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The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) is excited to reveal the finalists for the 2024 GDS-Awards, honouring destinations that excel in regeneration, innovation, and impact. The awards, to be presented during the sold-out GDS-Forum & CityDNA Autumn Conference, on 16 October at the Bruges Royal Municipal Theatre, celebrate destinations that set new benchmarks for sustainable tourism and events.  

The awards follow a clear and transparent judging process. There are four award categories: The winners of the Leadership Award and Most Improved Destination Award are determined by the results of the GDS-Index. The Leadership Award is given to the destination with the highest overall GDS-Index score, while the Most Improved Destination Award acknowledges the destination that has achieved the largest increase in its GDS-Index score year-on-year.  

The Innovation Award celebrates destinations that showcase creative and effective sustainability initiatives that can scale and be adapted, while the Impact Award, developed in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT, recognises destinations building lasting, positive legacy through business events. The finalists for these two awards are chosen by a distinguished panel of judges representing diverse industries. 

Here are the finalists for the 2024 GDS-Awards in four categories, each in alphabetical order.  

The finalists of the Innovation Award: 

• Copenhagen, Denmark: for its “CopenPay” initiative, designed to influence visitors to act more sustainably by rewarding them for their climate-friendly actions while in Copenhagen. By choosing sustainable transport or collecting rubbish etc., tourists earn rewards like access to complimentary guided museum tours, free kayak rentals, and free vegetarian lunches. 
• Oslo, Norway: for its “Coolest Place on Earth/Winter Destination Network” initiative, a collaboration between small and large players in the tourism industry to promote greater seasonal variation among visitors to Oslo. The visitor management project runs from 2023 to 2030, with a specific goal to increase value creation during the winter season by 500 million NOK (Norwegian kroner) by 2030. 
• Toronto, Canada: for “Relax, Recharge, Renew” initiative, a social responsibility offering well-deserved respite to local parents and primary caregivers of children with complex special needs. Supported by donations from Toronto’s tourism community, the programme acknowledges the transformative power of rest and provides an opportunity for hospitality partners to give back to the local community. 
• Vancouver, Canada: for its “Social Procurement for Tourism, Hospitality, and Events” initiative. This project created a guide to social procurement for tourism, hospitality, and events, a methodology to assess progress and a series of education initiatives for businesses in the destination to mobilise participation. 
• Victoria, Canada: for the “Affordable Housing Project for Hotel and Hospitality Employees” initiative. This collaboration with various interested parties addresses the housing crisis by utilising room-night tax revenue from short-term rentals. This effort funded 40 affordable housing units for hospitality workers, closing an equity gap on the project and showcasing the power of strong partnerships to support the local supply chain.  

 The finalists of the Impact Award, in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT:   

• Copenhagen, Denmark: for its “Copenhagen Legacy Lab” programme, developed to create long-term beneficial impact from visiting congresses and events. The framework is built on extensive research, a Theory of Change, and the European Union Commission’s “Social Impact Measurement”. All research and tools are open source to support a legacy- and impact-driven movement.   
• Flanders, Belgium: for its “VISITFLANDERS Impact Programme”, a dedicated initiative to cultivate business events that create meaningful benefits for the local community. VISITFLANDERS Convention Bureau developed a comprehensive methodology that supports international associations and local organising committees in defining, implementing, and measuring the positive societal impact of international conferences hosted in Flanders. In addition to this hands-on support, the team is cultivating a community of legacy makers to strengthen connections with the local area and has initiated the International Alliance for Impact initiative to facilitate sharing and learning within the international community.  
• Gothenburg, Sweden: for its “Gothenburg Way to Legacy” initiative, intended to foster inclusivity and health in ice hockey, launched in conjunction with the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg. The impact project addresses gender equity and public health issues, striving for long-term societal benefits. It is an inclusive impact framework that encourages engagement, regardless of stakeholder aspiration or resources.

The finalists of the Leadership Award:

• Aarhus, Denmark  
• Bergen, Norway  
• Copenhagen, Denmark  
• Gothenburg, Sweden  
• Helsinki, Finland
   

The finalists of the Most Improved Destination Award:

• Gdansk, Poland  
• Kumamoto, Japan  
• Solihull, United Kingdom  
• Takamatsu, Japan  
• Tucson, United States of America  

 Guy Bigwood, CEO of the GDS-Movement, commented: “The 2024 GDS-Awards finalists showcase the extraordinary power of regeneration through collective action. It’s inspiring to see how these destinations are transforming their tourism and events sectors to drive positive, lasting change. This year, we’re especially excited to see new destinations from Europe, Asia, and Canada – making a shortlist. Their exceptional projects are a testament to the growing, global commitment to destination sustainability and stewardship, offering fresh perspectives and inspiring examples for others to follow, borrow, and build on.”  

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 celebration of sustainability and regeneration. Winners will be honoured on stage at the ceremony during the 2024 GDS-Forum & CityDNA Autumn Conference, presented by VisitBruges, CityDNA, ICCA, and GDS-Movement.   

 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 Destinations 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) 

 ENDS