Course description

This engaging course equips participants with the knowledge and skills to design, implement, and improve an Event Sustainability Management System (ESMS) in accordance with ISO 20121:2024. You’ll learn how to identify sustainability issues throughout an event’s life cycle, engage stakeholders, manage resources efficiently, and ensure compliance with social, environmental, and economic requirements. The course connects ISO 20121 principles to international sustainability frameworks such as the UN SDGs and GRI Standards, preparing participants to deliver responsible, inclusive, and low-impact events that align with organizational strategy and stakeholder expectations.

What you’ll learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Interpret the structure and intent of ISO 20121:2024 and its key requirements.

• Identify sustainability issues, impacts, and opportunities across the event life cycle.

• Develop a sustainability policy and integrate it into event planning and operations.

• Engage stakeholders effectively and manage communication and transparency.

• Apply risk-based thinking to event sustainability management and decision-making.

• Establish monitoring, measurement, and evaluation systems for sustainability performance.

• Demonstrate continual improvement and prepare for third-party certification audits.

Who should attend

• Event planners and coordinators

• Sustainability managers and officers

• Marketing and communications professionals

• Hospitality and venue managers

• NGO and government event organizers

• Corporate social responsibility (CSR) professionals

• Consultants aiming to align events with ISO 20121 sustainability principles

Recommended

• Basic understanding of event management is helpful

• No prior ISO 20121 experience required

• Suitable for organizations of any size hosting events

Course overview

This practical course equips participants with the essential knowledge and skills to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve a Service Management System (SMS) in alignment with ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018. The course covers the standards’ requirements for planning, delivery, monitoring, and improvement of IT and business services to ensure consistency, reliability, and customer satisfaction. You will learn how to integrate ISO/IEC 20000-1 with ITIL® and other management systems (such as ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and ISO 22301) to achieve a robust, service-oriented framework. Real-world examples help bridge theory and practice, enabling participants to translate the clauses into operational excellence and measurable performance.

What you’ll learn

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Explain the scope, structure, and intent of ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018.

• Plan, implement, operate, monitor, and improve an effective Service Management System (SMS).

• Identify service requirements, manage service portfolios, and ensure effective delivery and support.

• Conduct performance evaluation and apply continual improvement processes.

• Integrate ISO/IEC 20000-1 with other ISO standards and ITIL® best practices.

• Prepare for internal and external audits, certification, and compliance assessments.

• Develop policies, KPIs, and documentation to sustain service quality and governance.

Who should attend

• IT managers and service delivery professionals

• ITIL® practitioners and consultants

• Quality and compliance managers

• Information security and business continuity professionals

• System administrators and technical support leaders

• Auditors and certification coordinators

• Project managers and process improvement specialists

Recommended

• Basic knowledge of IT service operations is helpful

• Familiarity with ITIL or ISO 9001 is beneficial

• Suitable for organizations with evolving service management maturity