Shaping the Future: New Training Program at the Tourism Audit Office
The Tourism Audit Office is paving the way for a new era of sustainability auditing with its enhanced training program. By qualifying professionals and upskilling existing auditors, the office is meeting the growing demand for high-quality certification and verification expertise in the tourism sector.
To address the increasing need for skilled auditors, the Tourism Audit Office has implemented a comprehensive training program focusing on additional standards and advanced audit techniques aligned with ISO 17065. In October 2024, the first cohort of new auditors successfully completed their exams and has since begun conducting coached audits. Among the ten newly trained professionals, half bring extensive experience and hold licenses for renowned certifications such as Green Globe and the Austrian Ecolabel. These auditors will now also assess compliance with TourCert and Green Key standards, with additional standard owners exploring collaboration.
The training program anticipates upcoming accreditation regulations and is underpinned by established common auditing standards. Moving forward, the office plans to host these trainings biannually, with the next session scheduled for spring 2025. To support continuous professional growth, the Tourism Audit Office encourages knowledge sharing and alignment in criteria evaluation through initiatives like its annual Auditors Meeting, which will take place during the Future Tourism Congress at CMT in Stuttgart in January 2025. Furthermore, an Online Forum will provide a space for daily exchange and collaboration among auditors.
Professionals interested in joining the Auditor Pool and contributing to transformative change are encouraged to reach out to pauline.gabrisch@ odonata-certification.com. Together, we’re building a future driven by expertise and sustainability. Welcome to the team!
What do the auditors say about the training? Read more in the following insights from the group:
Dirk Schmülgen
“The preparation provided by the Audit Office particularly impressed me with its approach of viewing the audit not as mere control, but as guidance and empowerment towards creating a sustainable living environment. The balanced training, which combined regulatory knowledge with an emphasis on soft skills, was not only theoretically sound but also proved to be practical during the coached audit, where it was highly appreciated by the audited destination .“
Florian Größwang
“I rate the activities of the Audit Office as extremely positive — in addition to the high-quality qualification of the auditors, the international exchange of experts promotes your own personal development. In my first audits, the practical orientation of the new training has already proven itself — also in terms of benefit for the destinations!”
Prof. Dr. Julianna Priskin
“The training provided by Audit Office was very instructive and conveyed the theoretical foundations of the audit process in a comprehensible and accessible way. The numerous practical examples enabled the development of skills that can be directly applied in practice.”
