The year's GDS-Index benchmarking submissions have opened and we have been spreading the word about sustainability for the visitor economy and its MICE sector at diverse business meetings like ITB Berlin, the ICCA Nordic Chapter, Optimeet Messen, and New Trends in Tourism. If you are feeling under the “water” as sea levels, emissions, rollbacks, and anxiety rise, read on for motivation and celebration from GDS-Movement and its growing network of radically-collaborative changemakers.
Keeping Time with Sustainability & DEI
Executives are striking a chord with the principles and practices of GDS-Movement. Padraic Gilligan, Co-founder of Soolnua, has his finger on the pulse of positive change and opportunity in business events, and a 4-step sustainability plan we can all move to.
EU Legislation Update – Sustainability Simplification
The European Commission wants to increase competitiveness by simplifying the main EU’s Green Deal directives. While this means more streamlined reporting requirements and reduced administrative burdens, this may compromise green growth. Get the latest update and its potential impacts from Antonia Alomar, our Public Policy expert.
We warmly encourage destinations to enter the 2025 Skift IDEA Awards. If you have a viable project or person to nominate, talk to us about ways we can support you to prepare your entry. Skift’s deadline is 13 June.
Do you want to help drive sustainability and impact for business events? Then do please take the subventions* survey/s in a new research project with our partners, Conferli, #MEET4IMPACT, Sapporo Convention Centre, VISITFLANDERS Convention Bureau, and MeetEngland.
*A subvention is a financial incentive or grant provided by a local government, tourism board, convention bureau, or other organisations to attract conferences, trade shows, corporate meetings, or large-scale events to a specific destination. These financial aids help offset the costs of organising an event, making it more appealing for event planners to choose a specific location.
Learning Opportunity: Lead Through Climate Action
Do you want to be able to minimise negative impacts and amplify the positive climate effects of tourism and events in your community? Learn to develop robust climate action plans, tell more credible climate action stories, and build resilience against climate impacts!
BUSINESS Events AS USUAL: Social Impact in Destinations
Virtual
17:00 CET – Fathma Khalid and Genevieve Leclerc on the ways that event legacy, stakeholder collaboration, and impact measurement are transforming the way destinations approach sustainability.
BUSINESS Events AS USUAL: Social Impact in Destinations
Virtual
09:00 CET – Fathma Khalid and Genevieve Leclerc on the ways that event legacy, stakeholder collaboration, and impact measurement are transforming the way destinations approach sustainability.
16:00 – 16:40 local time – Guy Bigwood gives the GDS-Movement perspective on "Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Event Planning" in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
11:40 – 12:20 local time – Guy Bigwood and Jessica Vandy give the GDS-Movement perspective on "Implementing Regenerative Practices in Event Planning” in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
Include a GDS-Movement Changemaker at your next event
Virtual, hybrid, or in-person
Is your DMO or CVB looking for keynote speakers, panellists, and moderators to focus on sustainability at your event? We speak with authority and insight about impact and legacy, industry trends, regenerative destination management, and more.
"Each of us - separately - fights for a good score in the GDS-Index for his or her city, but we also have a common goal and strongly support each other in it."
Anna Rojek, Project Coordinator, Szczecin Convention Bureau
The Global Destination Sustainability Movement, Calle Espinagosa 3, Barcelona, Spain
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