Supporting destinations to improve sustainability performance is the mantra of the GDS-Index. Whether via the Index framework itself, consulting services, online education (GDS-Academy) or an online forum for members (watch this space!), we are firmly invested in ensuring that resilience and regeneration represent the backbone of any company strategy. In light of COVID19, steps for developing sustainable business are now more relevant than ever. In order for the tourism and events industry to successfully…

You can download the Regenerative Event Checklist here.   As lockdown measures begin to loosen in Europe, life is slowly starting to resemble a more familiar past. However, there are notable differences, with the visitor economy and meetings industry, particularly hard hit. As we set out to recover from the impacts of covid-19, leaders are calling for a green and fair recovery to avoid a return to the ‘old normal’. It follows, that the meetings industry in particular will experience…

What are going to be the destinations’ priorities in the coming months? How can they support one another during this global crisis? How are they dealing with the impact of Covid-19? The purpose of "Feeling the Pulse" is to answer all these questions with the collection of regenerative stories and interviews of the GDS - Index Destinations. Last, our Changemaker Rebecca Johnson interviewed Fáilte Ireland's General Manager, Sam Johnston.  Here is the…

What are going to be the destinations’ priorities in the coming months? How can they support one another during this global crisis? How are they dealing with the impact of Covid-19? The purpose of "Feeling the Pulse" is to answer all these questions with the collection of regenerative stories and interviews of the GDS - Index Destinations. The first one we are proud to share comes from Helsinki, with an interview to Leena Lassila, Director, Global Sales at Helsinki Marketing.  Here is the full interview.…

You can download the Sustainability Policy Infographic here. Despite the current circumstances, our recent webinar with Visit Flanders and cities uncovered some positive perspectives as the cities shared their valuable experience and opinions on what should come next for the tourism and events sector. Rebekka Koch from Mechelen told us “Now we will see our potential to do things we never thought possible. Partners who were previously stuck in their ways will be more open to change and new ways of…

In December we decided to title this year's GDS-Index Whitepaper “Creating the new normal”. Little did we know then, how relevant this theme would become. In less than six weeks, the global tourism and events industry has collapsed. Over a third of the world population is in some form of quarantine, and hundreds of convention centers and hotels around the world are being turned into field hospitals. In that time, most of us have been on a giant roller coaster ride of personal and…

Daejeon is the newest, and second city in South Korea to join the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index). The city is now part of the global destination sustainability movement, that seeks to engage, inspire and enable urban centres to become more regenerative places to visit, meet and thrive in. The GDS-Index is delighted to announce that the Daejeon International Marketing Enterprise (DIME) has joined its global performance improvement programme. As such, the city has dedicated itself…

“For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X Imagine a future, in which disruptions are not simply seen as enemies to avoid, but also as containing opportunities yet to be discovered. At present, the outbreak of Covid-19 is a very disruptive force which is ripping apart the events industry. This dramatic disordering of ‘the normal’, brings with it a new environment for experimentation in which we should prepare ourselves for the future.…