We are excited to announce that Guy Bigwood, CEO and Chief Changemaker, Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), will be a keynote speaker at IMPACT Summit 2024.

"Join peers and stakeholders in the tourism industry in Victoria, BC, this winter for the third annual IMPACT Conference: a national discussion on the industry’s impact on Canada’s economic, social, environmental and cultural fabric. IMPACT's goal is to align the Canadian tourism industry, as well as stakeholders and communities touched by tourism, behind a vision to achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability."

Guy will showcase how GDS-Movement impacts the global tourism industry and how Canadian destinations are leading the charge.

Event Sustainability Live (ESL) is a two-day, free-to-attend exhibition and conference featuring educational sessions and roundtable discussions alongside a focussed marketplace of suppliers that can assist event organisers to achieve their unique sustainability goals. Guy Bigwood, CEO and Chief Changemaker, GDS-Movement is attending and presenting.

From 11h20 to 11h50, Guy will explore "Destination Sustainability: Results, Trends, and Insights".

From 12h50 - 13h20, Guy will explore the "ESCRS Case Study: a Strategic View of Sustainable Association Meetings".

From 14h10 - 14h40, Guy will explore "The Regenerative Revolution: Developing and Managing Future-fit, Thriving Events".

TIS is the largest innovation, technology and sustainability event for the tourism sector. It's a global summit where the future strategies of the tourism industry are defined, and success stories are presented by leaders and experts. 

From 11h00 to 12h00, Guy Bigwood, CEO and Chief Changemaker, GDS-Movement, will be speaking during the "Examining the effects of Agenda 2030 on business operations" segment in the Main Auditorium Accenture. This is a gold- and silver-pass segment.

From 16h30 - 17h15 CET, Senior Changemaker, Monica Molina, will be speaking about "the power Blockchain and NFT in creating value in the tourism sector".

We are having 2 sessions (same content) to explore the 2023 GDS-Index results and celebrate the 2023 GDS-Award winners. This one is on 12 October, 17h00 - 18h30 CET.

Did you know there are more than 100 destinations on a journey to more responsible growth and management of tourism and events to increase positive environmental impact, foster community engagement, safeguard cultural authenticity, and support economic prosperity? That's worth celebrating!

So, we warmly invite you to celebrate sustainability success on our shared journey towards greater regeneration for destinations at our upcoming webinar celebrating the 2023 GDS-Index Results and GDS-Awards' Winners.

The GDS-Index
This is the world’s leading sustainability benchmarking and improvement programme for destinations. It gathers, checks, and publishes data on its participating destinations' sustainability contributions each year. We analyse, interpret and publish the findings in the 2023 GDS-Index Report which will be available on our Reports and Guides page.

The GDS-Awards
Each year, we also celebrate destination sustainability efforts with the leadership, most improved, and innovation awards. In 2023, the awards ceremony is hosted with our long-time partner, ICCA and we are introducing the GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT Impact Award in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT. The ceremony takes place during GDS-Forum, 4 October, in Valencia, Spain. GDS-Forum is brought to you by VISIT VALÈNCIA, City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA), and GDS-Movement.

Come and discover insights and trends from the data we've collected and learn about the projects that are putting our winners into leadership positions in a webinar packed with inspiration and practical examples.

Host: Guy Bigwood, CEO and Chief Changemaker, GDS-Movement

Guest Speakers: a selection of representatives from the Leadership, Most Improved, Innovation and Impact awards.

We look forward to seeing you and co-creating solutions that serve all interested parties (including nature) with you.

We are having 2 sessions sessions (same content) to explore the 2023 GDS-Index results and celebrate the 2023 GDS-Award winners. This one is on 11 October, 09h00 - 10h30 CET.

Did you know there are more than 100 destinations on a journey to more responsible growth and management of tourism and events to increase positive environmental impact, foster community engagement, safeguard cultural authenticity, and support economic prosperity? That's worth celebrating!

So, we warmly invite you to celebrate sustainability success on our shared journey towards greater regeneration for destinations at our upcoming webinar celebrating the 2023 GDS-Index Results and GDS-Awards' Winners.

The GDS-Index
This is the world’s leading sustainability benchmarking and improvement programme for destinations. It gathers, checks, and publishes data on its participating destinations' sustainability contributions each year. We analyse, interpret and publish the findings in the 2023 GDS-Index Report which will be available on our Reports and Guides page.

The GDS-Awards
Each year, we also celebrate destination sustainability efforts with the leadership, most improved, and innovation awards. In 2023, the awards ceremony is hosted with our long-time partner, ICCA and we are introducing the GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT Impact Award in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT. The ceremony takes place during GDS-Forum, 4 October, in Valencia, Spain. GDS-Forum is brought to you by VISIT VALÈNCIA, City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA), and GDS-Movement.

Come and discover insights and trends from the data we've collected and learn about the projects that are putting our winners into leadership positions in a webinar packed with inspiration and practical examples.

Host: Guy Bigwood, CEO and Chief Changemaker, GDS-Movement

Guest Speakers: a selection of representatives from the Leadership, Most Improved, Innovation and Impact awards.

We look forward to seeing you and co-creating solutions that serve all interested parties (including nature) with you.

From 2 to 7 October, destination professionals can enjoy an extraordinary event week, as City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA), the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), and Visit València partner to bring you two incredible, back-to-back events, and to jointly announce and celebrate the new home of the prestigious, annual GDS-Awards.

GDS-Forum, 3 - 4 October
The GDS-Forum will convene destination leaders and sustainability champions from around the world. This is a dynamic and unconventional gathering to discuss sustainability and impact strategies and best practices, learn from GDS-Index journeys, and co-create new approaches and initiatives for greater regenerative destination management. It will follow a novel, non-conference format with a focus on peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and creativity.

The 2023 GDS-Awards, 4 October (evening)
We recognise and ​celebrate the efforts of ​GDS-Index destinations
– ​Leadership Award​
– Most Improved Award​
– Innovation Award​
– Impact Award (new)​