Events
Discover events that members of our team are speaking at or our partners are hosting – keynotes, webinars, or conferences.
22 July, 2025
Milda Salciute at INCON Learning 2025
Virtual
22 July, 14:00 CET
Milda Salciute, Director of Events Consulting and GDS-Academy, explores how, as the event industry evolves, so must our strategies. Join the upcoming INCON Learning Session to explore how legacy-building and sustainability are reshaping business events.
🔍 Learn how to:
✔ Apply the GDS-Movement's Hannuwa methodology
✔ Design regenerative events that embed circular economy and food systems
✔ Leverage insights from ESCRS Congress (2022–2024)
Discover how to plan events that leave a measurable, positive legacy.
15 July, 2025
Alejandra H. Zita at Intermoda 2025
Guadalajara City, México
15 July, 18:00 - 19:00 local time, Guadalajara, México. Alejandra H. Zita, relationship manager for the Latin-American region, takes part in a Spanish-language panel that asks changemakers if the fashion industry is ready for the sustainable consumer. She'll explore trends, challenges, and impact measurement through the lens of GDS-Movement's efforts to support business events to be more regenerative through strategy, reporting, and continual improvement.
25 June, 2025
Jennifer Jensen at The Meetings Show UK, 2025
London, UK
12:00 - 12:30 local time - Jennifer explores "Redefining Events In 2025: Impactful And Regenerative MICE Strategies" on stage two.
20 June, 2025
Milda Salciute at BestCities Community Cafe 2025
Virtual
14:00 - 15:00 CEST - Milda Salciute, Changemaker, Director Events and Academy, gives the GDS-Movement perspective on "Green is the New Gold: Counting the Cost of Sustainable Events" with
- Susan De Bievre, Advisor, World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists
- Bridget Barbieri, Event Manager, European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Who would benefit?
"If you’re trying to align your events with sustainability goals and keep your treasurer smiling, this session is for you."
Who can participate?
This event is open to individuals who have signed up for the BestCities Madrid Challenge, senior global meeting planners, media, BestCities partner destinations and other invited guests. BestCities Global Alliance reserves the right to cancel your registration if you do not fit these criteria.
18 June, 2025
Bella Shahsuvaryan at Forum TuristTIC 2025 (in Spanish)
Barcelona, Spain
15:40 - 17:10 CEST. Bella looks "Towards More Regenerative Destinations: The Role of the GDS-Index and the Food Dimension" (in Spanish).
The GDS-Index is a tool used to assess and rank the performance of tourism destinations in relation to their sustainability and commitment to responsible development. This index provides tourism destinations with a framework to identify areas for improvement and enhance their efforts in creating a more sustainable and responsible environment. Among other aspects, the GDS-Index evaluates whether restaurants in the destinations are certified in terms of sustainable food. During the presentation, we will explain how, through this evaluation, the GDS-Index encourages destinations to adopt policies that promote healthy, sustainable, and accessible food for tourists, contributing to a gastronomic experience that respects both the environment and local communities.
11 June, 2025
“Navigating EU Sustainability Regulations: a Guide for Destinations” webinar on 11 June
Virtual
16:00 CET PM Session: A wave of powerful new EU regulations is reshaping the tourism landscape - and it’s not just about compliance.
It’s about opportunity.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGTD), and Green Claims Directive (GCD) will set bold new standards - and forward-thinking DMOs have a chance to step up as sustainability leaders. Join experts from the GDS-Movement and the European Travel Commission (ETC) for a high-impact webinar that breaks down what these directives mean for destinations, and how you can turn regulation into regeneration.
In this session, you’ll learn how to: Understand and prepare for the key European Union(EU) sustainability directives affecting tourism Take practical steps to ensure compliance and reduce risk Guide your local tourism ecosystem through regulatory changes Unlock new opportunities for funding, trust, and leadership
Expert Speakers:
- Antonia Alomar, EU Projects Lead, and Public Policy, GDS-Movement
- Guy Bigwood, CEO and Chief Changemaker, GDS-Movement
- Teodora Marinska, COO and Head of Public Affairs, ETC
10 June, 2025
“Navigating EU Sustainability Regulations: a Guide for Destinations” webinar on 10 June
Virtual
10:00 CET AM Session: A wave of powerful new EU regulations is reshaping the tourism landscape - and it’s not just about compliance.
It’s about opportunity.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGTD), and Green Claims Directive (GCD) will set bold new standards - and forward-thinking DMOs have a chance to step up as sustainability leaders. Join experts from the GDS-Movement and the European Travel Commission (ETC) for a high-impact webinar that breaks down what these directives mean for destinations, and how you can turn regulation into regeneration.
In this session, you’ll learn how to: Understand and prepare for the key European Union (EU) sustainability directives affecting tourism Take practical steps to ensure compliance and reduce risk Guide your local tourism ecosystem through regulatory changes Unlock new opportunities for funding, trust, and leadership
Expert Speakers:
- Antonia Alomar, EU Projects Lead, and Public Policy, GDS-Movement
- Guy Bigwood, CEO and Chief Changemaker, GDS-Movement
- Teodora Marinska, COO and Head of Public Affairs, ETC
22 May, 2025
Press Conference at IMEX Frankfurt 2025: How Destinations Can Align with the New EU Green Regulations
Frankfurt, Germany
11:30-12:00 CEST. In the Press Conference Room - Room Symmetrie 2, Press Centre, Hall 8 Level 1, Messe Frankfurt Why Attend? The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) and the European Travel Commission (ETC) are launching a white paper that breaks down the implications of new EU sustainability regulations and offers a practical roadmap to help the tourism and events industry understand, prepare for, and conform with these evolving legal requirements. With the legal changes on the horizon, this is a must-attend briefing for media looking to understand how destinations and their business ecosystems can stay compliant, competitive, and credible in a fast-changing regulatory landscape.
Hear from Guy Bigwood, CEO, GDS-Movement, and gain exclusive insights into how the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGTD), and the Green Claims Directive (GCD) will reshape destination management, marketing, and sustainability reporting and what tourism businesses must do to avoid penalty or litigation for non-compliance or violation. Be the first to cover the industry's proactive response to the EU’s green transition.
🗣️ Interviews available after the briefing.