SZCZECIN — The Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Movement has announced the winners of its 2026 GDS Awards, with this year’s programme placing a strong emphasis on measurable impact, regeneration and long-term destination value.
The awards were presented during the GDS Forum and Impact Day in Szczecin, Poland, recognising initiatives and individuals advancing sustainability and positive change across tourism and business events. The 2026 edition featured three categories: Innovation, Impact and the newly introduced Changemaker Award.
Fáilte Ireland received the Impact Award, presented in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT, for its business events impact and legacy programme. The initiative was recognised for its efforts to embed economic, social and environmental outcomes into event design while aligning with national priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Innovation Award was presented to Gdansk Tourism Organization for its “Nothing About Us Without Us” initiative, which uses accessibility audits and communication tools to improve destination inclusivity. Meanwhile, Fanny Beaulieu Cormier of Tourisme Montréal became the inaugural recipient of the Changemaker Award, recognising her contribution to regenerative destination development and community-focused tourism initiatives.
While this year’s awards recognised organisations from Europe and North America, the themes underpinning the winners are increasingly relevant across Asia-Pacific. As governments and convention bureaux throughout the region invest heavily in business events to support economic development, talent attraction and knowledge exchange, expectations are shifting from simply delivering delegate numbers towards demonstrating measurable legacy, community outcomes and environmental impact.
For Asian destinations, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Established convention hubs such as Singapore have already incorporated sustainability and legacy into their business events strategies, while emerging destinations across ASEAN are increasingly exploring how business events can contribute to broader national development goals, including skills development, innovation, sustainability and social inclusion.
GDS-Movement CEO Guy Bigwood said the winning initiatives demonstrated how destinations can strengthen resilience and competitiveness while delivering tangible benefits for communities and stakeholders. Similarly, #MEET4IMPACT Co-founder and CEO Geneviève Leclerc described the Impact Award as recognition of programmes capable of delivering measurable change beyond traditional event metrics.
For association leaders, the GDS Awards also reinforce a broader shift in how destinations are likely to be evaluated in the coming years. As more international associations incorporate ESG commitments into their event selection criteria, destinations that can provide credible evidence of impact—not merely sustainability pledges—may enjoy a growing competitive advantage. For Asia’s convention bureaux and destination marketing organisations, the race is no longer simply to attract more events, but to demonstrate how those events create lasting value for communities, industries and society.
