The GDS-Index is a destination-level programme that measures, benchmarks, and improves the sustainability strategy and performance of tourism and events destinations.
The GDS-Index is aligned with international standards; UN SDGs, GSTC Destination Criteria, UNWTO.
Click here to read more about the benchmarking methodology including data collection and verification, the four benchmarking categories, governance and criteria development and performance scoring methods.
This page highlights each destinations sustainability journey and will showcase their journey.
The 2023 GDS-Index comprises 69 indicators across four categories. Here is the total score and the score for the four categories for this destination.
Environmental
Social
Supplier
Destination Management Organisation
Environmental
Includes a city's performance pertaining to its policies and infrastructure, such as climate change commitment, carbon emissions, renewable energies, resource and water management, public transport, and air pollution levels.
Social
Indicates the performance of the city against indicators of SDG integration, Corruption, Personal Safety, Access to Information and Communications, Health and Wellness, and Inclusivity, using external sources such as the Social Progress Imperative Index, and Corruption Perceptions Index.
Supplier
Addresses the sustainability commitment and performance of the local meetings' industry supply chain, including airports, events agencies, hotels, venues, and restaurants.
Destination Management Organisation
Indicates the sustainability commitment, including questions pertaining to maturity of a destination's sustainability and regeneration strategy, leadership, communication of sustainability initiatives (to support client planners), and the accuracy of their reporting on sustainability operations.
Brussels is a capital of 500 million Europeans and is authentic, human, welcoming and open. It thrives on the diversity and creativity of its residents, artists and partners in culture, tourism and events. We want to make Brussels a destination that offers sustainable tourism, is open to everyone and is constantly evolving. A region that dares to lead the way in sustainability in Europe, as a champion of circularity. A true green capital and a model of social integration. A friendly city where the watchwords are well-being, slow working and slow living. visit.brussels has set itself three major objectives : 1. Building a strong identity for Brussels and enhancing the visitor experience ; 2. Participating in the promotion and creation of a visitor economy with a positive impact, based on four pillars: the pursuit of healthy economic growth, helping to enrich cultural life in the region, and paying particular attention to social and ecological impacts ; 3. Implementing a proactive strategy of spatially and temporally decentralising tourism to avoid the negative effects of tourism overconsumption. To achieve these objectives, visit.brussels works closely with all players of the visitor economy and culture in Brussels, as well as with other regional public interest organisations. It also involves the citizens of the Brussels-Capital Region in a participative and co-creative approach.
Does visit.brussels have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Brussels have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does visit.brussels report on its sustainability performance?
The Brussels-Capital Region is strongly engaged in its path towards sustainability and is committed to a 'zero carbon' objective by 2050. Various programmes have been implemented in the last decade and all the new projects in the region and its 19 municipalities are driven by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Ambitious policies and initiatives have already been implemented to this end, as part of the Shifting Economy, the region’s economic transition strategy : the Good Move 2020-2030 regional mobility plan, the Good Food strategy for a sustainable food system, the Regional Circular Economy Programme (PREC), the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and the Ville 30 (limiting speed to 30 km/h on most roads) to name but a few.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE
RECYCLED
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
visit.brussels' dedicated team and local organisations work with meeting professionals to make their meeting much more sustainable. Brussels is steadily becoming a more sustainable destination, and it shows. Cleantech events now taking place in Brussels include the Annual Carbon Capture and Storage Summit, Renewable Energy Law Conference and Sustainable Energy Week. 40 % of all Brussels hotel rooms hold an official eco-certification and are easily accessible with public transport. Brussels CVB works actively to inspire the city’s meetings industry to become more responsible.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
Brussels is a diverse and multicultural city that embraces different cultural backgrounds, languages, and traditions. The city is home to over 180 nationalities, making it a melting pot of cultures and identities. To ensure that everyone feels welcome, respected, and included, visit.brussels is committed to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion in every aspect of tourism. According to Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking 2019, Brussels is the 28th most pleasant city in the world in terms of quality of living out of 231. The Mercer survey rates Brussels as one of the most pleasant places to live on the European continent and also one of its most inexpensive cities. Brussels is the capital city of a country that appears consistently towards the top of international rankings such as : least corrupt countries, least gender inequality, etc.
The GDS-Movement is a pioneering, data-driven international change agency that acts to catalyse socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions across the world. Our mission is to empower tourism and events professionals with the mindsets, skill sets, and toolsets to co-create more regenerative and resilient destinations to visit, meet, and live in.
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