Amsterdam climbs from #60 to #40 in the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS)
What is the Global Destination Sustainability Index?
The GDS Index is part of the Global Destination Sustainability Movement, a worldwide initiative that supports destinations, convention bureaux, and the events industry in becoming more sustainable and regenerative. It benchmarks cities against international standards and highlights best practices to encourage continuous improvement.
The index evaluates destinations across four key pillars:
- Ecological sustainability – policies and results related to energy, circularity, air quality, mobility, and biodiversity.
- Social sustainability – inclusivity, health, safety, and community engagement.
- Supplier sustainability – the contribution of hotels, venues, restaurants, PCOs, and DMCs through sustainable practices and certifications.
- Destination management (DMO) – the strategy and impact of the destination marketing and management organisation.
Amsterdam’s score improves by 12.8%
In 2025, Amsterdam’s overall score improved by 12.8%, with notable gains in:
- Supplier score (+22.63%) – more hotels, venues, and organisers securing certifications and offering sustainable solutions.
- Ecological score (+11.57%) – strong results in mobility, biodiversity, and water management.
- DMO score (+52.45%) – reflecting the strengthened sustainability strategy of amsterdam&partners and the Amsterdam Convention Bureau.
While progress is clear, the results also highlight where further steps are needed, particularly in social sustainability, such as accessibility and resident participation.
Why sustainability matters for meetings and events
Amsterdam’s rise in the GDS Index underscores the collective efforts of public and private partners to embed sustainability into the city’s identity. These improvements strengthen Amsterdam’s position as a responsible, future-focused destination for international meetings and conferences, while also pointing to the work still ahead.