The GDS-Index is a trusted performance improvement programme to assess and accelerate the progress of a destination’s regenerative journey. It measures, benchmarks, and enhances the sustainability strategies, action plans, and initiatives of more than 100 destination management organisations, municipal authorities, and their tourism supply chains.
Co-founded in 2016 by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA), IMEX Group, and MCI, the GDS-Index offers an unparalleled resource for visitors, DMOs, municipalities, and event planners looking for destinations that offer the best in sustainability performance.
Scope: Unlike other destination standards and rankings, the GDS-Index was originally and exclusively created for the events and meetings industry. Since 2020, leisure tourism has been integrated into its criteria and methodology, making it a unique and holistic programme to evaluate and drive performance across the visitor economy in urban destinations.
