QNTC earns ISO certification for Event Sustainability and Quality Management Systems
Achievements recognise the Council’s sustainability performance across all its operations
Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) was recently awarded the ISO 20121 certification for Event Sustainability Management Systems, as well as the ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems.
Both certifications affirm QNTC’s commitment to sustainable practices in all areas of event management.
ISO 20121 is an international standard designed to help organisations in the events and hospitality industry integrate sustainability into management practices and processes by specifying requirements that reduce their environmental footprint. It offers guidance to help organisers manage events and control their social, economic and environmental impact while promoting more responsible consumption.
“Enshrined in the Qatar National Vision 2030, sustainability has long been of vital importance to Qatar, and our growth and development has been predicated on it. This certification is yet another recognition of QNTC’s ongoing commitment to providing superior quality and effective management while adhering to international best practices. It will instil confidence among partners, as well as current and prospective stakeholders, in our operations and procedures, while supporting our efforts to improve tourism sector services in Qatar,” QNTC Secretary-General and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar al-Baker said in a press statement. As QNTC collaborates with partners and stakeholders to further the national sustainability agenda, it has already begun incorporating sustainable practices at its events.
During the Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), QNTC works with food charities to collect extra food from participants and distribute it to those in need. In the future, the council will incorporate additional measures at its events, such as digital banners, rollups and badges in lieu of paper or plastic, the installation of recycling bins through- out event venues, banning single use plastics, encouraging locally sourced products, supporting the use of public transportation and smart cooling technology.
The ISO certifications were granted after an extensive audit conducted by Global Inter Certification and is valid for three years. As part of QNTC’s commitment to ISO, the council will be working with a third-party certification body to conduct an annual surveillance audit to ensure its adherence to the latest best practices.
ISO certifications are internationally recognised and are awarded based on numerous quality management principles including continual development and improvement, strong customer focus, and evidencebased decision making.
As the main tourism development and regulation body, QNTC works towards the development of a sustainable and robust sector, empowering stakeholders across the public and private sectors to innovate in the creation of products and services.