In its assessment and acceleration of the progress of a destination’s regenerative journey, the GDS-Index, each year, identifies a set of cities and regions making consistent and integral effort to become more sustainable through tourism and events. In addition to the GDS-Index’s annual Top 40 destinations list, the GDS-Awards is a recognition of superlative excellence in destination leadership, innovation, improvement, and legacy initiatives. Its winners’ achievements and methods can inspire and inform destination management everywhere on earth.

Each award, in 4 categories of Leadership, Innovation, Most Improved Destination, and Impact in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT, highlights exemplary efforts to foster a more regenerative approach to business and leisure tourism and events. These efforts not only reduce environmental harm but contribute to the well-being of the local community and the economy. 

Get to Know the Winning Ways of Three GDS-Index Cities

Leadership Award Winner: Helsinki, Finland 

This is based on GDS-Index rankings.

The City of Helsinki demonstrates its leadership in sustainable destination management, achieving the highest overall score in the GDS-Index with an impressive 92.43%. The city’s integrated approach to sustainability spans tourism and governance, with projects such as the Urban Climate Leaders in Tourism group, and a comprehensive biodiversity strategy. Helsinki’s clear commitment to achieving carbon neutrality for the destination and net zero for its events by 2040, along with its focus on engaging residents in decision-making processes, sets it apart as a climate-action and urban sustainability trailblazer. 

“Helsinki has consistently demonstrated its commitment to sustainability over the years. The top ranking is a testament to the effectiveness of our efforts and the dedication of our team,” said Nina Vesterinen, Tourism Director, City of Helsinki.

Get to know Helsinki’s sustainability better here.

Most Improved Destination Award Winner: Kumamoto, Japan

This is based on the year-on-year increase in a city’s GDS-Index score.

Kumamoto International Convention and Tourism Bureau’s outstanding progress with a score increase of 18.88, earning it the 2024 Most Improved Destination Award. An impressive 42.39% improvement year on year. The city’s holistic sustainability strategy, which includes a comprehensive water-management programme, a forward-looking mobility plan, and a robust circular economy approach, demonstrates its dedication to sustainable tourism. Kumamoto’s emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and its biodiversity strategy reflect the city’s ambition to create a more inclusive and environmentally-responsible destination. 

 “Kumamoto City is a world-class groundwater city known as the ‘City of Water’ and provides 100% of its tap water through groundwater. We are undertaking the difficult mission of promoting tourism and MICE while protecting this vital water resource, and we are very honoured to have been recognised for these efforts. Kumamoto City will continue to strive to be an attractive and eco-friendly destination,” stated Kazufumi Onishi, Mayor of Kumamoto City. 

Get to know Kumamoto more here.

Innovation Award Winner: Copenhagen, Denmark, for its “CopenPay” initiative

This recognises a project that is making exponential positive change not only possible, but probable. Judged, in the final round, by an independent panel of industry experts.

Wonderful Copenhagen engages tourists in sustainability through its inventive CopenPay initiative. Visitors earn rewards, such as free guided tours, complimentary kayak rentals, and vegetarian meals on the house for climate-positive actions like choosing more sustainable transport or participating in site clean-up activities. CopenPay effectively promotes behavioural change and encourages more meaningful travel experiences. By transparently tracking environmental impact, the initiative offers a replicable model that cities worldwide can adopt to drive more responsible tourism.

Wonderful Copenhagen, Director of Marketing, Communication and Behaviour, Rikke Holm Petersen Remarked: “Our goal with CopenPay was to create a campaign that didn’t just focus on raising awareness about Copenhagen’s commitment to sustainability. We wanted to influence visitors in Copenhagen to act more sustainably during their stay, just as we were hoping to spark new conversations around the world about how to take greener actions. We were blown away by the positive response that we received from both visitors and people and organisations from near and far. This reaffirms our belief that there is a genuine motivation among travellers and destinations to take green actions and that we need to tap into this commitment.”  

Discover more about Copenhagen’s sustainability practices here.

GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT Impact Award Winner: Copenhagen, Denmark, for its “Copenhagen Legacy Lab” programme

This acknowledges a project making legacy and harmony the status quo for leading business events. Judged, in the final round, by an independent panel of industry experts.

Copenhagen Convention Bureau continues to lead by example with its “Copenhagen Legacy Lab” (CLL) initiative, recognised for its original framework to create long-term, positive impacts from congresses and events. CLL stands out by encouraging event organisers to collaborate strategically, ensuring lasting legacies that go beyond economic benefits, to contribute to local development in fields such as sustainability and healthcare. With its open-source tools and research, CLL offers a replicable model for cities, worldwide to create meaningful, legacy-driven outcomes from business events.

Wonderful Copenhagen, CEO, Mikkel Aarø-Hansen commented: “We are incredibly proud of winning this Impact Award for our Copenhagen Legacy Lab. We strongly believe that international congresses and events are catalysts for long-term, positive impacts that go far beyond the immediate economic gains. And that we, as an industry, are obliged to collaborate and invest in redeeming these potentials, for the benefit of the destinations in which they are held, the international associations that have purpose as their core mission, and society at large.” 

Discover more about Copenhagen’s sustainability practices here.

We’d like to thank the judges of the two, elective-entry awards.

The esteemed 2024 Impact Award Judges:  

• Jane Cunningham, Director of European Engagement, Destinations International  

• Ben Hainsworth, Executive Director, EASL (European Association for the Study of the Liver)  

• Vicky Koffa, Deputy Director, Boardroom Magazine  

• Ioannis Pallas, Managing Director, ESAE (European Society of Association Executives) 

The esteemed 2024 Innovation Award Judges:  

• Flavie de Bueil, Chief Operating Officer, City Destination Alliance (CityDNA) 

• James Lancaster, Editorial Director, Northstar Travel Group – United Kingdom  

• Roger Lehner, Senior Operations and Sustainability Executive, IMEX Group  

• Shelby Luzzi, Senior Manager Sustainability, Washington DC (2023 Innovation Award Winner)  

• Dermot Ryan, Head of Association Engagement, ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association)”

For more inspiration and the latest in GDS-Index data, download the report here.

This first appeared in the official press release for the 2024 GDS-Awards winners which you can read here.