Destination Canada has revealed that following the release of the 2023 annual “Global Destination Sustainability-Index” (GDS-Index) benchmarking results, there are now 20 Canadian destinations participating in the Index, representing the highest national concentration of GDS-Index destinations globally. Achieved in collaboration with the 16 Canadian cities already participating in Destination Canada’s “Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan,” this milestone not only speaks of their commitment to be sustainable hosts for international events but also signals the beginning of the final phase of the Plan.
The GDS-Index is a sustainability performance program for urban tourism and events destinations around the world. Used by over 100 cities globally, the GDS-Index benchmarks and improves the sustainability performance and strategies of the municipality, its tourism supply chain, and the destination management organization.
“Participation in the GDS-Index by 20 business event destinations across Canada is the highest of any country in the world. It shows our sector’s commitment to meaningful, long-term transformation that really matters. The GDS-Index will help track where our destinations are currently on their sustainability journey, and how to improve from there,” says Marsha Walden, president and CEO, Destination Canada.
Launched in spring 2022, Destination Canada’s “Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan” is a first-of-its-kind national program aimed at improving the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability practices of business events hosted in Canada. The 16 cities participating in the Plan include:
- Banff Lake Louise
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Halifax
- Kelowna
- Montreal
- Niagara Falls
- Ottawa
- Charlottetown
- Quebec City
- Saskatoon
- St. John’s
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Winnipeg
For more information, visit www.destinationcanada.com.
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