Unlike other standards and rankings, the GDS-Index was originally created specifically for the events and meetings industry, and is the only tool of its type in the world. Since 2020 we integrated leisure tourism into the criteria, making it relevant for all business and leisure tourism destinations. 

The criteria are reviewed and enhanced annually, and a draft is developed by the GDS-Movement team following consultation and input from key destinations. These draft criteria undergo an in-depth revision from the GDS-Index Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which includes destination sustainability experts from NGOs, DMOs, and cities around the world. 

You can access our full methodology here