The GDS-Index is a destination-level programme that measures, benchmarks, and improves the sustainability strategy and performance of tourism and events destinations.
The GDS-Index is aligned with international standards; UN SDGs, GSTC Destination Criteria, UNWTO.
Click here to read more about the benchmarking methodology including data collection and verification, the four benchmarking categories, governance and criteria development and performance scoring methods.
This page highlights each destinations sustainability journey and will showcase their journey.
The 2024 GDS-Index comprises 77 indicators across four categories. Here is the total score and the score for the four categories for this destination.
Environmental
Social
Supplier
Destination Management Organisation
Environmental
Includes a city's performance pertaining to its policies and infrastructure, such as climate change commitment, carbon emissions, renewable energies, resource and water management, public transport, and air pollution levels.
Social
Indicates the performance of the city against indicators of SDG integration, Corruption, Personal Safety, Access to Information and Communications, Health and Wellness, and Inclusivity, using external sources such as the Social Progress Imperative Index, and Corruption Perceptions Index.
Supplier
Addresses the sustainability commitment and performance of the local meetings' industry supply chain, including airports, events agencies, hotels, venues, and restaurants.
Destination Management Organisation
Indicates the sustainability commitment, including questions pertaining to maturity of a destination's sustainability and regeneration strategy, leadership, communication of sustainability initiatives (to support client planners), and the accuracy of their reporting on sustainability operations.
We are proud to acknowledge that Calgary, or Moh’kinsstis in Blackfoot, is cradled between the Rocky Mountains to the west and vast plains to the east. This is Treaty 7 territory. Made up of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations collectively known as the Blackfoot Confederacy; the Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi First Nations, comprised of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations; and the Tsuut’ina First Nation. The city of Calgary is also homeland to the historic Northwest Métis and to Métis Nation District 5 & 6. We acknowledge all Indigenous urban Calgarians, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, who have made Calgary their home. Calgary is a year-round destination like no other: a mix of big-city energy and warm Western hospitality. From a bustling downtown with character-filled neighborhoods, to the peaks of the Canadian Rocky Mountains just an hour west and the dramatic landscape of the Canadian Badlands to the east, Calgary is your basecamp to adventure and home to innovators, dreamers, visionaries and game changers. In alignment with the City of Calgary sustainability goals and foundational action plans to achieve net-zero by 2050, we are committed to climate resilience and creating social benefit as part of our destination performance goals. Under the leadership of a new CEO, Tourism Calgary will release a new Destination Strategy in fall 2024. Based on the extensive engagement of this strategy, the 2024-2027 Sustainable Tourism and Events Strategy was developed and released to partners in early 2024, which solidifies our commitment to Calgary’s environmental, social, and economic practices within the tourism industry.
Does Tourism Calgary have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Calgary have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Tourism Calgary report on its sustainability performance?
Calgary is building the foundation now, to achieve net-zero by 2050. Our priority is reinforcing programs that lower emissions and reduce impacts of climate change. Actions are focussed on programs for Calgary’s residential communities, on Calgary’s commercial buildings, for Calgary’s mobility options and with Calgary’s energy supply. Also, work is consistently being done to protect, restore, and maintain Calgary’s vast, natural environment. Calgary is home to the most extensive urban pathway system in North America (just over 1,000 km of pathways), making it easy for visitors to walk, bike or e-scooter between venues, hotels, restaurants and more in the downtown core and connecting neighbourhoods. We are also proud to be home to one of the few transit systems in North America registered with the ISO 14001 for environmental standards and our light rail transit system – the C-Train – is 100% powered by renewable energy.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
THE CITY’S
2030 CARBON
REDUCTION TARGET
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
Calgary’s Sustainable, Environmental and Ethical Procurement Policy (SEEPP) provides guidelines for contracted venues and hotels regarding purchasing products and services at reasonable prices while considering key environmental and social benefits such as worker health and safety, energy efficiency, and packaging. Calgary’s two major convention centres, the BMO Centre at Stampede Park and the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, are committed to sustainability including achieving Green Key and ISO 14001 certification. Calgary’s food action plan – Calgary Eats! – builds on community-led efforts to create a healthy, equal, and sustainable food system. Event planners can work with venues and caterers to ensure that meals are sourced locally and sustainably, to ensure vegan and vegetarian items are available to reduce the carbon footprint, that the occurrence of food waste is reduced, as well as working with food recovery organizations to deliver any surplus food to local hunger relief agencies.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
Listed in the top 10 Global Livability Ranking for 2022 and 2023, Calgary is proud of its rich history, culturally diverse communities, and expansive natural environment. Calgary is the third most diverse major city in Canada, home to more than 240 different ethnic origins and over 165 spoken languages (Statistics Canada) and is among the top 25 most affordable cities in the world (Demographia International Housing Affordability, 2023). Furthermore, Calgary is a safe, low-crime, clean and healthy city. Calgarians are community-minded and are generous with their time and money. From markets to small businesses, neighbourhood shops and non-profits, locals take pride in their connected community. Over 45 per cent of Albertans volunteer, and the province has the highest average annual charitable donation among Canadian provinces.
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.
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