GDS-Awards

Explore the GDS-Awards: Leadership, Most Improved Destination, Innovation, and Impact (in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT) and its winners.

The GDS-Awards
The GDS-Awards

GDS-Awards is an annual recognition of excellence in destination leadership, innovation, improvement, and legacy initiatives. In its 9th edition, GDS-Awards recognises outstanding contributions and innovation practices through  

  • the ´Leadership Award´ based on GDS-Index ranking,  
  • the ´Most Improved Destination Award´ based on year-on-year GDS-Index benchmarking results,  
  • the ´Innovation Award´, selected by an independent panel of industry experts 
  • and the ´Impact Award´ in collaboration with #Meet4Impact, also selected by an external panel of industry experts 

The GDS-Awards ceremony brings together the GDS-Movement, City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) and the host community in an inspiring celebration. It serves as a prestigious platform to honour the remarkable achievements of the winners. 

Apart from being acknowledged during GDS-Awards Ceremony, winners are featured in the annual GDS-Index report, in the GDS-Index results media outreach, and have the opportunity to present their winning initiatives at the GDS-Movement Feeling the Pulse webinar. 

IMPACT AWARD

IMPACT AWARD

The new GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT Impact Award acknowledges and celebrates a destination management organisation committed to legacy and impact through business events. It is a collaborative initiative developed by GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT.

MOST IMPROVED AWARD

MOST IMPROVED AWARD

The Most Improved Destination Award goes to the destination that has made the greatest increase in its GDS-Index score from the previous year. This is independent of its ranking.

INNOVATION AWARD

INNOVATION AWARD

The Innovation Award recognises and showcases a destination using innovative solutions to drive sustainability performance.

LEADERSHIP AWARD

LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Leadership Award goes to the destination scoring the highest on the year's GDS-Index, demonstrating its continual commitment, inspired vision, prompt action, and measurable impacts.

LEADERSHIP AWARD

LEADERSHIP AWARD

2023


Gothenburg, Sweden

92.98%

Göteborg & Co

Award certification

The Leadership Award goes to the destination scoring the highest on the year's GDS-Index, demonstrating its continual commitment, inspired vision, prompt action, and measurable impacts. The city of Gothenburg, Sweden, represented by Göteborg & Co, wins the 2023 Leadership Award for the seventh time, for the greatest contributions to social, environmental, and economic well-being in a destination.


LEADERSHIP AWARD

MOST IMPROVED DESTINATION AWARD

2023


Liverpool, United Kingdom

Liverpool Convention Bureau

Award certification

The Most Improved Destination Award goes to the destination that has made the greatest increase in its GDS-Index score from the previous year. This is independent of its ranking. The city of Liverpool, United Kingdom, represented by Liverpool Convention Bureau, wins the 2023 Most Improved Destination Award for the greatest growth in sustainability contributions by a destination.


LEADERSHIP AWARD

INNOVATION AWARD

2023



The Innovation Award recognises and showcases a destination using innovative solutions to drive sustainability performance. The city of Washington DC, United States of America, represented by Destination DC at Washington DC, wins the 2023 Innovation Award for the "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Business Fellowship".


LEADERSHIP AWARD

IMPACT AWARD

2023


Sydney, Australia

Business Events Sydney (BESydney)

Award certification

The new GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT Impact Award acknowledges and celebrates a destination management organisation committed to legacy and impact through business events. It is a collaborative initiative developed by GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT. The city of Sydney, Australia, represented by BESydney (Business Events Sydney), wins the 2023 GDS-Movement and #Meet4Impact Impact Award for the "BESydney Impact Programme".


LEADERSHIP AWARD

LEADERSHIP AWARD

2022


Gothenburg, Sweden

92.98%

Goteborg & Co

Award certification

Goteborg & Co


LEADERSHIP AWARD

INNOVATION AWARD

2022


Belfast, United Kingdom

84.01%

Visit Belfast

Award certification


LEADERSHIP AWARD

MOST IMPROVED DESTINATION AWARD

2022


Bangkok, Thailand

73.66%

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)

Award certification


LEADERSHIP AWARD

LEADERSHIP AWARD

2021


Gothenburg, Sweden

88.95%

 Goteborg&Co

Award certification

 Goteborg&Co


LEADERSHIP AWARD

INNOVATION AWARD

2021


Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen Legacy Lab 

Award certification

Copenhagen Legacy Lab 


LEADERSHIP AWARD

MOST IMPROVED DESTINATION AWARD

2021


Lyon, France

Office du Tourisme & des Congres du Grand Lyon 

Award certification

Office du Tourisme & des Congres du Grand Lyon