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.
Our DMO and the City of Victoria work in tandem to further sustainability progress in our destination. Through our work as a DMO, we have aligned directly with the UN Sustainable Development goals by certifying ourselves as well as many of our member businesses through the Biosphere Certification created by the Responsible Tourism Institute. Sustainability is highlighted as a foundational aspect of our organization within our business plan, translating words into action throughout the many facets of our organization. The City of Victoria continues to implement social, economic, and environmental initiatives as laid out in their comprehensive Zero Waste Plan, aimed at reducing waste creation, increasing environmental awareness and education, fostering environmental restoration and much more. In line with these strategies, the province of British Columbia continues to implement the CleanBC Roadmap, aimed significantly at reducing our provinces environmental impacts by 2030.
Does Destination Greater Victoria have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Victoria have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Destination Greater Victoria report on its sustainability performance?
Victoria is a leader in social, economic, and environmental sustainability in Canada. Within our first year participating in the GDS Index, Victoria was able to secure the second highest overall score in North America. Though our destination has had many successes, we continue to strive for further progress in our work. With sustainability at the heart of our destination, we will continue to apply a sustainable lens to our work and push for further achievement in these areas.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE
RECYCLED
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
We have a thriving events sector here in Victoria. The Victoria Conference Centre hosts a considerable number of events each year, all of which have the ability to apply sustainable practices to their event planning processes with the help of our venue staff. The Conference Centre itself operates at a platinum level through BOMA BEST Environmental Standards. Our Conference Centre also now holds third-party certification through the Biosphere Certification developed by the Responsible Tourism Institute. In addition to our Green Events Guide for event planners, we strive to improve the impacts of our event through the expansion of our program offerings on an ongoing basis.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
Victoria is a highly community oriented destination. We work with each-other to improve accessibility, diversity, inclusion and equity within our community. Victoria has a strong focus on communication within decision making, both at the City and DMO levels. Along with the City and our DMO, many additional organizations exist throughout our destination, working to improve the health and wellbeing of our community through grass-roots action. The vast majority of our citizens care about the vitality of our destination and practice destination stewardship in their everyday lives.
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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