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.
Tirol is located in the heart of the Alps surrounded by natural and mountain landscapes. In 2021, the Tirol region participated in the GDS benchmarking process for the first time and published the sustainability strategy ReGenera-tionNOW in the same year. The strategy pursues the goal of advancing the positioning of the meeting and convention region Tirol on a sustaina-ble and regenerative basis. The strategy is based on 4 pillars, the so-called 4 P's: - enabling People - connecting Partners - developing Prosumers - living Proof In September 2021, the Convention Bureau Tirol and the Tirol Tourist Board were awarded the Austrian Eco-Label and have since been licensees in the field of Green Meetings & Events. Following a recent organizational restructuring, Convention Bureau Tirol, previously operating as a satellite of the Tirol Tourist Board, can now focus exclusively on sustainability in the Tyrolean MICE industry. A new sustainability team has been established to handle broader regional ef-forts, while Convention Bureau Tirol hones in on industry-specific goals. While the pillars of the 2021 strategy remain, new actions, goals, and KPIs are being developed to reflect this renewed focus, which will be effective as of 2025. Currently the tirol tourist board works on a holistic sustainability strategy based on CSRD to anchor the topic throughout the entire company.
Does Tirol Werbung have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Tirol have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Tirol Werbung report on its sustainability performance?
By 2050, Tirol wants to be energy autonomous and abandon the use of fossil fuels such as oil and gas and cover its energy demand exclusively with domestic, renewable energy. 43% of the energy in Tirol is generated from renewable energy sources. This puts Tirol well above the Austrian average. Electricity in Tirol is mainly generated from hydropower, and district heating comes to about 89% from bioenergy. Tirol has set itself the goal of awarding the Austrian Eco-label to all its regions by 2030. In addition, the Tirolean Way aims to increase public travel from 10% to 20% by 2035, as well as 100% regenerative forms of propulsion for on-site mobility. Tirol is known for its nature and the view into the green from every location. Not only the nature, but also the fresh air and high quality of drink-ing water directly from the mountain springs testify to a high quality of life in the region.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE
RECYCLED
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
Tirol has 21,347 lodging establishments, including 3,3226 hotels, a large number of which are already pursuing sustainable concepts. Many service providers are placing sustainable thoughts at the center of their actions. By 2030, the Convention Bureau Tirol aims to have at least 60% of its partner establishments certified with the Austrian Ecolabel. The region supports suppliers, businesses and producers in their activities with numerous subsidies, initiatives and concepts, e.g. Bewusst Tirol and many more. A key innovation this year comes from Congress Center Alpbach, which is pioneering a digital tool to simplify the process of cer-tifying events as Green Events under the Austrian Eco-Label. This tool, set to launch soon, will streamline the certification process and further support event organizers in achieving their sustainability goals. In 2025, Tirol will once again demonstrate its dedication to sustainability by hosting the 25th Austrian Climate Day. Organized by the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) and the University of Innsbruck, this scientific conference will take place from April 23-25, 2025, under the theme "Living and Economic Space Alps." Having successfully hosted the event in 2014, the University of Innsbruck reaffirms its leadership in researching economic, ecological, political, and societal structures in the alpine region.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
56.3% of the population in Tirol are very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of life. Tirol has two universities and five colleges, which attract a large number of students to the region. Tirol ranks 20th on the Corruption Perceptions Index, shows a significant improvement over the last seven years, and scores well on the Social Progress Index in general and in the areas of "Health and Wellness" and "Personal Safety" in particular. Tirol, a premier MICE destination in the heart of the Alps, has undergone a significant shift in its strategy over the past year. As of 2024, Convention Bureau Tirol no longer operates with members. Instead, it collaborates with over 300 partners and MICE venues across the region, compared to the previous 49 members. This change reflects our commitment to inclusivity and sustainability, with new collaboration criteria and quality assurance encouraging partners to adopt sustainable practices, aligning with our long-term goals for the region’s MICE industry
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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