Inspiration Hub

Each year, we celebrate destination sustainability efforts with the Global Destination Sustainability Leadership, Most Improved Destination, and Innovation awards. These destinations demonstrate a remarkable commitment to deepening their journey in regenerative destination management through participation in GSD-Index and their own initiatives.

In 2023, we are proud to announce a new award, the GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT Impact Award, a collaborative initiative developed by GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT.

The awards will be presented during GDS-Forum, on 4 October, in Valencia, Spain.

More about each GDS-Award

The Leadership Award goes to the destination that scores the highest on the year’s GDS-Index ranking, demonstrating its continual commitment, inspired vision, prompt action, and measurable impacts.

The Most Improved Destination Award goes to the destination that has made the greatest increase in its GDS-Index score from the previous year, and is independent of its ranking.

The Innovation Award recognises and showcases a destination using innovative solutions to drive tourism and events’ sustainability performance.

The GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT Impact Award acknowledges and celebrates a destination management organisation committed to legacy and impact through business events.

How elective award winners are chosen and how they support tourism and events

Both the Innovation and Impact award submissions are fielded by our own changemakers, and a finalist list is passed along to an independent panel of industry experts, who choose the winner based on a set of strict and specific criteria.

The Innovation Award encourages DMOs to catalyse new methods, ideas, and approaches in tourism and events through a scalable and adaptable initiative with purpose and demonstrable, positive impact for destination and nature alike.

[Submissions now closed] Apply for the Innovation Award here

[Submissions now closed] Get the Innovation Award application guide here

The GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT Impact Award encourages DMOs to develop innovative event legacy and impact initiatives and programmes that leverage the mission of their clients and that contribute to a more sustainable and socially-responsible future for all.

[Submissions now closed] Apply for the Impact Award here

[Submissions now closed] Get the Impact Award application guide here

The Benefits of Winning

Winners benefit in a host of ways. They are acknowledged, enjoy on-stage exposure at the 2023 GDS-Awards Ceremony at the 2023 GDS-Forum, are featured in our white paper, in the 2023 GDS-Index results press release, and have the opportunity to present their winning initiatives at the GDS-Movement Feeling the Pulse webinar on 11 and 12 October 2023.

– Register for Feeling the Pulse webinar, “Celebrating the 2023 GDS-Index Results and GDS-Awards’ Winners”, on 11 October at 11h00 here

– Register for Feeling the Pulse webinar, “Celebrating the 2023 GDS-Index Results and GDS-Awards’ Winners”, on 12 October at 17h00 here

More:

– View previous GDS-Awards winners here

– More about GDS-Awards here

– [Submissions now closed] Apply for the Innovation Award here (Get the Innovation Award application guide here)

– [Submissions now closed] Apply for the Impact Award here (Get the Impact Award application guide here)

We hope to see you in Valencia for the awards ceremony!