CANADA (September 15, 2025) – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence has announced a partnership to promote the development and delivery of sustainable, high-quality tourism experiences across the cruise tourism sector through professional training — with a focus on tour operators and tour guides in cruise destinations.
As part of the collaboration, both organizations will promote each other’s training programs at preferred rates, with the goal of making high-quality, practical training more accessible to tour operators and guides, helping them enhance the guest experience and drive destination growth.
This collaboration builds on a shared commitment to responsible tourism and began in 2024 with Aquila’s development of the Excellence in Sustainable Destination Experiences program, aligned with the GSTC Framework. Created by cruise operators for cruise operators, the training offers practical, real-world tools for improving the quality and sustainability of shore experiences addressing a gap often faced by industry stakeholders on the ground.
“We’re excited to work with GSTC to bring global sustainability principles into practical application for shore excursions operators,” said Beth Hatt, Founder at Aquila. “Our team knows these challenges well — we’re not just trainers, we’re operators too. That’s why this partnership feels so natural.”
“Our partnership with Aquila connects GSTC Standards with the practical realities of cruise tourism. Together, we can equip operators and guides with the tools to empower cruise tourism professionals with the knowledge, tools and confidence to deliver sustainable experiences that benefit destinations, communities and guests,” said Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
The two organizations will collaborate on participant feedback and shared communications, and are exploring co-branded training journeys to support continuous improvement across the tourism value chain.
For more information on Aquila’s training programs, visit www.cruiseexcellence.com.
Melanie Colpits, Partner at Aquila, during a recent training in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
