Array
(
    [id] => 233
    [active] => 1
    [city_id] => 65
    [city_name] => Cork
    [contact_name] => Katherine
    [contact_surname] => Fitzpatrick
    [contact_email] => sustainability@visitcork.ie
    [organisation] => Cork Convention Bureau
    [website] => https://www.corkconventionbureau.com/sustainability/
    [environmental_description] => Cork is a place of dramatic natural landscapes, riverscapes, harbours, bays and seascapes. A place of mountains, river valleys and coastlines, therefore protecting our status as a ‘green’ region is vital. Cork Convention Bureau ensures that environmental awareness is automatically built into the business and conference tourism offerings in Cork, highlighting a variety of local CSR activities (from hands-on nature conservation to forest exploration) that can offset the impact of business tourism and cement an organisation’s global citizen credentials. 

Cork City was recently named as one of the EU Mission cities that are aiming to be climate-neutral, smart cities by 2030. As part of this initiative, Cork is developing a Climate City Contract, which will include an overall plan for climate neutrality across all sectors including energy, buildings and transport.
    [social_description] => As Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, the tourism sector has a responsibility to act ethically and drive social innovation. In order to provide an authentic welcome, any reputable tourism destination must demonstrate a commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI). Cork City is the first and only city on the island of Ireland to have become a member of the International Rainbow Cities Network, that pledge to protect and enhance LGBTI+ rights and inclusion. Cork City Council was the first city and public building to officially fly the Rainbow Flag, raised by the Lord Mayor in 2014. Furthermore, Cork is a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities and the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. Cork is a safe and vibrant destination for people who enjoy the city at night-time, as demonstrated by the City’s ‘Purple Flag’ status, held since 2015. This international accreditation, awarded by the Association of Cities and Towns Management (ACTM), celebrates areas of excellence in the night-time economy.
    [supplier_description] => The Cork Convention Bureau aspires to ensure that all meetings and events programmes are developed through the lens of sustainability. We employ the GDSI regenerative event checklist when planning meetings, and our team ensures that environmental awareness is automatically built into the business and conference tourism offerings in Cork, highlighting a variety of local CSR activities (from hands-on nature conservation to forest exploration and citizen engagement) that can offset the impact of business tourism and cement an organisation’s global citizen credentials.
    [dmo_description] => Nestled in the South-West of Ireland between the signature visitor experiences of Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork offers visitors an authentic experience, through our history, heritage, landmarks and landscape. Our reputation for high quality, artisan food and drink production, alongside a strong cultural, musical and artistic vibe, provide an extensive choice for the visitor experience. 

