The 2025 GDS-Awards and GDS-Index results are in, and BestCities Global Alliance is proud to celebrate the strong performance of our partner cities across key global and regional rankings. While this year’s GDS-Awards did not include individual wins for the Alliance, the results of the GDS-Index reinforce the continued leadership, innovation, and collaboration of our cities in advancing sustainability and legacy in the global business events industry.
Recognizing the GDS-Awards and GDS-Index
Organized by the GDS-Movement, the GDS-Awards and GDS-Index assess how destinations are embedding sustainability and regeneration into their tourism and events strategies. The Index benchmarks destinations across four categories: environmental, social, supplier, and destination management. The annual awards spotlight outstanding leadership, innovation, and impact.
The 2025 edition of the GDS-Awards announced two categories:
- Leadership Award: Helsinki
- Most Improved Award: Adelaide The Innovation and Impact Awards will be revealed in June 2026 during the next GDS-Forum.
Five Partner Cities in the Global Top 20
Among this year’s global leaders, five BestCities partner destinations ranked in the Top 20 of the 2025 GDS-Index:
- Copenhagen claimed the 3rd overall position, continuing its reputation as a frontrunner in sustainable destination development.
- Melbourne ranked 11th, and Singapore ranked 13th, both maintaining strong global standings.
- Berlin secured 17th place, and Dublin followed closely at 19th, rounding out an impressive collective result for the Alliance.
These achievements are a clear indicator of the continuous efforts being made at the city level to build inclusive, responsible, and future-focused business events ecosystems.
Megacities Setting the Standard
In the Metropolis and Megacity category, four of the Top 5 destinations are BestCities partners: Singapore, Melbourne, Berlin and Dublin. This demonstrates that scale is no barrier to impact when sustainability is embedded into citywide strategies. From large-scale venue decarbonization to community-based legacy initiatives, these cities are redefining what it means to be a responsible host city on the global stage.
Regional Leadership in North America
Washington DC continues to be recognized as a sustainability leader in its region, placing in the Top 5 in North America. With a long-standing commitment to social equity and environmental stewardship, the city remains a benchmark for North American destinations aiming to align with international sustainability standards.
A Shared Commitment Across the Alliance
These rankings reflect more than just individual achievements. They demonstrate the shared values and collaborative spirit that define BestCities Global Alliance. Whether through sustainability-focused legacy programs, inclusive policy development or regenerative destination strategies, our partner cities are united in their goal to create lasting, positive change through global meetings.
As the business events industry evolves, these results reinforce that BestCities destinations are not just keeping pace. They are setting the pace.
To explore the full 2025 GDS-Awards and GDS-Index results, visit: https://www.gds.earth
