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-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
Discover how to join the GDS-Movement!
Blog
Are you a destination management professional or organisation? Would you like to have access to an incredible network and discover how to implement more sustainable practices in your work? Fill out our new sign up form and join us!
14 September 2020
198 Views
Blog
Stakeholder Consultation : Looking out for the details
Blog
Securing stakeholder involvement and feedback is an essential part of strategy development. Suppliers, Clients, Employees, Community. What to consider when consulting the most important stakeholder groups for destinations?
10 September 2020
179 Views
Blog
Denmark’s largest meeting destinations become certified Green Tourism Organizations
Blog
Denmark reaffirms its positions as a frontrunner in sustainable development as VisitAarhus, VisitAal-borg and Inspiring Denmark join Wonderful Copenhagen as certified Green Tourism Organizations (GTO).
3 September 2020
200 Views
Blog
Circular Thinking: How problems catalyse the solutions
Blog
As events bring together millions of people every year, organising them in a clean and hygienic way is imperative to curb the spread of diseases such as COVID-19. In this article, we provide you with some tangible solutions to make your event more regenerative and safe.
28 August 2020
232 Views
Blog
Launching the GDS-Movement
Blog
Considering how we grow amidst the threats facing destinations, we have decided to reach for the opportunity to upgrade and extend our programme. This is why we have launched the Global Destination Sustainability Movement.
12 August 2020
235 Views
Blog
GDS-Index Winner of IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award
Blog
“A unique and innovative approach to driving sustainability through competition – and with potential beyond the industry.” This is what judges had to say about the winning entry to the IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award.
11 August 2020
348 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.