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.
Zurich is one of the most sustainable convention destinations in the world. Climate-neutral excursion activities, hotels with sustainability certification, short distances, and a highly efficient public transportation network: Zurich provides the perfect framework conditions for holding sustainable events. As your local partner, the Zurich Tourism Convention Bureau will accompany you from the initial bidding stage right through to the implementation of your congress, meeting, or event. On doing so, our experienced team takes into account values such as environmental friendliness, economic efficiency, and fair working conditions.
Does Zürich Tourism have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Zurich have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Zürich Tourism report on its sustainability performance?
With a huge majority of 76.4% of yes votes, the population of Zürich said yes to sustainable development and to the 2000-watt society in 2008. Specifically, this means that Zürich aims to reduce its energy consumption to 2000 watts per person and its CO2 emissions to one tonne per person and year by 2050. Since 2008, the targets of the 2000-watt society and nuclear phase-out have been anchored in municipal regulations. The city of Zürich is committed to reaching these ambitious targets in various ways. It promotes efficient energy use and the use of renewables, such as environmental heat, solar power, solar collectors or district heat with financial incentives and consultation. In terms of mobility, it has an attractive range of environmentally friendly means of public transport, and it acts as an example when it comes to its own properties. The city of Zürich has been honoured with the European Energy Award®GOLD for its energy performance and in the use of renewables. It also comes top in the ranking of the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE
RECYCLED
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
In addition to security, Zürich Airport is a further, major benefit for Zürich as a congress location. It is a key international hub for arrivals and departures in the immediate vicinity. The city of Zürich is easy and straightforward to reach by public transport. All congress venues and the great majority of hotels are close to one another. 98 per cent of the hotels are less than half an hour away from a congress location. 58 per cent of hotel rooms in Zürich hold a sustainability certificate from a recognised label. For people attending fairs and congresses, there are numerous options to experience the sustainable commitment of destination Zürich or to explore them in a resource-saving manner thanks to the programme of activities offered by Zürich Tourism. Numerous city bikes, e-bikes and kids bikes are available free of charge in the city of Zürich. This allows the city to be explored in an environmentally sustainable way during a meeting break.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
The city of Zürich has seen lively construction development over the past decade. On 22 January 2014, the threshold of 400,000 inhabitants was passed. Since 2005, the population has grown by more than 35,000, and nearly 60,000 new jobs have been created. The city is clearly an attractive place to live and work. According to forecasts, this growth will continue in the coming years. Zürich offers a high quality of life, the population is satisfied and its social cohesion is strong. The city of Zürich has defined 21 indicators in the areas of business, environment and society, which it considers to be important with regard to a comprehensive view of the city's development. The social indicators include the following: quality of life, social security, security, equal opportunities for men and women, people with disabilities, work-life balance, integration of the foreign population and cross-regional solidarity. The city of Zürich comes second in the Mercer Ranking of 2019, which rates the quality of life of cities.
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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