Global Destination Sustainability

What Global Destination Sustainability does

Global Destination Sustainability, operating commercially as GDS-Movement (legally GUBI Consulting S.L.), is a Barcelona-based private change agency founded in 2010 that works with public-sector destination stakeholders to advance sustainable and regenerative tourism. The company serves municipalities, destination management organisations (DMOs), and convention bureaux, with a secondary footprint in tourism supply-chain actors, providing a portfolio organised around five interconnected offerings: the GDS-Index (a global benchmarking programme covering 100+ destinations), GDS-Consulting (strategy, impact measurement, communication, social innovation, research, and event consulting), GDS-Academy (online courses in event management and storytelling), GDS-Forum & Impact Day (annual unconference events), and GDS-Awards (annual recognition programme).

The underlying technology is a sustainability benchmarking and performance-measurement platform rather than a software SaaS product; data inputs are sourced through partnerships with scientific bodies (EarthCheck), social-progress data providers (Social Progress Index), and data partners (Murmuration). Recent product development includes a GDS-Index Systems Map reframing the index as a strategic decision tool, plus GDS-Index Lite and GDS-Regional Index extensions that broaden the addressable buyer base. A client login portal (omni.gds.earth/admin) exists for participating destinations.

Revenue is generated through a mix of professional services (consulting and events), recurring benchmarking programme fees, and subscription education revenue (GDS-Academy). Distribution is direct enterprise field sales targeting DMOs and municipal authorities globally, amplified by a strategic alliance network of 28 partners spanning industry associations (ICCA, IMEX), events operators (MCI), travel platforms (Tripadvisor), academic (University of Surrey), and sustainability specialists (EarthCheck, MEET4IMPACT). No public pricing, ARR, or revenue figures are disclosed.

Name

Global Destination Sustainability

Legal name

GDS-Movement

Website

https://gds.earth

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GDS-Movement is a Barcelona-based change agency operating the GDS-Index, the leading global benchmarking programme for destination sustainability, serving 100+ municipalities, DMOs, and convention bureaux with consulting, benchmarking, education, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Destination and events consulting services for sustainable travel and regenerative tourism
2. Benchmarking Programme: GDS-Index assessment and benchmarking programme for destination sustainability performance
3. Education and Training: GDS-Academy courses including event management courses and storytelling courses for tourism professionals
4. Events: GDS-Forum, Impact Day, and GDS-Awards events for the sustainable tourism community

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GDS-Movement operates the GDS-Index, a global sustainability benchmarking programme that assesses and accelerates the regenerative journey of destination management organisations, municipal authorities, and tourism supply chains. It complements the index with GDS-Consulting advisory services (strategy, impact measurement, communication, social innovation, research, and event support), GDS-Academy training courses, and the GDS-Forum / Impact Day events and GDS-Awards programme. The offerings together form an integrated ecosystem supporting destinations on their path to regenerative tourism.

Product overview

GDS-Movement operates as a unified platform with interconnected offerings: the GDS-Index serves as the core benchmarking programme that measures destination sustainability performance globally. GDS-Consulting provides advisory services for destination and event sustainability transformation. GDS-Academy delivers educational courses in regenerative practices. The GDS-Forum & Impact Day events enable knowledge sharing and collaboration, while the GDS-Awards recognises outstanding achievements in sustainable tourism. Together, these products and services form an integrated ecosystem supporting destinations throughout their regenerative sustainability journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GDS-Index: The world's most-trusted performance improvement programme to assess and accelerate the progress of a destination's regenerative journey. Measures, benchmarks, and enhances sustainability strategies of destination management organisations globally.
• GDS-Consulting
• GDS-Academy
• GDS-Forum
• GDS-Awards

