-rooted experiences, Constantinos bridges the gap between local
culture and global travelers.

Quick summary – Q&A

17:30 – 18:00 Closing & Networking