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2021
Time to Regenerate!
Benchmark your destination to receive insights and shape your strategy for regeneration
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The GDS-Index
Methodology
Benchmarking destinations to create a regenerative tourism industry
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The Regenerative Revolution
A new paradigm for event management
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Join a movement of over
60Leading cities
WHO ARE FIXING OUR FUTURE
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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
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Latest Insights
Blog
Seventy and counting – DMOs and CVBs committed to regenerative change
Blog
Seventy and counting – DMOs and CVBs committed to regenerative change
The GDS-Movement celebrates its seventieth destination committed to a regenerative future by benchmarking their sustainability initiatives with the GDS-Index.
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13 April 2021
56 Views
Blog
We are recruiting!
Blog
We are recruiting!
The GDS-Movement is looking for two new Superheroes to join our team of Changemakers: One Senior Sustainability Consultant, with experience in the events and tourism industry, and a Marketing Intern.
Read more
6 April 2021
309 Views
Blog
Switzerland’s ambitious aims backed up by its Swisstainable strategy and NATIONWIDE benchmarking.
Blog
Switzerland’s ambitious aims backed up by its Swisstainable strategy and NATIONWIDE benchmarking.
This comprehensive programme provides a far-reaching range of commitments, certifications, tools and support services that formalise the Swiss route towards a tourism sector that is grounded in social, economic and environmental best practise.
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24 March 2021
319 Views
Blog
Tallinn City, Estonia becomes the 1st Baltic Capital to join the GDS-Index
Blog
Tallinn City, Estonia becomes the 1st Baltic Capital to join the GDS-Index
Following through on its vision to ensure that sustainability, environmental friendliness and balanced development go hand in hand, the city has joined over sixty- six global destinations who benchmark with the GDS-Index.
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19 March 2021
227 Views
Blog
Bilbao aims to increase its competitive advantage in the MICE sector by joining the GDS-Index
Blog
Bilbao aims to increase its competitive advantage in the MICE sector by joining the GDS-Index
The Bilbao Convention Bureau has joined the GDS-Index with the aim of uniting their stakeholders on a journey of continuous improvement to achieve measurable sustainability success and certified value.
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10 March 2021
287 Views
Blog
Valencia continues its outstanding commitments to a regenerative future and joins the GDS-Index
Blog
Valencia continues its outstanding commitments to a regenerative future and joins the GDS-Index
Valencia's sustainable tourism strategy is setting the course for the destination’s ambitious targets, that include becoming the leaders for carbon measurement in southern Europe. 
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12 February 2021
599 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