Events

We’re turning our results announcement into a global party and you’re on the guest list!
The 2026 GDS-Index Results Celebration

• Date: 23 September 2025
• Time: 16:00 – 17:30 UTC+02:00
• Where: Online - link supplied when you register
• Dress code: Come dressed in the colours of your destination's flag or logo. Wear it, hold it up, however you want to show your vibrant colours.

• Reveal the 2026 GDS-Index results, which are vetted, verified, correlated, and validated by our benchmarking assessors
• Celebrate and recognise the Leadership, based on ranking, and Most Improved destinations, based on year-on-year improvement (independent of ranking)
• Share inspiring, real-world, recent stories of progress, innovation and collaboration from around the earth

From 16–18 June 2026, Szczecin, Poland, hosted this year’s GDS-Forum and Impact Day, convened by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT, the City of Szczecin, the Szczecin Convention Bureau, the Polish Tourism Organisation, and the Poland Convention Bureau. Through collaborative workshops, deep dialogue, peer-to-peer learning, and place-based exchange, participants explored practical responses to the urgent challenges shaping destinations today, from climate disruption and social change to impact measurement, community engagement, and legacy creation. The conversations and connections formed in Szczecin will continue beyond the event, supporting shared learning, cross-sector collaboration, and action towards more regenerative destinations and impactful business events.

[30 April session] In collaboration with ETC. The new EU law on sustainability claims is changing how destinations communicate. From September 2026, vague terms like “sustainable” or “green” will no longer be enough;  every claim must be clear, specific, and backed by evidence.   Europe Travel Commission (ETC), and Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) present a webinar about the EU Empowering Consumers (EmpCo) Directive (EU 2024/825).   Our next Feeling the Pulse webinar looks at these changes in a practical way. Experts will explain what EMPCO means for the industry and present the “Proof, Not Promises” guide. A Practical Guide to covering the EU Empowering Consumers Directive for Destinations” in collaboration with European Travel Commission (ETC).   In this session, we will cover: 

• What makes a sustainability claim credible today  
• Why third-party certification is becoming essential  
• The difference between strong claims and risky language  
• How to move from general statements to clear, evidence-based communication 
• Where organisations are most at risk of non-compliance or greenwashing 

• Teodora Marinska. COO/ Head of Public Affairs, European Travel Commission

[03 Feb session]

Certification is often seen as a key tool for sustainable tourism, but new research shows it has clear limits.

This webinar draws on Professor Xavier Font’s latest report, Inequitable Access to Sustainability Certification, and analysis of data from 6,222 properties across Europe’s leading cities.

We will explore:
- Why sustainability certification can disadvantage small businesses
- How consumer-facing ratings often reflect service quality more than real environmental performance
- How destinations can move beyond badges to sustainability that visitors can see, experience, and value

Speaker:
Xavier Font, Professor of Sustainability Marketing, University of Surrey

12:15 - 13:00 local time - Jennifer explores the GDS-Movement perspective "From Reports to Revelations:  Storytelling for Impact and Sustainability".

[29 Jan session]

Certification is often seen as a key tool for sustainable tourism, but new research shows it has clear limits.

This webinar draws on Professor Xavier Font’s latest report, Inequitable Access to Sustainability Certification, and analysis of data from 6,222 properties across Europe’s leading cities.

We will explore:
- Why sustainability certification can disadvantage small businesses
- How consumer-facing ratings often reflect service quality more than real environmental performance
- How destinations can move beyond badges to sustainability that visitors can see, experience, and value

Speaker:
Xavier Font, Professor of Sustainability Marketing, University of Surrey

18:00 CET: "In a rapidly-evolving sustainability landscape, organisations are reassessing their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies to align with changing expectations—advancing progress toward 2030 climate targets while responding to new pressures and possibilities."

Guy Bigwood, CEO, GDS-Movement, joins fellow experts on a dedicated panel titled "Recalibrating Resources to Face Challenges While Honouring Climate Commitments".
The session will help audiences:

• Understand why and how leading organisations are reframing their ESG and sustainability strategies.
• Identify challenges and opportunities in meeting and setting climate targets amid changing expectations.
• Explore the relationship between environmental , social, and governance priorities relating to the UN SDGs
• Explore adaptable strategies and resources that enable organisations to sustain progress while responding to shifting global dynamics.

Moderator: Gwendal C. Castellan, BSc. CEM, Manager, Sustainable Destination Development, Destination Vancouver

Other Panelists:
• Nancy Prowda, Senior Director, ESG Engagement, Hilton
• Ben Wielgus, Head of Sustainability, Informa
• Yashi Dadhich, Director of Energy & Sustainability, Javits Center

12:15 - 13:15 CET - Join Giulia and Guy as they journey "From Reports to Revelations: Storytelling for Impact and Sustainability".

Stories shape belief—and belief drives action. As the colliding worlds of sustainability legislation and public scepticism accelerate worldwide, how we communicate our efforts matters more than ever. In this dynamic, hands-on session, we’ll explore how storytelling can help event professionals respond to rising expectations while inspiring meaningful change. Working in small teams, you’ll learn to craft narratives that connect policy, purpose, and people—using the simple but powerful Hook – Heart – Hope framework. Leave equipped with a simple storytelling framework, fresh ideas, and a story you can use to inspire impact.

Takeaways:

- Why storytelling matters in a regulated, high-scrutiny world
- A practical framework: Hook – Heart – Hope
- Real-world case studies of narrative leadership