Tag: Global Destination Sustainability

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How sustainable is your event destination?

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, is due to take place in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November 2021 and with the recent extremes of weather around the world, sustainability is very much on everyone’s minds. Gradually, sustainability is becoming mainstream in the events industry, but now it has to be more than supplying reusable bags and getting rid of plastic straws.

There are huge problems to solve and these can impact the event’s budget. To be successful all the stakeholders need to address the larger issues of food waste, transport, energy, use of plastic and water consumption.

IMEX has published the Global Destination Sustainability Index which aims to promote the sustainable growth of international meeting destinations, highlighting best practices and responsible business tourism. It assesses the sustainability performance of cities and conference bureaux in four categories:

  • City environmental strategy and infrastructure
  • City social sustainability performance
  • Industry supplier support (restaurants, hotels and convention centres)
  • Convention Bureau strategy and initiatives

At the moment, 25 Scandinavian cities take part and these have been joined by destinations in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia as well as Australia. It is hoped that more destinations will participate in future. Not only will this make the tourism industry more sustainable, but improve the local region’s economy and adopt, responsible practices.

The results of the 2020 survey are as follows:

1Gothenburg, Sweden89.60%
2Copenhagen, Denmark88.00%
3Zurich, Switzerland84.60%
4Glasgow, Scotland78.50%
5Aalborg, Denmark76.20%
6Reykjavik, Iceland75.80%
7Malmö, Sweden75.60%
8Sydney, Australia74.90%
9Uppsala, Sweden74.30%
10Melbourne, Australia74.20%
11Dublin, Ireland70.90%
12Stockholm, Sweden68.50%
13Aarhus, Denmark68.00%
13Brussels, Belgium68.00%
14Lausanne-Montreux, Switzerland67.50%
15Galway, Ireland65.40%
16Barcelona, Spain64.80%
17Helsinki, Finland64.70%
18Ljubljana, Slovenia63.70%
19Oslo, Norway63.00%
20Kerry, Ireland62.70%

For more information about the sustainability of your destination, the Convention Bureau will be able to provide information.

For help or advice to book your event in a sustainable destination and venue call 01780 484051 or email enquiries@edgevenues.com, we’d be delighted to help.

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Global Destination Sustainability Index releases 2019 results

The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) has published its 2019 rankings, which revealed Glasgow as one of the top five cities for its commitment to sustainable business tourism.

The GDS Index was launched in 2016 and promotes responsible business tourism best practice. Its data analyses 60 cities based on four key criteria:

  • Environmental strategy and infrastructure
  • Social sustainability performance
  • The strategy of the host city’s convention bureau
  • Industry supply chain support

The full list can be viewed below:

Glasgow aims to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2030. The Scottish Government has set a net zero emissions target for Scotland by 2045.

It has also hosted 25 energy, sustainability and carbon reduction related conferences in the 2018 and 2019 financial year, which has increased the city’s economy by nearly £8m.

Glasgow’s ranking recognises the ‘People Make Glasgow Greener’ campaign, which launched by the Glasgow Convention Bureau in 2017.

The campaign identifies the city’s sustainable businesses and aims to simplify the process of organising a sustainable conference in Glasgow.

Aileen Crawford, head of conventions, Glasgow Convention Bureau, said: “Glasgow’s ambition is to be at the forefront on climate action and we are determined to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2030 and a world-leading centre for sustainable policy and innovation.

“Glasgow is home to some of the world’s biggest energy companies and we’re internationally recognised as having one of the healthiest and most diverse energy industries globally; particularly in terms of low carbon industries, which has had a hugely positive impact on the volume of conferences that we’re attracting in these sectors.

Kathleen Warden, director of conferences sales, SEC, said: “This is fantastic news for the city, and we are proud to play a key role in helping to position Glasgow as the world’s 4th most sustainable conference destination. At the same time, being named a finalist for the GDS-Index’s Leadership in Sustainability Award is testament to our ambitious goals as a city.

Guy Bigwood, managing director, GDS-Index, said: “Glasgow as a meetings and events destination has made a significant jump in sustainability performance in 2019. We are delighted to see that a UK city has risen to number 4 in the Global rankings and has a strong strategy to develop even further. Glasgow is in the first division of pioneering cities that is defining what sustainability leadership stands for.”

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Creating better places to live, meet and thrive in

The Global Destination Sustainability Index’s Whitepaper highlights trends and strategies undertaken by 47 leading cities to become regenerative hubs for economic, social and environmental development.

At the European Cities Marking Conference, the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) released their third Whitepaper that details the case studies, data analysis and the actions taken by 47 Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) and municipalities to become destinations of choice for meetings, events and business tourism.

The whitepaper defines six converging mega trends that present destinations and the Event Industry with opportunities to improve their performance and adapt to the risks presented by climate breakdown, ecocide, demographic shifts, social change and digitalisation.

It highlights four fundamental building blocks for DMOs to become sustainable destination stewards and changemakers and defines eight tactics on how destinations can integrate sustainability into their core strategy and become leaders in future-oriented collaboration.

According to MCI’s CEO Sébastien Tondeur, “Scientific predictions about the rate and effect of human impact on climate and our living planet are increasing in certainty and accuracy. As an industry we need to step up, scale up and speed up our sustainability efforts. Destinations are key to the transformation of our industry, and the GDS-Index is an important catalyst helping them transform.”

Petra Stusek, ECM President, comments that “Destination Management Organisations are evolving into destination stewards and changemakers. They are progressively taking a bigger role in accelerating their city’s sustainable development plan. Through this report the GDS-index is sharing best practice and pieces of wisdom with the ultimate goal of supporting other destinations to focus on sustainable growth.”

Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA, comments: “ICCA is proud to provide strategic support to the GDS-Index and contribute to the ever-growing sustainability of the global meetings industry. Alongside our global community of member-suppliers and international associations, we continuously seek to ensure every aspect of our strategic planning, events and general activities strongly adheres to and promotes best practices in sustainability.”

Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, mentions that “the economic, social and environmental significance of the Events Industry is massive. We could influence safe and fair working conditions for 26 million jobs, direct $1.5 trillion USD towards more responsible supply chains, and inspire 1.5 billion participants to action. Our industry has a decisive role in the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its 17 SDGs. The next couple of years represent a serous tipping point for us all – and for the generations to come.”

Guy Bigwood, Managing Director of the GDS-Index adds: “Driven by concerned students, citizens, local governments and corporations a new era of sustainability is rising, and will touch every corner of the events industry. We believe that a better and more restorative global future lies in urban innovation and collaborative action. The GDS-Index plays a key role to engage, inspire and enable destinations to become more sustainable places to visit, meet and thrive in.”

The whitepaper is available for download.