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.
Meet in Reykjavík is the official Convention Bureau for Iceland and Reykjavík City. Our mission is to help business event planners create an unforgettable event in a one-of-a-kind destination. Meet in Reykjavík is a part of Business Iceland, a public-private partnership established to lead the promotion and marketing of Iceland in foreign markets and stimulate economic growth through increased export. A long-term strategy for Icelandic export industries was approved in 2019. The strategic goal for Icelandic tourism is to ensure sustainable and equitable growth in all regions that emphasizes quality and professionalism. Another important factor of the new strategy is commitment to a unified export brand for Icelandic export industries with the vision of Iceland to be recognized as a leading country in sustainability. The mission of the strategy is to develop clear branding for Iceland and Icelandic export industries and share true compelling stories to inspire trust in our capabilities and values. Our vision and mission is built on four interconnected brand pillars that create a circular brand story: Our nature has shaped our people, people innovate, innovation drives sustainability, which helps nature thrive.
Does Meet in Reykjavik - Iceland Convention Bureau have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Reykjavik have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Meet in Reykjavik - Iceland Convention Bureau report on its sustainability performance?
The City of Reykjavik won the Nordic Nature and Environment Prize 2014 and was awarded the Greenest city in the world by Green City Times. The President of Iceland and the people of Iceland were presented with the first-ever Atkinson Center Award for Global Leadership in Sustainable Development for promoting the use of renewable energy while reducing it´s own reliance on fossil fuels. Reykjavík uses geothermal and hydropower for ALL electric consumption and heating and its allready limited emission of greenhouse gas will be further reduced by 35% in 2020. The city promotes all year round cycling and is further building out its cycling path system with resting places and maps. Currently there are no taxes on importation of electric cars and there is free parking in Reykjavik, resulting in substantial increase in ownership of electric cars. There has been an increase by 700% in ownership of electric cars since the first electric charger station was opened in 2014, bringing the market share of pure battery electric vehicles to 2,74%.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE
RECYCLED
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
"Capture the energy in Iceland" is certainly a valid slogan as the country is said to be a global leader in sustainability. Reykjavik has the largest geothermal heating system in the world which makes the meeting spaces naturally eco friendly and the tap water is famous for being pure and untainted with chemicals and minerals. Meetings and events of the future will consider and incorporate social responsability, sustainability and recycling initiatives when making decisions to choose destinations, hotels and venues Green meetings is a growing demand and in Reykjavík there are many conference hotels as well as the Conference Centre Harpa that have adopted strict environmental policies. Harpa is believed to be one of the most eco-friendly conference centre in the world. The building was designed to use most natural light through its glass facade, which covers three of the four sides of the building and results in significant reduction in power consumption.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
In Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland, you can not only breathe clean air and drink unspoiled water straight from a stream but you can find equality and peace. We aim high in equal rights and to no surprise came first in the Global Gender Gap report in 2015. Scoring first in political empowerment and educational attainment. Our former president, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was the first female democratically voted as president in the world and our former female prime minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir was named one of the 75th most powerful women in the world according to Forbes. We have been in first place in the Global Peace Index since 2011 and to no surprise Yoko Ono selected Iceland for the Imagine Peace Tower. Icelanders score high above OECD Better life index average job employment and are according to the World database of happiness a happy nation with happy life years and satisfied with life.
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.
