The GDS-Movement is a transformation platform that engages, inspires and enables destinations to become more regenerative, flourishing and resilient places to visit, meet and live in.
Our mission is to promote and develop the regenerative strategies, skillsets and mindsets that will support destinations of the future.
Our mission is to promote and develop the regenerative strategies, skillsets and mindsets that will support destinations of the future.
What do we do?
We work with pioneering municipalities, national/regional destination management organisations, and convention bureaux, to co-create their tourism and events strategies, benchmark and improve their sustainability performance, and transforms their value chains in order to catalyse regeneration.
GDS-Index
GDS-Index
The GDS-Index is the leading sustainability benchmarking and improvement programme for destinations around the world. It is used to assess current social and environmental performance of a destination, and then to drive improved performance. It is a powerful tool for clients to assess the sustainability of destinations to visit or meet in.
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GDS-Consulting
GDS-Consulting
Having worked with over +60 destinations, we understand the journey needed to transform a destination’s visitor economy into a regenerative force. Our role is to support destination management organisations on this journey, helping to define a vision and strategy, build capacity, engage stakeholders, and communicate efforts.
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GDS-Forum
GDS-Forum
The GDS-Forum is a meeting of minds that brings together tourism and event management professionals to exchange knowledge, share best practices and stimulate innovation about the creation, management and marketing of more regenerative, resilient and sustainable destinations.
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GDS-Academy
GDS-Academy
The GDS-Academy provides leading-edge training for event and destination management professionals to turn sustainability concepts into action. Check out our upcoming courses to stay ahead of the curve and learn about regenerative systems thinking and operational practices.
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GDS-Certification
GDS-Certification
GDS-Certify is a third-party sustainability certification for business tourism, events and meeting destinations that is powered by EarthCheck science and software, and underpinned by the GSTC destination criteria.
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Find your sustainableDestination
Latest Insights
Blog
Launch of the Global Destination Sustainability Movement
Blog
The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index), celebrated the launch of the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), a platform to promote and develop the regenerative thinking and practices that will support destinations of the future.
10 July 2020
20 Views
Blog
The 2020 GDS-Index Benchmark Goes Live!
Blog
The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index), announces growth, launches the 2020 criteria, and opens the benchmarking period for business tourism and events cities. The new 2020 criteria incorporate 69 qualitative and quantitative parameters to map, measure and benchmark sustainability.
18 June 2020
30 Views
Blog
Montreal becomes the first Canadian city to join the GDS-Index!
Blog
Montréal – host of World Environment Day 2020 – becomes the first Canadian city to join the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index). The GDS-Index is delighted that Montréal has chosen such a significant day to announce its membership of the global performance improvement program.
5 June 2020
47 Views
Blog
Strategic Partnership Announcement: GDS-Index, JCS and MCI Japan
Blog
The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index), MCI and JCS join forces to accelerate the national goal of creating a regenerative tourism and events industry. Japan has a long-standing culture of living harmoniously with nature, and has pushed for long-term commitments for global sustainability since decades.
3 June 2020
42 Views
Blog
Stepping Up for Society
Blog
In order for the tourism and events industry to successfully forge a new path, we must not only strengthen links with local communities, but also integrate long term measures that will enable us to be prepared and step up for society when the next natural or man-made disaster, or pandemic comes knocking.
27 May 2020
18 Views
Blog
The Regenerative Event Checklist
Blog
As we set out to recover from the impacts of covid-19, leaders are calling for a green and fair recovery to avoid a return to the ‘old normal’. The infographic shared through this article outlines the different ways in which event organisers should be aligning their events with the broader agenda of sustainability.
13 May 2020
23 Views
“The GDSM is a fantastic initiative that motivates and inspires our destination and stakeholders to engage in sustainable practices. It is a movement that meets destinations where they are and manages to consider the uniqueness and different prerequisites of the cities, its surroundings and its tourism operators. Besides that, it has given us a platform to monitor our progress and a place to showcase our successes and our position in the market in terms of sustainable tourism management.”
Victoria Barton - Project Manager, VisitAalborg
The GDSM is an inspiring gathering of destinations, driven by the same strong desire to become more sustainable. This powerful network of determined, highly-qualified professionals, helps us build a greener global industry. The benchmarking platform is an efficient tool to identify a destination's strength and its weaknesses, and improve its actions for the years to come.
Amélie Déchénais - Convention Bureau Manager, Bordeaux
The GDS-Index is a unique example of how collaboration, including the sharing of best practices and expertise, can improve performance of destinations for the benefit of both our clients and local communities. It has provided us with opportunities and inspiration that has helped position Copenhagen as a leader in sustainable practices.
Kit Lykketoft - Director of Convention, Copenhagen
The Global Destination Sustainability Movement is a transformation platform that engages, inspires and enables destinations to become more regenerative, flourishing and resilient places to visit, meet and live in.