WebinarOnline
Global hospitality's path to net positive: Bridging research and reality in sustainable regional development
Friday, 25 September 2026
An evidence-led examination of what net positive hospitality could mean for regions, communities and ecosystems, with attention to measurement, accountability and the practical choices that connect ambitious sustainability claims with credible local outcomes.
About this event
Hospitality businesses increasingly describe sustainability as a journey towards net positive outcomes. Yet the meaning of net positive remains contested across regions, markets and forms of ownership. This webinar examines how research can clarify the concept, distinguish measurable improvement from broad aspiration, and connect environmental restoration with social value, decent work and durable local prosperity.
Attention will turn to regional development, where hotels and tourism enterprises depend upon landscapes, infrastructure, labour and community consent. Participants will consider how evidence on carbon, water, biodiversity and circular resource use can be interpreted alongside questions of equity. The discussion will ask who defines a positive contribution, who receives the benefits and who carries the costs.
The session will also explore the practical gap between academic models and operational decisions. It will consider how destinations can set credible baselines, select indicators and assess progress across supply chains. Rather than treating certification or reporting as an end point, the webinar will examine how governance, investment and transparent accountability can support meaningful change over time.
Examples from varied regional contexts will frame a balanced discussion of ambition and feasibility. The webinar is designed for researchers, students, policy professionals and practitioners who want to understand how hospitality can move beyond harm reduction. Attendees will leave with a clearer set of questions for evaluating net positive claims and for shaping partnerships that respect local priorities. This perspective also supports comparison between destinations while recognising that environmental limits, social expectations and development needs differ significantly from place to place.