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.
Houston First Corporation is the official destination marketing organization for the Houston region. Houston First is committed to support sustainable meetings by referring clients to work with the sustainability manager, convention services managers and event planners. The George R. Brown Convention 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 non-profit groups like Levy, the SEARCH Homeless Shelter, Second Servings, The Houston Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity to assure a greater sustainable impact on the local community. The GRB Sustainability brochure provides many answers and information to the event planners as well. We also provide useful information on sustainability, 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 Houston First Corporation have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Houston have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Houston First Corporation report on its sustainability performance?
The City of Houston launched its Climate Action plan and Resilient Houston strategy in 2020 to mitigate the causes of climate change by reducing carbon emissions at the community-wide level and adapt to existing and future impacts. Our Climate Action Plan sets the unique ambition for Houston to lead the global energy transition. Since then, the City's Resilience and Sustainability Office has been dedicated to the implementation of both plans and Houston has made significant strides towards its resilience and sustainability goals. The City of Houston is a member of C40, Resilient Cities Network, and Climate Mayors, and has been recognized by multiple organizations for its leadership in sustainability: - CPD A-list - LEED for Cities Gold - EPA Green Power Partnership Award
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. According to the Better Buildings Solutions Center, “Houston is fifth in the nation in the number of LEED certified buildings, with 482 in the city limits and 613 in the Houston metropolitan area”. 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, repurpose and reuse materials 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 and 2017; and achieved LEED Gold in 2022. The GRB diverts its waste from facility and convention events away from landfill. The GRB provides sustainability information and reports on composting, waste, recycling and utilities (water, gas and electricity) to clients during their event dates as well.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
The City's Resilient Houston strategy takes a comprehensive approach to resilience and outlines a vision for Houston's future as: - a healthy place to live - an equitable, inclusive, and affordable city - a leader in climate adaptation - a city that grows up, not out - and a transformative economy that builds forward. The Resilient Houston strategy provides a framework for collective action for every Houstonian; our diverse neighborhoods and watersheds; City departments; and local, regional, and global partners. The strategy links existing efforts with new ones that will collectively work to protect Houston against future disasters—from hurricanes to extreme heat waves—and chronic stresses such as aging infrastructure, poor air quality, and flooding.
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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