Our courses are designed to inspire individual learning and organisational skills development through fun, engaging and collaborative modules.

We use a blended approach to learning. We combine online live lectures and guest speakers with pre-recorded interviews, case studies, and suggested reading. Topics are further explored in group discussions enabling knowledge sharing and deepening of the learning. We integrate design thinking processes, with the expertise and knowledge of the group to rethink and redesign “wicked” challenges. 

We use some of the best online collaboration tools, and some of the oldest and most tested techniques to unlock the collective intelligence and understanding of the group. 

Not only will you be learning, but you will be expected to share experiences and co-create new approaches with your peers.

For Professionals

🅐 Open enrolment courses for destination management professionals

🅑 Masterclasses to further your knowledge and expertise in regenerative destination management
View Our Courses

For Organisations

🅐 In house training for destination management organisations (NTOs, DMOs, CVBs)

🅑 Groups of destinations via a NTO or association

🅒 In destination training in partnership with DMOs for suppliers (ie. hotels, venues, restaurants, activity providers, event organisers)
View Our Courses

Schedule of open-enrolment courses

  • GDS-ICCA-CityDNA Certificate in Regenerative Destination Management

  • 1 September - 15 December, 2022

  • Storytelling and Communication Strategies for Regeneration

  • 24 March - 21 April, 2022 (registration closed)

Experts in sustainable destination management, and thought leaders in regenerative management practices

Chief Changemaker, GDS-Movement

Guy Bigwood

For the last 15 years, Guy has been delivering award-winning consulting services focused on helping cities, governments, corporations and associations step up, scale up and speed up their sustainability programmes and regenerative practices. Guy’s pioneering work has been recognised with 22 sustainability awards including the Events Industry Council Pacesetter Award, and recognition as a Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.

Changemaker, GDS-Movement

Jessica Vandy

Two years ago, sitting in a conference room in Ljubljana Slovenia she had the lightbulb moment. Creating greater connections and social change between business events and communities. Measurable, tangible change - positive social impact. She recently developed Tourism New Zealand’s first social impact programme Conference Impact Aotearoa. Now at the head of her own consultancy, her business is projects, social impact, communications.

Changemaker North America

Alexis Keleruk

After working in tourism and events for over 10 years, Alexis set out to bring change to the industry by making positive social and environmental impacts the foundation of events and tourism. Her ethos comes from a place of personal experience. Although she graduated from Simon Fraser University, she found her best education has been her life experiences of global travel and working abroad in Africa, Colombia and the Philippines. Tourism is a very powerful tool to help solve global inequality and enact environmental change. But can be detrimental to communities and the environment if not managed properly.

Chief Storyteller and Head of Communications, GDS-Movement

Melissa Baird

Melissa is a communications specialist whose career has spanned publishing, advertising, brand, and marketing development. She has worked with global NGO’s, local government, major brands and was head of strategy at specialised advertising agency Ogilvy Earth. She is a passionate and dedicated teacher and has also developed a range of environmental literacy materials for use at South African schools. Her work with the GDS-Index began in 2015, and she is now Chief Storyteller and Head of Communications for the GDS-M.

Founder & Chief Strategist, GLP Films

Rob Holmes

Rob Holmes is the Founder & Chief Strategist of GLP Films, an award-winning content marketing agency dedicated to sustainability storytelling and ROI-based distribution campaigns for the travel and sustainability industry. Since 2008, GLP’s work has spanned five continents and 40+ countries, creating 200+ short-films. Rob spearheaded the video series campaign, #TourismStrong, winner of the Newsweek Future of Travel Award, to celebrate the resilience and adaptability of the travel industry amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Senior Changemaker, GDS-Movement

Mònica Molina

After 22 years in tourism she is still as passionate about this industry as the first day. Mònica holds a PhD in Geography with a specialisation in accessible and sustainable tourism. A professional with a hybrid profile, she divides her working days between her sessions as a lecturer-researcher at the Faculty of Tourism of several universities and professional training sessions both for tourism technicians of public administrations and private companies. She is a keynote speaker at congresses for the tourism sector.

Head of Visit Iceland

Sigríður Dögg Guðmundsdóttir

Sigríður Dögg Guðmundsdóttir is the Head of Visit Iceland. She is responsible for all aspects of promoting destination Iceland since 2010. Before Visit Iceland she worked at Visit Reykjavík promoting the capital region and managed a tourism cluster in Southeast Iceland called the Vatnajökull Region. Before her career in tourism she was a journalist at the largest newspaper in Iceland, Fréttablaðið. She holds a BA in Political Science and a MS in Marketing and International Business.

Professor of Sustainability Marketing, University of Surrey

Dr. Xavier Font

Dr Xavier Font is professor of Sustainability Marketing at the University of Surrey. He researches and develops methods of sustainable tourism production and consumption. He has published widely about sustainable tourism certification, and has consulted on sustainable product development, marketing and communication for several United Nations agencies, the International Finance Corporation, the European Commission, multiple national tourist boards and industry. 

Senior Changemaker, GDS-Movement

Claudia van't Hullenaar

Claudia helps advance the transition to conscious and regenerative leadership and businesses. She is also a founder of Sustained Impact as well as a Senior Changemaker at the GDS Movement. Claudia combines 25 years multi-disciplinary, cross functional business and sustainability experience including an 11-year tenure at a Fortune 500 IT company. Here she designed and led the implementation of an award-winning corporate event sustainability strategy. Her passion lies in human potential and genuine transformation, and facilitating collaborative processes for societal impact.

Co-Founder & CEO, CrowdRiff

Dan Holowack

Dan Holowack is Co-Founder & CEO of CrowdRiff and Localhood.com. Hundreds of Destinations around the world use CrowdRiff’s UGC and storytelling platform to influence how we travel and reshape how tourism empowers local communities. The visual stories created and scaled through CrowdRiff compel locals and visitors alike to discover new experiences, both near and far.

Senior Advisor, Helsinki Partners

Birgit Liukkonen

Birgit Liukkonen is a Senior Advisor at Helsinki Partners, responsible for the development, communications and marketing of the digital service Think Sustainably that helps locals and visitors choose more sustainable ways of living urban life. Birgit has previously worked with digital marketing, and has been leading the MyHelsinki.fi website as Managing Editor.

Guest Speakers

Over 20 guest speakers from destination management organisations around the world!