Array
(
[id] => 208
[active] => 1
[city_id] => 15
[city_name] => Brussels
[contact_name] => Kathleen
[contact_surname] => Davisters
[contact_email] => k.davisters@visit.brussels
[organisation] => visit.brussels
[website] =>
[environmental_description] => As Europe’s leading terminal for international high-speed trains, Brussels is becoming a greener place to meet. On arrival, efficient underground, bus, tram, and bicycle rental network takes over to transport you anywhere in Brussels. The city was voted No.1 sustainable city in Europe in terms of environmental policy in the European Green City Index. Various recognitions of an environmental management system is open to Brussels companies. It is one of the greenest cities in Europe with 28 m² of green space per inhabitant and is one of the most active cities in the area of passive construction with more than 265.000m² of exemplary buildings. In addition, the Brussels-Capital Region focuses strongly on the circular economy (PREC programme), good food and the fight against waste (Good Food Brussels). Brussels is leader in waste management and No.1 in Europe in recycling of packaging waste. As of 2018, the most polluting vehicles will be progressively banned from the Brussels-Capital Region as part of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) strategy.
[social_description] => Brussels is a world city. With three official languages and 183 nationalities speaking more than 100 different languages, Brussels is a diverse, cosmopolitan city and a magnetic centre for economic migration. With 62% foreign-born residents, Brussels ranks second only to Dubai in the World Migration Report. According to the 2016 ranking of consultants Mercer, Brussels is the 21st most pleasant city in the world in terms of quality of living out of 450, well ahead of Paris or London and 14th in Europe. The Mercer survey rated 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.
[supplier_description] => Brussels is steadily becoming a more eco-friendly 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. 25 % 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 go green. Brussels plans to become an even greener place to meet, aiming to be the "Green city of Europe" by 2024 through a coordinated plan to make the city a truly sustainable destination.
[dmo_description] =>
[logo] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_logos/EePKJFUz9pVLI3dx8AcwbEDn7gPlOcw8uillx1dJ.jpeg
[video] => 3r86YJmR4yk
[img_1] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/5bea93b08c84e.jpg
[img_2] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/5bed565ed7cdb.jpg
[img_3] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/5bed56afdb277.jpg
[img_4] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/5bed5cf29bbb1.jpg
[img_5] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/5bed5d206579e.jpg
[high_env_1] => 6.4
[high_env_2] => 44
[high_env_3] => 230
[high_soc_1] => 82.2
[high_soc_2] => 89.46
[high_soc_3] => 76
[high_sup_1] => 35
[high_sup_2] => 67
[high_sup_3] => 0
[high_dmo_1] => Sustainability vision and action plan established for events,Sustainability vision and action plan established for tourism,Multi year strategy (+3 years)
[high_dmo_2] => None
[high_dmo_3] => Performance data (KPIs) from the previous and/or current year is published on the DMO website
[created_at] => 2021-10-26 12:01:41
[updated_at] => 2021-10-26 12:01:41
[year] => 2021
)
Array
(
[id] => 208
[year] => 2021
[city_id] => 15
[city_name] => Brussels
[score_type] => city
[Total] => 73.64
[Total_rank] => 14
[Environment] => 76.98
[Environment_rank] => 16
[Social] => 92.5
[Social_rank] => 2
[Supplier] => 66.25
[Supplier_rank] => 8
[DMO] => 65.52
[DMO_rank] => 15
[longitude] => 4.351721099999963
[latitude] => 50.8503463
[population] => 1208542
[country] => Belgium
[region] => Western Europe
[created_at] => 2021-10-26 12:00:37
[updated_at] => 2021-10-26 12:00:37
)
Brussels 2021 GDS-Index Report
Brussels, Belgium
2021 Performance Overview
DMO
Supplier
Social
Environmental
Performance Highlights