In order to preserve our social, environmental and economic heritage, stakeholders across the region are strongly committed to sustainability and the UN SDGs. Cork Convention Bureau (CCB) is the business tourism and events arm of the Visit Cork structure, which also includes the region’s ‘Pure Cork’ leisure destination brand. CCB seeks to lead the way for the tourism sector throughout the region, promoting and implementing environmental, economic and social sustainability programmes that will ensure a sustainable and regenerative future for the sector.
    [logo] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_logos/hoqy2AWK2epKVAaE2J47zgyhWUFWJ8IY4dTYvJ4E.jpeg
    [video] => jZ_Lda8XRNE
    [img_1] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/9J4s7gbvwS6Q2aO9qlsVOJW6lCbJtVUjYbEeSmL3.jpeg
    [img_2] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/Z8sNEdM6O7NOmuMDW1yIZgWkg2AKZ2Zedpts1Dg1.jpg
    [img_3] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/w4ojU867wpIuQeEfqCoxjAMKaXXnoQPTbQP7rMvn.jpg
    [img_4] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/mmgl8LSVALOt92O4fultP9ejJucRKVUYAUdfSdJc.jpg
    [img_5] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/VkKB3ADrXCsnY8F9rhR2CGVbqGNOe2XhtVUgiOBx.jpg
    [high_env_1] => 43
    [high_env_2] => 38
    [high_env_3] => 10400
    [high_soc_1] => 81
    [high_soc_2] => 90.35
    [high_soc_3] => 72
    [high_sup_1] => 58
    [high_sup_2] => 0
    [high_sup_3] => 22
    [high_dmo_1] => Sustainability vision and action plan established for events,Sustainability vision and action plan established for tourism,Multi year strategy (+3 years),Aligned to the city's overall development agenda (not just tourism and events),Aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
    [high_dmo_2] => 0
    [high_dmo_3] => Performance data (KPIs) from the previous and/or current year is displayed via a graphical dashboard,Performance data (KPIs) from the previous and/or current year is published on the DMO website,Performance data (KPIs) from the previous and/or current year is included in Annual DMO or sustainability report
    [created_at] => 2021-10-26 12:01:48
    [updated_at] => 2023-06-07 12:01:53
    [year] => 2021
)
Array
(
    [id] => 233
    [year] => 2021
    [city_id] => 65
    [city_name] => Cork
    [score_type] => city
    [Total] => 70.83
    [Total_rank] => 18
    [Environment] => 77.78
    [Environment_rank] => 15
    [Social] => 85
    [Social_rank] => 5
    [Supplier] => 58.33
    [Supplier_rank] => 16
    [DMO] => 64.83
    [DMO_rank] => 16
    [longitude] => -8.475603500000034
    [latitude] => 51.8985143
    [population] => 222333
    [country] => Ireland
    [region] => Western Europe
    [created_at] => 2021-10-26 12:00:39
    [updated_at] => 2023-06-07 12:00:22
)
Cork 2021 GDS-Index Report
2021 Performance Overview
DMO
Supplier
Social
Environmental
Performance Highlights
Summary
Environmental
Supplier
Social
Nestled in the South-West of Ireland between the signature visitor experiences of Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork offers visitors an authentic experience, through our history, heritage, landmarks and landscape. Our reputation for high quality, artisan food and drink production, alongside a strong cultural, musical and artistic vibe, provide an extensive choice for the visitor experience. In order to preserve our social, environmental and economic heritage, stakeholders across the region are strongly committed to sustainability and the UN SDGs. Cork Convention Bureau (CCB) is the business tourism and events arm of the Visit Cork structure, which also includes the region’s ‘Pure Cork’ leisure destination brand. CCB seeks to lead the way for the tourism sector throughout the region, promoting and implementing environmental, economic and social sustainability programmes that will ensure a sustainable and regenerative future for the sector.
Cork is a place of dramatic natural landscapes, riverscapes, harbours, bays and seascapes. A place of mountains, river valleys and coastlines, therefore protecting our status as a ‘green’ region is vital. Cork Convention Bureau ensures that environmental awareness is automatically built into the business and conference tourism offerings in Cork, highlighting a variety of local CSR activities (from hands-on nature conservation to forest exploration) that can offset the impact of business tourism and cement an organisation’s global citizen credentials. Cork City was recently named as one of the EU Mission cities that are aiming to be climate-neutral, smart cities by 2030. As part of this initiative, Cork is developing a Climate City Contract, which will include an overall plan for climate neutrality across all sectors including energy, buildings and transport.
The Cork Convention Bureau aspires to ensure that all meetings and events programmes are developed through the lens of sustainability. We employ the GDSI regenerative event checklist when planning meetings, and our team ensures that environmental awareness is automatically built into the business and conference tourism offerings in Cork, highlighting a variety of local CSR activities (from hands-on nature conservation to forest exploration and citizen engagement) that can offset the impact of business tourism and cement an organisation’s global citizen credentials.
As Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, the tourism sector has a responsibility to act ethically and drive social innovation. In order to provide an authentic welcome, any reputable tourism destination must demonstrate a commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI). Cork City is the first and only city on the island of Ireland to have become a member of the International Rainbow Cities Network, that pledge to protect and enhance LGBTI+ rights and inclusion. Cork City Council was the first city and public building to officially fly the Rainbow Flag, raised by the Lord Mayor in 2014. Furthermore, Cork is a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities and the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. Cork is a safe and vibrant destination for people who enjoy the city at night-time, as demonstrated by the City’s ‘Purple Flag’ status, held since 2015. This international accreditation, awarded by the Association of Cities and Towns Management (ACTM), celebrates areas of excellence in the night-time economy.
Summary
Nestled in the South-West of Ireland between the signature visitor experiences of Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork offers visitors an authentic experience, through our history, heritage, landmarks and landscape. Our reputation for high quality, artisan food and drink production, alongside a strong cultural, musical and artistic vibe, provide an extensive choice for the visitor experience. In order to preserve our social, environmental and economic heritage, stakeholders across the region are strongly committed to sustainability and the UN SDGs. Cork Convention Bureau (CCB) is the business tourism and events arm of the Visit Cork structure, which also includes the region’s ‘Pure Cork’ leisure destination brand. CCB seeks to lead the way for the tourism sector throughout the region, promoting and implementing environmental, economic and social sustainability programmes that will ensure a sustainable and regenerative future for the sector.
Does Cork Convention Bureau have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Cork have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Cork Convention Bureau report on its sustainability performance?
Environmental
Cork is a place of dramatic natural landscapes, riverscapes, harbours, bays and seascapes. A place of mountains, river valleys and coastlines, therefore protecting our status as a ‘green’ region is vital. Cork Convention Bureau ensures that environmental awareness is automatically built into the business and conference tourism offerings in Cork, highlighting a variety of local CSR activities (from hands-on nature conservation to forest exploration) that can offset the impact of business tourism and cement an organisation’s global citizen credentials. Cork City was recently named as one of the EU Mission cities that are aiming to be climate-neutral, smart cities by 2030. As part of this initiative, Cork is developing a Climate City Contract, which will include an overall plan for climate neutrality across all sectors including energy, buildings and transport.
OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE RECYCLED
10400 ha
HECTARES OF GREEN AREA PER 100 000 POPULATION
Supplier
The Cork Convention Bureau aspires to ensure that all meetings and events programmes are developed through the lens of sustainability. We employ the GDSI regenerative event checklist when planning meetings, and our team ensures that environmental awareness is automatically built into the business and conference tourism offerings in Cork, highlighting a variety of local CSR activities (from hands-on nature conservation to forest exploration and citizen engagement) that can offset the impact of business tourism and cement an organisation’s global citizen credentials.
OF HOTEL ROOMS SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED
OF VENUES SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED
Social
As Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, the tourism sector has a responsibility to act ethically and drive social innovation. In order to provide an authentic welcome, any reputable tourism destination must demonstrate a commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI). Cork City is the first and only city on the island of Ireland to have become a member of the International Rainbow Cities Network, that pledge to protect and enhance LGBTI+ rights and inclusion. Cork City Council was the first city and public building to officially fly the Rainbow Flag, raised by the Lord Mayor in 2014. Furthermore, Cork is a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities and the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. Cork is a safe and vibrant destination for people who enjoy the city at night-time, as demonstrated by the City’s ‘Purple Flag’ status, held since 2015. This international accreditation, awarded by the Association of Cities and Towns Management (ACTM), celebrates areas of excellence in the night-time economy.
81
SDG IMPLEMENTATION SCORE
90
SCORE ON SOCIAL PROGRESS INDEX
72
SCORE ON CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX
Compare another
Destination

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 2022 the GDS-Index used 70 indicators that evaluate destinations sustainability performance across four key areas. If you are interested, you can read our benchmarking methodology in detail here.

Environmental
Performance

Climate, Energy and Emissions​

Circularity and Waste​

Water​

Air Quality​

Transportation​

Biodiversity​

Social
Performance

SDG Alignment ​

Corruption​

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion​

Health, Safety and Wellness​

Accessibility ​

Resident Engagement​

Supplier
Performance

Hotels​

Airport​

Agencies (PCOs & DMCs)​

Restaurants​

Venues​

Academia​

Destination
Management
Performance

Destination Strategy​

Governance and Reporting​

Policy and Certification​

Capacity Building​

Measurement, Impact and Reporting​

Marketing and Communications​

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion​

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 City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA). Gubi Consulting and Guy Bigwood are responsible for the management of the Secretariat.

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