Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement)

A lot is going on in #Poland this week... We’re excited to announce that #Wrocław and #Szczecin have joined the 2025 GDS-Index, marking a significant step forward in Poland’s commitment to sustainable #tourism and #events. Together with #Krakow and #Gdańsk, these cities are setting a powerful example for destinations worldwide, proving that #sustainability and tourism growth can go hand in hand as the cities leverage their natural assets and sustainable strategies to attract visitors while staying true to their values. Today, Janie Neumann and Marta Mills from the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) are delivering a dedicated workshop in Gdańsk with six Polish cities and representatives from the Pomeranian Regional Tourist Organisation and the Poland Convention Bureau to explore sustainable and regenerative tourism trends, share best practices, and develop actionable plans for the future. Also, don't miss tomorrow's 'New Trends in Tourism Conference', where Guy Bigwood, FIEMA, Chief Changemaker at the GDS-Movement, will deliver a keynote on “The Regenerative Revolution: Developing and Managing Thriving Destinations That Are Future Fit.” His session will highlight the importance of regeneration in tourism and how destinations can move beyond sustainability to create a lasting positive impact. Read the full release here: https://lnkd.in/d3wa-ixc

Changemaker in action! Join Guy Bigwood at The Meetings Show Asia Pacific in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, on 16 April for a game-changing panel discussion: 🗓 16:00 - 16:40 (Local Time) 💡 "Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Event Planning" This session is all about real, actionable solutions—not just talk. Industry leaders will share practical strategies to create events that are greener, more responsible, and future-proof. Featuring: 🔹 Paul Harvey – Editor, M&IT, Northstar Meetings Group 🔹 Guy Bigwood, FIEMA – Chief Changemaker, Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) 🔹 Lisa Hopkins – CEO, Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) 🔹 Edward KOH – Executive Director, Singapore Tourism Board 🔹 Elena Fis (Pais) – Sustainability Manager, Kenes Group Here's more about Guy: https://lnkd.in/dYyy3g6Z More info: https://lnkd.in/e7UCCnfW Register here: https://lnkd.in/e4xe_J8w #SustainableEvents #MeetingsShowAPAC #EventProfs #SustainabilityInAction

Changemaker in action! Guy Bigwood, FIEMA, will give a keynote titled "Beyond LEDs: Rethinking Event Production for a Regenerative Future” at Prolight + Sound 2025 at 16:00 on 8 April in Frankfurt. In this dynamic session, Guy will delve into the world of regeneration and why it matters for live events. 🎉 Get a free ticket here: https://lnkd.in/ekPXfimA 🤔 Here's more about Guy: https://lnkd.in/dYyy3g6Z 🍃 Here's more about Messe Frankfurt GmbH's sustainability efforts: https://lnkd.in/d5pyiebF #transformingevents #MICEprofs #MICESustainability #eventprofs #regenerativeevents #sustainableevents

We love this mini love letter to Scotland and its tourism and events' sustainability efforts. https://lnkd.in/dv-AUkrB If you want to create campaigns like this that compel and inform viewers to act, take the Storytelling and Communication Strategies for Regeneration Masterclass from GDS-Academy https://lnkd.in/dHk_kEeE

Join us this Thursday in Gdańsk: "Regenerating Polish Destinations - Sustainable Tourism in Action" This insightful workshop will be led by sustainability experts Janie Neumann and Marta Mills from the (Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement). The Gdansk Convention Bureau (Polish Tourism Organisation and the Poland Convention Bureau as partners) organizes the event, which welcomes representatives from cities, municipal institutions, PCOs, ITCs. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore sustainable tourism strategies - see you in Gdańsk! Discover more https://lnkd.in/dz8CfFsi #sustainability #gdansk #GDSindex #PolandCVB

Does your destination offer visitors the chance to observe domestic or wild animals? Or engage with them? Does this harm them? Do you know this for a fact? 💪 A policy is a helpful for defining guiding practices for a destination that enjoys leisure tourism for its wildlife, wild or natural spaces, and/or animal populations. 🤩 Even better if it rapidly evolves into (or is preceded by) a cohesive, strategic approach that is regularly measured and reported). 💚 🦁 🫏 🐘 We love this #AnimalWelfare policy from Intrepid Travel. You can also find their latest, pubished annual report on their ethical marketing journey here https://lnkd.in/dVN_uauB https://lnkd.in/di4dZk3f Want to learn more about storytelling with more integrity and impact? Take the #GDSacademy masterclass: https://lnkd.in/dHk_kEeE

📢 EU Green Deal Simplification – What Does It Mean for Tourism? The European Commission has proposed an omnibus package to streamline key sustainability directives, aiming to cut €6.3 billion in annual administrative costs. While this could reduce reporting burdens for large tourism companies, it also raises concerns about compromising #greengrowth. What’s Changing? The package simplifies: ✔ Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) ✔ Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) ✔ EU Taxonomy, a classification system that defines criteria for net-zero-aligned economic activities 💡 What Does This Mean for Tourism? SMEs in tourism may no longer have to comply with CSRD reporting by 2026, but supply chain obligations remain. Larger entities like airlines, hotel chains, and tour operators will still be subject to financial and sustainability reporting. The balance between simplification and maintaining strong #sustainabilityregulations is critical. 💡Next Steps: The proposals now move to the European Parliament and the Council, with potential implementation by late 2025 or 2026. What do you think about the changes? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dBe4-mD5 #EUdeal #EUTaxonomy #CSRD #CSDDD #SustainableTourism

Is there a destination and events sustainability topic you want to know more about? Please let us know!

To inspire action and deliver inspiration, here's a guest post https://lnkd.in/dekHHMFD from Padraic Gilligan, Co-founder of SoolNua, with a finger on the pulse of positive change and opportunity in business events, and a 4-step plan we can all move to. #LeadershipForChange #DEI #DEIAB #inclusion

Could your city be the next leader in #SmartTourism? Applications are now open for the 2026 European Capital of Smart Tourism and European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism titles! 🏆🌍 🤔 Are you a smart destination with a population of over 100.000 inhabitants?  🤩 Are you a green destination with a population of between 25.000 – 100.000 inhabitants? "The European Capital of Smart Tourism recognises outstanding achievements by European cities as tourism destinations in four categories: sustainability, accessibility, digitalisation as well as cultural heritage and creativity." "The European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism, successor of the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) competition, rewards smaller destinations that have implemented successful strategies to boost sustainable tourism through green transition practices." Smart Tourism is an EU initiative, currently financed under the Single Market Programme (SMP) - former COSME Programme. It is built on the successful experience of the Preparatory Action proposed by the European Parliament and implemented by the European Commission. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dkKT8wE