SUSTAINABLE DESTINATIONS FORUM 2025 - DAY 1
Forum & Awards Ceremony
SDF2025 DAY 1
Forum Agenda
Day One will feature the main SDF2025 Forum, a full-day conference with high-level panels covering key themes such as empowering local leadership, implementing sustainable business practices, leveraging data for impact and designing beneficial travel experiences. The day will conclude with the SDF Award Ceremony and an evening Heritage Desert Dinner.
09:30 – 10:15 – Opening Session
Welcome and Opening Remarks
H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri
Minister of Economy and Tourism, United Arab Emirates
H.E. Shaikha Al Nowais
UN Tourism
Secretary-General Elect
(2026–2029)
H.E. Najeeb Mohammed AlAli
Executive Director of Expo City Dubai Authority
Albert Salman
Founder, Green Destinations International
CEO, Green Destinations Good Travel Institute
10:15 – 11:00 – Morning Panel
Panel: Sustainable Pathways - Empowering Local Leadership
Sustainability certification is transforming local tourism strategies. Leaders and destination managers will explore creating action plans, tackling challenges, and seizing growth opportunities, while meeting global standards and promoting sustainable economic and community development.
Special Presentation: Expo City Dubai
Albert Salman
MODERATOR
Founder, Green Destinations International
CEO, Green Destinations Good Travel Institute
Dr. Yianni Spanos
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Vice President Sustainability,
Expo City Dubai
Dr. Chuwit Mitrchob
PANELIST
Deputy Director General, DASTA Thailand
Melih Kayacik
PANELIST
Manager of Tourism Directorate, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality
Rajat Malik
PANELIST
Sector Lead – Tourism, Retail and Property – IFC (World Bank Group) – MCT region
11:30 – 12:30 – Morning Panel
Panel: Sustainable Business Practices in Tourism: A Destination’s Perspective
The discussion will show how destinations can support and amplify good practices through strategic frameworks and partnerships, aligning governance and business innovation to ensure tourism growth benefits visitors, communities, and the environment.
Iyad Kayali
MODERATOR
Regional Director, Green Destinations
Elissa Keenan
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
CEO, EcoTourism Australia
Marina Antonopoulou
PANELIST
Chief Climate & Conservation Officer, Emirates Nature-WWF
Martin Baeuerle
PANELIST
Manager Regenerative Tourism Operations, Red Sea Global
14:00 – 15:00 – Afternoon Panel
Panel: Metrics for Sustainability: The Role of Data and KPIs
Unpack the critical role of data and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in evaluating and enhancing the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives. This discussion will cover innovative methods for data collection, analysis, and application, aiming to refine policy-making and strategic decisions in tourism sustainability.
Patice Talaue
MODERATOR
Training and Support Director, Green Destinations
Isabel Lissner
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Business Product and Senior Sustainability Manager, BeCause
Maya Mehdi
PANELIST
Assistant Project Manager Sustainability, Expo City Dubai
Victor Fernández Morales
PANELIST
General Director, La Buena Huella
15:30 – 16:30 – Afternoon Panel
Panel: Developing Beneficial Travel Experiences
Developing new travel offers enriches tourist experiences, promotes sustainability, and supports local businesses. Community-driven initiatives enhance cultural, environmental, and economic outcomes, fostering responsible travel while contributing to long-term destination well-being and preserving cultural heritage.
Jana Apih
MODERATOR
Executive Director, Green Destinations Foundation
Adam McEwan
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Chief Executive Officer, Hero Experiences Group
Mahesh Gopalakrishnan
PANELIST
Director of Projects, Mata Amritanandamayi Mandir Trust (Mallapuram)
Prof Dr Wolfgang Georg Arlt
PANELIST
Executive Director, Meaningful Tourism Center
SPECIAL ACTIVITY
SDF2025 Awards Ceremony
16:30 – 17:15 – Closing Session
The SDF Award Ceremony is one of the most anticipated moments of the Sustainable Destination Forum, bringing together a diverse community of tourism professionals, destination representatives and sustainability leaders for an evening of recognition and celebration.
The ceremony serves as a platform to honour destinations that are making exceptional strides in creating more sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism experiences. We proudly recognise those featured in the 2025 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories list, along with the Awarded and Certified Destinations that have shown leadership in areas such as climate action, community involvement, nature protection, and responsible destination management.
This year, a Special Recognition will be presented to a destination from the MENA region, selected for its inspiring and impactful sustainability journey. This dedicated award highlights the importance of regional leadership and aims to amplify stories that often remain underrepresented on the global stage.
SPECIAL ACTIVITY
SDF2025 Heritage Desert Dinner
17:15 – 23:45 – Evening Activity
Included for registered SDF attendees | Limited to 200 Guests
Following the awards, guests will be invited to join a Desert Safari and Dinner experience. Set against the backdrop of the UAE’s rich natural and cultural landscapes, this evening promises authentic local hospitality, traditional cuisine, and a chance to unwind and connect under the stars.
As the sun begins to soften over the golden dunes, delegates of the Sustainable Destinations Forum 2025 are invited to partake in a desert experience of rare beauty and cultural depth. The Heritage Desert Safari, curated with precision by Hero Experiences, offers a graceful retreat into Dubai’s timeless landscapes and living traditions.
Dinner Program
- The evening begins at 5:45 PM, with private transfers arranged from a central Dubai location. As the city fades behind, you are transported into the serenity of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.
- At 7:00 PM, a fleet of impeccably preserved 1950s open-top Land Rovers welcomes you at the Platinum Heritage gate, setting the tone for a journey defined by detail and distinction.
- Upon arrival at the torch-lit Bedouin camp at 7:15 PM, guests are greeted with Arabic coffee, fresh dates, and delicately prepared canapés. The camp is a vision of authenticity, built from raw natural materials such as stone, wood, and goat hair, and powered entirely by solar energy. This thoughtfully designed setting offers a seamless blend of sustainability and tradition, where every detail whispers of place and purpose.
- At 10:30 PM, guests will be returned by private transfer to Dubai, carrying with them not simply memories, but the feeling of having touched something rare and enduring.
Activities Included
As dusk settles into evening, guests are invited to explore a collection of curated cultural experiences:
- Camel rides traverse the sand in silence. A skilled henna artist paints stories onto skin. Bread and coffee are prepared over open flames by masters of their craft. The shisha lounge, set within the majlis, invites quiet reflection beneath the stars. Low tables and cushioned seating offer an atmosphere that is both intimate and refined.
- Dinner unfolds across four elegant courses. A warmly spiced soup begins the meal, followed by fresh salads and delicate mezze. The main course brings a celebration of regional flavours, served with care and culinary grace. Traditional desserts conclude the experience with subtle sweetness. Throughout the evening, juice, tea, and water are offered with quiet attentiveness, including during a falcon show that embodies the spirit and history of the desert.
- As night deepens, the senses are stirred by a series of performances that speak to the soul of the region: Yola dance, drumming, and guided stargazing that connect the present to the eternal. Each moment is designed to enchant, never overwhelm, allowing the desert to reveal itself in stillness and splendour.
this event was possible thanks to
Our Partners
This event was made possible thanks to the generous support of our partners. Their commitment to sustainability and innovation was crucial in bringing the Sustainable Destinations Forum 2025 to life. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our partners for their collaboration and dedication.
HEADLINE PARTNER
ORGANISATION PARTNERS
DESTINATION PARTNER
OFFICIAL PARTNER
F&B PARTNER
