The GDS-Awards Ceremony will bring the GDS and CityDNA communities together in an entertaining and inspiring, evening-time celebration to recognise the winners of the 9th GDS-Index Awards. The larger platform enables greater reach and recognition for and aspiration around destinations whose sustainability contributions have now exceeded pre-pandemic levels in a global industry with a growing…
The CityDNA Autumn Conference will provide destination professionals working for Tourist Boards, CVBs & DMOs with a unique occasion to meet and network with colleagues from Europe and beyond, while learning and sharing knowledge and insights on the latest trends and challenges or urban tourism in Europe. The CityDNA conference will showcase a diverse range…
Change is happening faster and greater than expected. Climate, cities, the workplace, artificial intelligence, and visitor numbers are changing exponentially. So how do we go from doom to boom? How can we harness the potential of the social and technological transformation happening around us to regenerate our cities, communities, and natural habitats, and become more…
From Conference & Meetings World: Global meetings industry consulting company GainingEdge and its CEO Jon Sivertson (pictured) have issued a joint announcement that Sivertson is to leave the company at the end of February 2024. The company’s senior partner, Mike Williams, is currently serving as acting CEO until a new permanent one can be appointed….
In this course, you will be taken on a 4-month journey to explore and develop a new mindset leveraging the latest in regenerative systems thinking. You will investigate and learn about new regenerative business models, destination stewardship approaches and stakeholder engagement methodologies that enable DMOs to catalyse investment, generate jobs, develop knowledge, equitably distribute prosperity,…
Join us as we reveal GDS-Movement updates and get ready for the unveiling of the new 2024 GDS-Index Criteria, featuring refined benchmarking indicators aligned with industry standards and cutting-edge approaches for capacity management and performance impact analysis. Be prepared to dive into the outcomes of the 2023 GDS-Forum and explore the ’10 Ideas’ that emerged,…
Join us as we reveal GDS-Movement updates and get ready for the unveiling of the new 2024 GDS-Index Criteria, featuring refined benchmarking indicators aligned with industry standards and cutting-edge approaches for capacity management and performance impact analysis. Be prepared to dive into the outcomes of the 2023 GDS-Forum and explore the ’10 Ideas’ that emerged,…
From Conference & Meetings World: At a joint webinar on 18 January, ICCA and Destination Canada presented a survey on the integration of sustainability into business events. The survey explored how associations and their event partners are engaging with sustainability, highlighting the integral role sustainability plays in the issuing and actioning of Request For Proposals…
From ICCA: This study draws on data collected in the period between the beginning of July and early September of 2023. A total of 248 responses were received globally across all geographic regions, providing a nuanced picture of the status of our industry regarding international meetings and focusing on the efforts in event and destination…
From Simpleview: For the last decade, tourism organizations globally have been moving toward a more local, engaged, and citizen-focused model. As we set our sights on regenerative tourism, sustainability, accessibility, and a virtuous visitor economy, the question remains — how do we generate the engagement and alliances in our communities that are needed for success?…
From Skift Meetings: Singapore has clinched the number one spot in the latest International Convention Destination Competitive Index Report by GainingEdge. This benchmarking tool aims to help cities hosting international association meetings find their competitive position and identify areas for improvement. The ascendancy of Singapore suggests broader geopolitical and economic shifts influencing the international meetings…
Discover the valuable insights, trends and best practices that will help our industry drive a more sustainable future, and bring positive change to the communities and business we work with. This could make a profound and genuine difference to the way we all do business. Registration is required, so please secure your place today.
In an eventful week, Valencia in Spain hosted the inaugural GDS-Forum organised by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) which preceded the CityDNA Autumn Conference. The Forum departed from the meeting norms of pre-pandemic times to unveil the ‘unconference’ which Founder and CEO, Guy Bigwood, described as ‘a workshop on steroids’. It was undoubtedly different…
This week, GDS-Movement and #MEET4IMPACT hosted webinars to celebrate and showcase their recent Impact Award shortlisted finalists. The guest speakers shared what they have learnt, some of the challenges they have faced, and the impacts they are creating, to inspire and inform future impact and legacy practitioners. A recording of the webinar is available to…
Join your industry peers for the must attend hosted-buyer event bringing together the most highly-qualified meeting and incentive buyers with top destinations, hotels/resorts, attractions, DMCs, DMOs and tourism offices from the Southwest U.S. Meet buyers who are ready to book business in: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Texas. Learn from, and be inspired by,…
Destinations International is committed to investing and preparing the leaders of tomorrow, developing future industry leaders that represent a diverse set of backgrounds and perspectives. Investing in the future generation of destination experts, 30 individuals under the age of 30 are selected annually to gain valuable industry networking opportunities and increased thought leadership throughout the…
From Destinations International, by Jack Johnson: Back in January, I wrote a blog post titled “Essential, Absolutely Necessary, and Very Important, Part 1.” This is the promised sequel. In the first blog I referenced an article in Wired Magazine titled “Humans Walk Weird. Scientists May Finally Know Why.” which pointed out that humans have an…
From Boardroom: 2023 has seen record-breaking temperatures and the alarming increase of extreme weather events across our planet. Sustainability can no longer simply be considered as a nice-to-have option, but as an essential core value that should help drive the ethos of any sector of activity, including the business events industry. Furthermore, sustainability should be…
In 2023, the GDS-Index experienced significant growth. 42 new DMOs joined the GDS-Movement, sending out a clear message about the will to change. Linear and extractive business models are no longer sustainable or relevant in the tourism industry. Cities and destination management organisations participating in the GDS-Index advocate for a regenerative and inclusive transformation, emphasising…
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