We are pleased to announce that the 2025 GDS-Index Criteria and Methodology are now live. You can read the press release here.
A heartfelt "thank you" to the members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), for their invaluable support in this review process. Your expertise and insights have been instrumental in refining and strengthening the Index and its positive impacts.
Enhancing the Index for Greater Impact
In response to feedback from destinations, the TAC and the GDS-Movement team enhanced the year’s criteria and their guidance to streamline the submission process, improve clarity, and ensure continuous improvement for destinations. The 2025 updates focus on making the process more efficient while maintaining a robust performance improvement programme.
The Key Improvements to the GDS-Index Criteria Include:
Clearer criteria and guidance: A thorough review and improvement of the criteria and their guidance to make the submission process clearer for participant destinations.
Redesigned accessibility criteria: An improved approach to measuring sustainability contributions through public transport, public spaces, and the management of short-term tourism rentals to ensure greater inclusivity and improved overview.
Integration of third-party datasets – Streamlined data collection through partnership with BeCause for providing certified hotel data, and with Murmuration for providing data for five environmental criteria that reduce the obligation for destinations.
Updated certification requirements for 2025, including certifications accredited by GSTC or compliant with Travalyst criteria. In 2026, the types of accepted certifications will be stricter.
The review process continues to be guided by the ISEAL Code of Good Practice, ensuring credibility and effectiveness.
Key Changes in the 2025 GDS-Index
The 2025 GDS-Index version comprises a total of 76 criteria, with updates focused on efficiency and precision:
3 criteria completely redesigned, 14 criteria refined to simplify answer options and integrate third-party data, 18 criteria enhanced with cleared wording and guidance,
42 criteria remain unchanged, and 1 criterion removed
New partnerships with BeCause and Murmuration bring externally-validated data into the index, improving efficiency and reducing the obligation on destinations. BeCause will provide verified sustainability certification data for hotels, while Murmuration will supply satellite data for five key environmental indicators:
Renewable Energy (EN-7), Particle Pollution 2.5 (EN-12), Particle Pollution 10 (EN-13) Bike Paths (EN-16), and Green Areas (EN-19).
Looking Ahead: 2026
For 2026, the GDS-Index will see a major review to align with the EU empowering consumers for the green transition and the EU Green Claims Directive which is expected to come into full force around September 2026. This review process will begin in April 2026, led by the GDS-Movement and the TAC, ensuring destinations remain ahead of regulatory changes and best practices.
If your destination would like to be part of the GDS-Movement and participate in the 2025 GDS-Index, please sign this agreement and return it to us by 17 March.
With the collective efforts of the GDS-Movement community, the 2025 GDS-Index continues to measure progress in destination sustainability, drive change, and inspire and advance regeneration across cities, regions, and countries worldwide.
Thank you for being part of this movement!
Sincerely,
Guy Bigwood
CEO and Chief Changemaker, GDS-Movement
The Global Destination Sustainability Movement, Calle Espinagosa 3, Barcelona, Spain