Summary

Environmental

Supplier

Social
As Europe’s leading terminal for international high-speed trains, Brussels is becoming a greener place to meet. On arrival, efficient underground, bus, tram, and bicycle rental network takes over to transport you anywhere in Brussels. The city was voted No.1 sustainable city in Europe in terms of environmental policy in the European Green City Index. Various recognitions of an environmental management system is open to Brussels companies. It is one of the greenest cities in Europe with 28 m² of green space per inhabitant and is one of the most active cities in the area of passive construction with more than 265.000m² of exemplary buildings. In addition, the Brussels-Capital Region focuses strongly on the circular economy (PREC programme), good food and the fight against waste (Good Food Brussels). Brussels is leader in waste management and No.1 in Europe in recycling of packaging waste. As of 2018, the most polluting vehicles will be progressively banned from the Brussels-Capital Region as part of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) strategy.
Brussels is steadily becoming a more eco-friendly 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. 25 % 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 go green. Brussels plans to become an even greener place to meet, aiming to be the "Green city of Europe" by 2024 through a coordinated plan to make the city a truly sustainable destination.
Brussels is a world city. With three official languages and 183 nationalities speaking more than 100 different languages, Brussels is a diverse, cosmopolitan city and a magnetic centre for economic migration. With 62% foreign-born residents, Brussels ranks second only to Dubai in the World Migration Report. According to the 2016 ranking of consultants Mercer, Brussels is the 21st most pleasant city in the world in terms of quality of living out of 450, well ahead of Paris or London and 14th in Europe. The Mercer survey rated 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.
Does visit.brussels have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Brussels have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does visit.brussels report on its sustainability performance?
Environmental
As Europe’s leading terminal for international high-speed trains, Brussels is becoming a greener place to meet. On arrival, efficient underground, bus, tram, and bicycle rental network takes over to transport you anywhere in Brussels. The city was voted No.1 sustainable city in Europe in terms of environmental policy in the European Green City Index. Various recognitions of an environmental management system is open to Brussels companies. It is one of the greenest cities in Europe with 28 m² of green space per inhabitant and is one of the most active cities in the area of passive construction with more than 265.000m² of exemplary buildings. In addition, the Brussels-Capital Region focuses strongly on the circular economy (PREC programme), good food and the fight against waste (Good Food Brussels). Brussels is leader in waste management and No.1 in Europe in recycling of packaging waste. As of 2018, the most polluting vehicles will be progressively banned from the Brussels-Capital Region as part of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) strategy.
OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLES
HECTARES OF GREEN AREA PER 100 000 POPULATION
Supplier
Brussels is steadily becoming a more eco-friendly 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. 25 % 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 go green. Brussels plans to become an even greener place to meet, aiming to be the "Green city of Europe" by 2024 through a coordinated plan to make the city a truly sustainable destination.
OF SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED HOTELS
OF SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED VENUES
OF SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED PCOS/DMCS
Social
Brussels is a world city. With three official languages and 183 nationalities speaking more than 100 different languages, Brussels is a diverse, cosmopolitan city and a magnetic centre for economic migration. With 62% foreign-born residents, Brussels ranks second only to Dubai in the World Migration Report. According to the 2016 ranking of consultants Mercer, Brussels is the 21st most pleasant city in the world in terms of quality of living out of 450, well ahead of Paris or London and 14th in Europe. The Mercer survey rated 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.
82
SDG IMPLEMENTATION SCORE
89
SCORE ON SOCIAL PROGRESS INDEX
76
SCORE ON CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX
About the Global Destination Sustainability Movement
The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDSM) brings together the sustainability pioneers of the business and leisure tourism world, working with destinations to co-create their tourism and events strategies, benchmark and improve their sustainability performance and transform value chains in order to catalyse regeneration.
Our purpose is to engage, inspire and enable the business events and tourism industry to become more sustainable and regenerative.
Our Methodology
In 2021 the GDS-Index used 71 indicators that evaluate destinations sustainability performance across four key areas. If you are interested, you can read our benchmarking methodology in detail here.
City Environmental
Performance
Climate, Energy and Emissions
Resources
Air Quality
Water
Transportation
Green Areas
Water
City Social
Performance
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Social Progress
Corruption
Personal Safety
Access to Information
Health and Wellness
Inclusiveness
Supplier
Performance
Hotels
Airport
Agencies (PCOs & DMCs)
Restaurants
Venues
Academia
Destination
Management
Performance
Destination Strategy
Policy and Certification
Governance
Capacity Building
Measurement and Reports
Marketing and Comms
Client Support
Accessibility
Generating Impact
Ownership
The GDSM is not owned by any one organisation. It is operated as a multi-stakeholder partnership founded and endorsed by IMEX, MCI, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and European Cities Marketing. Gubi Consulting and Guy Bigwood is responsible for the management of the Secretariat.