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.
Visit Houston is committed to support sustainable meetings by referring clients to the Green Building Resource Center. The Center gives them access to information on sustainability practices and recycling as well as equipment for energy conservation. Also we support meeting planners and incoming events by connecting them with local NGOs like Aramark, The Salvation Army Homeless Shelter, The Houston Food Bank or Habitat for Humanity to assure a greater sustainable impact on the local community. We also provide useful information on sustainability on convention centers, hotels, and transportation companies which we feature on our website to help clients select among a vast array of sustainable options. That reflects Houston’s commitment to embrace stronger sustainability programs that benefit clients, suppliers and the local industry as a whole.
Does Visit Houston have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Houston have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Visit Houston report on its sustainability performance?
Houston, a city known as the Energy Capital of the World, is also a progressive place where environmental initiatives abound. The EPA's Green Power Partnership hailed the City of Houston as the No.1 municipal purchaser of green power in the nation and a crucial leader in the alternative energy trend – with 25% of the City of Houston's total electricity purchased from wind energy. Furthermore, Houston does not only create cleaner ways to use energy - Houston actually uses less energy. The City knows about energy efficiency: Bike Share kiosks in Downtown. Electric vehicle charging stations at the grocery store. Over 15 miles of new rail lines. Wind turbines and solar on rooftops. Solar-powered mini-offices at schools and parks. E-cycling and polystyrene foam recycling. Urban gardens surrounding office buildings. LEED-certified historic buildings. Complete Streets in urban neighborhoods. Accessible and recreation-oriented bayous.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE
RECYCLED
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
Houston's Convention Facilities are part of a city-wide effort to create an environmental and social sustainability integration of energy-efficient facilities. Currently Houston is number four in the nation in the number of LEED certified buildings with 186 certified projects. That's up from #7 just a year ago. Houston is at the forefront of the electric car movement. Houston was one of the first cities to receive EV cars for a City fleet, which now includes 40 Nissan Leafs and plug-in hybrids. At Houston's major convention facilities, you can produce a more sustainable meeting or event. The George R. Brown (GRB) Convention Center for instance is one of the top convention centers in the United States with an increased commitment to sustainability. Having long recognized the importance of green efforts, the GRB started looking for opportunities to reduce its carbon footprint in 1998 and hasn’t stopped since! The GRB regularly partners with Houston-area groups to recycle, reduce and reuse waste from events, helping ensure that the GRB’s commitment to sustainability benefits the local community. Even the facility itself is green, having earned LEED Silver certification status in 2011. The GRB is able to divert more than 42% of its waste from facility and convention events away from landfill
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
Houston is at an historic juncture. Decision-drivers for the city and the region are no longer only economic. There is an emerging recognition that the city has the building blocks to be one of the most livable, equitable and sustainable places in the nation, and lead the next revolution: the green revolution.
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.
Copyright GDS-Movement 2024. All rights reserved.
