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About

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.

The GDS-Movement serves to accelerate the transformation from destination marketing at whatever cost, towards destination management and stewardship with shared value.
Our Services
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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Our History

The GDS-Movement evolved from the Global Destination Sustainability Index; the world’s leading sustainability benchmarking and performance improvement program for destinations, and their visitor economy.

The GDS-Index was inspired by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Scandinavian chapter and MCI, where 15 pioneering cities created the Scandinavian Destination Sustainability Index. It has since evolved into a collaborative partnership between ICCA, IMEX Exhibitions, European Cities Marketing, MCI Group and GUBI consulting.

2010
Birth: The dream for a Scandinavian Destination Sustainability Index took root in Gothenburg, through the collaborative effort of ICCA's Scandinavian Chapter and MCI.
2012
Baby Steps: The first benchmarking results go live for the Scandinavian Destination Sustainability Index.
2015
Going Global: After the concept showed great outcomes, ICCA Scandinavian Chapter, ICCA , IMEX, and MCI sign an MOU to create the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
2017
Growing Partnerships: European Cities Marketing partners with the GDS-Index.
2019
Growing Destinations: The GDS-Index reaches 50 destinations.
2020
Regeneration: The Global Destination Sustainability Movement emerges out of the need to drive the regeneration of destinations. The portfolio of services expands to include consulting, certification, education and training, and a forum.