Array
(
[id] => 225
[active] => 1
[city_id] => 88
[city_name] => Leuven
[contact_name] => Lucie
[contact_surname] => Vangerven
[contact_email] => lucie.vangerven@leuven.be
[organisation] => Visit Leuven
[website] =>
[environmental_description] =>
[social_description] =>
[supplier_description] => Green events are destined to become the standard in Leuven. Just by choosing Leuven, you tick an important box. The Leuven Convention Bureau will guide you through the key areas you need to consider. We will assist you in caring about air quality, waste management, water conservation and energy efficiency.
[dmo_description] => Leuven is a small city with a big bang! Located 16 miles to the east of Brussels in Belgium, and less than 30 minutes away on the train, it's home to one of Benelux’s most prestigious universities.
Leuven combines a rich history and heritage dating back to the 15th century and beyond, with a pioneering future-orientated culture. Its historic buildings burst with dynamic ideas and initiatives, demonstrated by its world leading university and title of the European Capital of Innovation. This can-do city is a melting pot for ideas, where science, art, culture and society come together.
In the pedestrian streets and on the spacious squares, the students determine the rhythm and atmosphere here. The shops, cafés and restaurants provide conviviality and gastronomy, the beer fizzes and the ideas bubble up.
In Leuven, the ‘bike is king’ and residents rarely use their cars. Leuven is a small city that can be explored well by bike or on foot, surrounded by lush green hills that let the city breathe. Water is becoming increasingly more visible in the city centre. With its rich and varied cultural offering, Leuven is worth a visit all year round.
European Green Leaf Award 2018
European Capital of Innovation 2020
European City of Sport 2021 - host of the finale of the 2021 Cycling Road World Championships
[logo] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_logos/UgVcBrItYr89tlHMPUBMP3iWSfbxB2TqwqMH4dLg.jpeg
[video] => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1ntHlUgaoc
[img_1] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/5d9c5e6cc75d7.jpg
[img_2] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/5d9c6008b7215.jpg
[img_3] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/5d9c789f9a85c.jpg
[img_4] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/5d9c789fa47fa.jpg
[img_5] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/5d9c789face0f.jpg
[high_env_1] => 58
[high_env_2] => 71
[high_env_3] => 2367
[high_soc_1] => 82.2
[high_soc_2] => 89.46
[high_soc_3] => 76
[high_sup_1] => 24
[high_sup_2] => 25
[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),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] => None
[created_at] => 2021-10-26 12:01:46
[updated_at] => 2022-11-14 16:16:14
[year] => 2021
)
Array
(
[id] => 225
[year] => 2021
[city_id] => 88
[city_name] => Leuven
[score_type] => city
[Total] => 61.1
[Total_rank] => 40
[Environment] => 71.43
[Environment_rank] => 22
[Social] => 87.5
[Social_rank] => 4
[Supplier] => 58.75
[Supplier_rank] => 15
[DMO] => 39.31
[DMO_rank] => 40
[longitude] => 4.700517600000012
[latitude] => 50.8798438
[population] => 101000
[country] => Belgium
[region] => Western Europe
[created_at] => 2021-10-26 12:00:38
[updated_at] => 2021-10-26 12:00:38
)
Leuven 2021 GDS-Index Report
Leuven, Belgium
2021 Performance Overview
DMO
Supplier
Social
Environmental
Performance Highlights

Summary

Environmental

Supplier

Social
Leuven is a small city with a big bang! Located 16 miles to the east of Brussels in Belgium, and less than 30 minutes away on the train, it's home to one of Benelux’s most prestigious universities.
Leuven combines a rich history and heritage dating back to the 15th century and beyond, with a pioneering future-orientated culture. Its historic buildings burst with dynamic ideas and initiatives, demonstrated by its world leading university and title of the European Capital of Innovation. This can-do city is a melting pot for ideas, where science, art, culture and society come together.
In the pedestrian streets and on the spacious squares, the students determine the rhythm and atmosphere here. The shops, cafés and restaurants provide conviviality and gastronomy, the beer fizzes and the ideas bubble up.
In Leuven, the ‘bike is king’ and residents rarely use their cars. Leuven is a small city that can be explored well by bike or on foot, surrounded by lush green hills that let the city breathe. Water is becoming increasingly more visible in the city centre. With its rich and varied cultural offering, Leuven is worth a visit all year round.
European Green Leaf Award 2018
European Capital of Innovation 2020
European City of Sport 2021 - host of the finale of the 2021 Cycling Road World Championships
Green events are destined to become the standard in Leuven. Just by choosing Leuven, you tick an important box. The Leuven Convention Bureau will guide you through the key areas you need to consider. We will assist you in caring about air quality, waste management, water conservation and energy efficiency.
Summary
Leuven is a small city with a big bang! Located 16 miles to the east of Brussels in Belgium, and less than 30 minutes away on the train, it's home to one of Benelux’s most prestigious universities.
Leuven combines a rich history and heritage dating back to the 15th century and beyond, with a pioneering future-orientated culture. Its historic buildings burst with dynamic ideas and initiatives, demonstrated by its world leading university and title of the European Capital of Innovation. This can-do city is a melting pot for ideas, where science, art, culture and society come together.
In the pedestrian streets and on the spacious squares, the students determine the rhythm and atmosphere here. The shops, cafés and restaurants provide conviviality and gastronomy, the beer fizzes and the ideas bubble up.
In Leuven, the ‘bike is king’ and residents rarely use their cars. Leuven is a small city that can be explored well by bike or on foot, surrounded by lush green hills that let the city breathe. Water is becoming increasingly more visible in the city centre. With its rich and varied cultural offering, Leuven is worth a visit all year round.
European Green Leaf Award 2018
European Capital of Innovation 2020
European City of Sport 2021 - host of the finale of the 2021 Cycling Road World Championships
Does Visit Leuven have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Leuven have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Visit Leuven report on its sustainability performance?
OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLES
HECTARES OF GREEN AREA PER 100 000 POPULATION
Supplier
Green events are destined to become the standard in Leuven. Just by choosing Leuven, you tick an important box. The Leuven Convention Bureau will guide you through the key areas you need to consider. We will assist you in caring about air quality, waste management, water conservation and energy efficiency.
OF SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED HOTELS
OF SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED VENUES
OF SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED PCOS/DMCS
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 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.
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 City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA). Gubi Consulting and Guy Bigwood are responsible for the management of the Secretariat.