The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) has announced the winners of the highly anticipated 2024 GDS-Awards.
The award ceremony, held on the evening of 16 October at the Bruges Royal Municipal Theatre during the GDS-Forum & CityDNA Autumn Conference, recognised exceptional destinations that are setting new benchmarks in sustainability, innovation, and positive long-term impact within the global tourism and events industry.
The awards feature four key categories: Leadership, Innovation, Most Improved Destination, and Impact, in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT.
The 2024 GDS-Awards Winners:
1. Leadership Award: Helsinki, Finland, for its exemplary performance, achieving the highest score in the GDS-Index with 92.43%. The city’s commitment to sustainability is demonstrated by its comprehensive strategy, spanning tourism, governance, and biodiversity protection.
2. Most Improved Destination Award: Kumamoto, Japan, recognised for its outstanding 42.39% improvement in its GDS-Index score compared to the previous year. The city’s holistic approach to sustainability includes a pioneering water management programme, which protects Kumamoto’s vital groundwater resources, as well as a forward-thinking mobility plan and a robust circular economy strategy.
3. Innovation Award: Copenhagen, Denmark, for its inventive CopenPay initiative, which encourages sustainable behaviour among visitors.
4. Impact Award: Copenhagen, Denmark, for its Copenhagen Legacy Lab (CLL), an innovative programme that fosters long-term positive impacts from congresses and events. The CLL initiative encourages collaboration between event organisers and local stakeholders to ensure that events leave a lasting legacy beyond immediate economic gains, contributing to areas like sustainability and healthcare.
Commenting on this year’s winners, Guy Bigwood, CEO of the GDS-Movement, said: “The 2024 GDS-Awards winners are redefining how tourism and events can be managed as regenerative forces for good. These destinations are leading the way with innovative sustainability projects that inspire a fundamental shift in the way the visitor economy operates. We are thrilled to honour these forward-thinking pioneers, who showcase how collaboration can foster transformative change, setting a new benchmark for the industry.”