Inspiration Hub

Recognising Excellence in Destination Leadership, Innovation, Improvement, and Impact Initiatives 

The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) is excited to announce the opening of applications for the 2024 GDS-Awards. From 15 July to 22 August, all 2024 GDS-Index destinations are encouraged to put forward their exceptional projects in sustainability and regeneration for recognition at this prestigious annual event. 

Now in its 9th edition, the GDS-Awards continue to celebrate outstanding contributions and innovative practices in participating GDS-Index members’ destination sustainability through four distinct and distinguished categories: 

• The Leadership Award, based on GDS-Index ranking 

• The Most Improved Destination Award, based on year-on-year GDS-Index benchmarking results 

• The Innovation Award, selected by an independent panel of industry experts 

• The Impact Award, in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT, also selected by an external panel of industry experts 

The winners of the Innovation Award and the Impact Award are chosen through a rigorous, independent assessment, while the Leadership and the Most Improved Destination Awards are determined by their GDS-Index rankings and scores respectively. 

Guy Bigwood, CEO and Chief Changemaker, GDS-Movement says: “we are thrilled to announce another round of the GDS-Awards. Pioneering GDS-Index destinations will be duly recognised for their outstanding efforts in innovative and impactful projects. By showcasing these initiatives, we inspire other destinations to undertake similar initiatives with a goal to accelerate destination transformation, innovation and regeneration.” 

The GDS-Awards ceremony is a seminal event that, this year, unites the GDS-Movement, City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA), and the host community of Bruges in a sustainability and regeneration celebration. Winners will be honoured on stage at the GDS-Awards ceremony during the 2024 GDS-Forum, presented by Visit Bruges, CityDNA, ICCA, and GDS-Movement. The ceremony will take place on 16 October 2024 at the Royal Theatre. 

For further information, contact the GDS-Movement’s PR and Digital Marketing Manager, Anja Spice, at anja@gds.earth 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

ABOUT THE GLOBAL DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT (GDS-Movement)   

The GDS-Movement is a pioneering, data-driven international change agency that acts to catalyse socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions across the world. Our mission is to empower tourism and events professionals with the mindsets, skill sets, and toolsets to co-create more regenerative and resilient destinations to visit, meet, and live in.   Discover more at www.gds.earth.  

 ABOUT THE GLOBAL DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY INDEX (GDS-Index)   

The GDS-Index is a trusted performance improvement programme to assess and accelerate the progress of a destination’s regenerative journey. It measures, benchmarks, and enhances the sustainability strategies, action plans, and initiatives of more than 100 destination management organisations, municipal authorities, and their tourism supply chains.  

Co-founded in 2016 by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA), IMEX Group, and MCI, the GDS-Index offers an unparalleled resource for visitors, DMOs, municipalities, and event planners looking for destinations that offer the best in sustainability performance.   

 ABOUT THE GLOBAL DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS (GDS-Awards)  

GDS-Awards is an annual recognition of excellence in destination leadership, innovation, improvement, and legacy initiatives. In its 9th edition, GDS-Awards recognises outstanding contributions and innovation practices through    

• the ´Leadership Award´ based on GDS-Index ranking,   

• the ´Most Improved Destination Award´ based on year-on-year GDS-Index benchmarking results,   

• the ´Innovation Award´, selected by an independent panel of industry experts  

• and the ´Impact Award´ in collaboration with #Meet4Impact, also selected by an external panel of industry experts  

•  The GDS-Awards ceremony brings together the GDS-Movement, City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) and the host community in an inspiring celebration. It serves as a prestigious platform to honour the remarkable achievements of the winners.  

  ABOUT THE GLOBAL DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY FORUM (GDS-Forum)  

The GDS-Forum is a gathering of destination leaders, sustainability advocates, and tourism experts, fostering innovation for regeneration.   

The GDS-Forum programme is an evolving un-conference experience in the form of a flexible and informal meeting defined by deep cooperation. It aims to    

• unlock attendees’ collective intelligence,   

• share meaningful exchanges,   

• solve shared challenges, and   

• empower participants to accelerate their destinations’ sustainable and regenerative tourism and events strategies through radical collaboration.    

City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA), the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), and Visit Bruges partner this year to present this exceptional in-person event, dedicated to nurturing cities’ environmental and socio-economic well-being.