One of the greatest successes on the way to becoming a sustainable destination was the successful initial certification in July 2024. As a new, official member of the "TourCert" community, the destination had worked intensively on its sustainability performance under the motto "Travel for Tomorrow" and was certified by TourCert. The previous audit in June 2024 included visits to the Mercure Hotel Wiesbaden, Kloster Eberbach and the Tourist Information Wiesbaden. Together with currently 44 partner businesses with a lighthouse factor in the destination, the destination aims to become more environmentally friendly and socially responsible - step by step.

In addition, the destination's three-year improvement program was consistently implemented further: one focus here is still on integrating the topic of sustainability into communication, i.e. making the sustainability partners and their sustainability features visible and highlighting them, as well as providing specialist input at the meetings of the sustainability network.

In order to live the topic of sustainability as a "hands on" mentality, the WICM and RTKT teams cleared the Schierstein harbor basin, symbolic of the connection between Wiesbaden and the Rheingau, of various garbage in a joint "RheinCleanUp" at the end of the outdoor tourism season at the end of October. In this way, the destination takes responsibility and continues to promote sustainable tourism in order to preserve the beauty of the region for future generations.

A new destination goodie also contributes to the topic of sustainability: From now on, all fans of Wiesbaden and the Rheingau can enjoy doing the dishes at home - and even do something for the environment in the process. Together with the traditional Wiesbaden company Kalle, WIESBADEN RHEINGAU has designed a set of dishes and sponge cloths made from renewable materials and compostable, depicting sights in Wiesbaden and the Rheingau. The set is available at the Tourist Information in Wiesbaden and at tourist information offices in the Rheingau, for example in Eltville and Hochheim.

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In 2024, a joint new "Genussguide" was also developed - a magazine for locals and guests alike, which presents cafés, restaurants, wine shops and producers of regional products. It features "classics" such as Wisperforelle and Wiesbadener Ananastörtchen, but also puts the spotlight on new and innovative delights in and from the region.

Numerous measures to raise awareness of the destination as an attractive travel destination are also planned for the new year 2025: First and foremost, the participation of the destination WIESBADEN RHEINGAU in the CMT, the largest public trade fair for tourism and leisure, which will take place at Messe Stuttgart from January 18 to 26. Against the backdrop of the shared themes of regionality, cuisine and enjoyment, visitors to the joint stand will be able to enjoy Rheingau wine and Frankfurt cider in a replica "Bembel and wine garden"/ Neroberg atmosphere and take a deep breath in the hustle and bustle of the trade fair.

Another important date for the destination is the Tourism Dialogue 2025, to which the WICM and RTKT are jointly inviting visitors to Rüdesheim on March 25 on board the MS Rhenus of the Bingen-Rüdesheimer. The event is entitled "Quality through AI: New paths. New values?" and is intended to introduce and inform tourism service providers and partner companies as well as anyone interested in the topic in workshops and at test stations.

The topic of sustainability will also be promoted in 2025: At the start of the year, TMH Tourismus Management Hessen and the sustainability managers from all Hessian destinations met in Wiesbaden to achieve more together. The focus of the collaboration in 2025 will be on social sustainability.

TMH and the Hessian destinations are jointly offering a themed workshop in February, which is aimed at all TourCert partner businesses in Hesse. In addition to technical knowledge, the aim is to promote an exchange between the service providers.

Cooperation between the DMOs in Wiesbaden and Rheingau and the members of the Sustainability Council is also to be intensified at the next meeting in March. As a monitoring body, the council will receive an update on the implementation of the destination's improvement program.

In addition, in 2025, two dates for sustainability training for guest guides in Wiesbaden and the Rheingau will be organized in cooperation with Hochschule Geisenheim University. As ambassadors for the destination, the tour guides play an important role in communicating with the region's guests.