Bruges, Belgium, hosted the second GDS-Forum / CityDNA Autumn Conference ‘Double-Bill’ to seek solutions, and to advance & celebrate the world’s leading destination sustainability movement.
“I think the visitor economy is a bit broken – and that people, communities, and nature are suffering,” explained the GDS-Movement’s founder and chief changemaker, Guy Bigwood, adding that, “we want to learn from each other. We want to unlock the collective intelligence in the room……to change mindsets, build new skillsets, and use or create new toolsets”.
And so they did!
James Lancaster: “This is a proper unconference – the design is hidden but structured in pursuit of solutions.”
14 tactical solutions were sought over the 2 days of ‘full-on’ interaction without a PowerPoint in sight. A genuine collaboration by members of a committed community seeking to mutually advance the standards for the sustainability of destinations, and the impact of events hosted by them.
“The collaboration we enable each year is mind blowing. It’s beautiful!” said Bigwood.
“And we can do so much more,” he concluded, before it was time to party, to celebrate the GDS Impact (in partnership with #Meet4Impact), Improvement, Innovation, and Leadership Awards with gongs aplenty for Copenhagen & Kumamoto, and Helsinki the first to scoop the Leadership Award, one previously won for 7 straight years by Gothenburg, Sweden.