Products and services

• GDS-Index The world's most-trusted performance improvement programme that measures, benchmarks, and enhances the sustainability strategies, action plans, and initiatives of destination management organisations, municipal authorities, and their tourism supply chains globally.
• GDS-Consulting Provides Destination Consulting and Events Consulting services, offering strategy, impact measurement, communication, social innovation, research, and development support for sustainable travel and regenerative tourism.
• GDS-Academy An immersive learning platform offering courses in event management and storytelling, providing tourism professionals with the mindset, skill set, and toolsets to achieve sustainable tourism through collaboration, experiential learning, and living systems thinking.
• GDS-Forum & Impact Day Annual unconference events that bring together tourism and events professionals to co-create solutions for regenerative destination management and sustainable visitor economy transformation.
• GDS-Awards Recognition awards including Changemaker, Impact, and Innovation awards that celebrate destinations and professionals demonstrating excellence in sustainable and regenerative tourism practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Positioned Copenhagen as a leader in sustainable practices
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ICCA (International Association of Professional Congress Organisers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational association partner for congress and meetings industry professional collaboration on sustainable destination practices
• Nordic Chapter of ICCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter partnership for Nordic destination sustainability collaboration
• MCIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal engagement, activation, and advisory partner for meetings and events industry
• IMEXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for business events industry sustainability initiatives and exhibitions
• City-DNA (City Destinations Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of city destinations working together on urban tourism sustainability
• EarthCheckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific benchmarking and certification for sustainable tourism and events
• MEET4IMPACTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Impact Award collaboration on sustainable meetings and events
• Social Progress IndexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for measuring social progress in destination sustainability assessment
• MurmurationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability data and insights partner for destination management
• BeCauseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability certification and labelling coordination partner
• GreenShareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable tourism solutions and consulting partner
• TripadvisorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravel platform partnership for sustainable tourism promotion and awareness
• The IcebergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge and research partner for meetings industry sustainability
• University of SurreyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for sustainable tourism education and research
• Clarity of PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDestination development and place-making consultancy partner
• CongrexminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConference and event management company partner
• TRACE by islaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbon footprint tracking for events partnership
• Connect7minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable tourism consulting and advisory services partner
• GUBIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign and sustainability partner for destination experiences
• Sustained ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable events impact measurement partner
• Group NAOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness events and meetings industry consultancy partner
• Civitas AdvisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable destination advisory services partner
• Boardroom GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeetings and events media partner
• Meeting Media GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeetings industry media and communications partner
• SustainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable business and tourism media partner
• GMTSPECminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable meetings and events specification partner
• EvensusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability communications and media partner

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Green Key International: Green Key awards eco-certification to hotels and other tourism establishments. While more focused on lodging than destinations, it operates in adjacent tourism sustainability certification and competes for similar ESG-conscious travel industry buyers.
• Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency: Tourism Declares is a community of tourism organizations committed to climate action. It mobilizes destinations and tourism businesses around sustainability commitments, functioning as a complementary rather than direct benchmarking alternative to GDS-Index.

Broad incumbents

• EcoVadis: EcoVadis provides business sustainability ratings used across global supply chains. While broader than destinations, its benchmarking methodology and rating approach positions it as a potential competitor or partner for GDS-Movement's performance measurement framework.
• WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council): WTTC is the global industry body for travel and tourism, publishing research and initiatives on sustainable tourism. It works with the same destinations and governments as GDS-Movement and frames industry-wide sustainability benchmarks.
• South Pole Group: South Pole provides climate and sustainability consulting including for the tourism and events sector. It overlaps with GDS-Movement's regenerative and impact measurement offerings, particularly around carbon and event sustainability work.
• B Lab / B Corporation: B Lab certifies companies meeting social and environmental performance standards. Its certification model and benchmarking approach are conceptually similar to GDS-Index, though applied to companies rather than destinations specifically.
• Carbon Trust: Carbon Trust is a global sustainability consultancy offering certification, advisory, and impact measurement services. While broader than tourism, it serves corporate and public-sector buyers evaluating sustainability performance in a manner comparable to GDS-Consulting's work.

Direct peers

• Travelife: Travelife provides sustainability certification and training for tourism businesses and destinations. It targets hotel chains and tour operators with sustainability assessment tools comparable to GDS-Movement's destination-focused benchmarking offering.
• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC): GSTC establishes and manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism. As the de facto industry standard-setter, it competes with GDS-Index for influence over destination-level sustainability criteria and serves overlapping DMO and government clients.
• EarthCheck: EarthCheck is a scientific benchmarking and certification programme for sustainable tourism and events. It is a direct competitor to GDS-Index, operating in the same destination-level sustainability benchmarking category and partnering with overlapping tourism stakeholders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GDS-Movement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gds-movement
• Xx.com/GDSMovement

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Destination Sustainability