The GDS-Movement unites and enables destination management professionals to create flourishing and resilient places to visit, meet and live in. Our mission is to co-create sustainable and circular strategies, mindsets and skill sets that will enable destinations of the future to thrive, and society and nature to regenerate.
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 transform 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-Insights
GDS-Insights
We analyse the latest trends and research new opportunities to produce fresh insights that guide decision making and catalyse transformation towards a sustainable and regenerative future.
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Find your sustainableDestination
Latest Insights
Blog
Tourism taxes – what can they offer in a time of crises?
Blog
Presenting a summary of the ground breaking research led by Group Nao and the GDS-Movement which explores how tourism taxation can be designed to support recovery and the long-term development of a more resilient and regenerative tourism economy.
12 January 2021
27 Views
Blog
The next best time to plant a tree is now.
Blog
As 2020 draws to a close we thought what better way to celebrate our partnerships and collaborations than to support an agroforestry project in Ecuador.
21 December 2020
195 Views
Blog
The Regenerative Revolution
Blog
A paradigm shift will regenerate the events industry. This summary of the ground breaking research paper undertaken by Imex, Marriot International and the GDS Movement explores how and inspires a future based on the success of natural design.
17 December 2020
134 Views
Blog
Global Destination Sustainability Movement signs up in full support of The Future of Tourism
Blog
We are excited to announce that we have joined over 350 destinations, businesses, associations, academia and media partners in support of the new set of Guiding Principles launched by the Future of Tourism Coalition.
3 November 2020
575 Views
Blog
The GDS-Movement Guide for Sustainability Certifications
Blog
This guide serves as a trustworthy resource to enable you and your stakeholders to choose the certification that best fits the needs of their organization. All the certifications listed are globally recognized.
29 October 2020
409 Views
Blog
Destination Berlin joins the GDS-Movement and steps up its commitment to sustainability
Blog
27 October 2020
473 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 GDS-Movement unites and enables destination management professionals to create flourishing and resilient places to visit, meet and live in. Our mission is to co-create sustainable and circular strategies, mindsets and skill sets that will enable destinations of the future to thrive, and society and nature to regenerate.