GSTC and ESSEC Business School Sign Training Partnership Agreement

On October 16, 2025, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Hospitality Management Institute (IMHI) – MSc in Hospitality Management, an ESSEC Business School program, to deliver the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course (STC) as part of IMHI’s class titled “Sustainable Tourism & Destination Management.”

This collaboration aims to integrate the GSTC Standards into hospitality education, provide students with the opportunity to earn an official GSTC professional certificate in sustainable tourism, and promote the principles of sustainable tourism and destination management. The GSTC training will be integrated into the curriculum of the “Sustainable Tourism & Destination Management course”, ensuring that future hospitality leaders acquire both theoretical understanding and practical knowledge of sustainability in the tourism sector.

Founded in 1907, ESSEC Business School is an academic institution that combines academic rigor with practical expertise. The IMHI, a program of ESSEC Business School, focuses on the education and training of future professionals in the hospitality and tourism sectors. The MSc in Hospitality Management (IMHI) program provides students with the knowledge and skills required to address current and emerging challenges in the hospitality industry, including those related to sustainability and destination management.

Through this partnership, ESSEC will include GSTC’s official Sustainable Tourism Course into its curricula and become part of the global network of GSTC Training Partners. 

“Integrating the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course into our curriculum strengthens our commitment to educating responsible leaders who can drive meaningful change. At ESSEC and IMHI, we strive to enlighten our students with forward-looking knowledge and prepare them to lead transformation in our industry. This partnership enriches their learning with globally recognized sustainability standards and equips them to shape a more sustainable future for tourism and hospitality.”

The GSTC collaborates with partner organizations in various regions worldwide that support the GSTC’s mission to promote sustainable tourism knowledge and practices. These training partners work with authorized GSTC trainers to offer the official GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP) curriculum on behalf of the GSTC. Learn more here.

More information about ESSEC Business School can be found here: https://www.essec.edu/en/