Certificate Description

Our current linear development model for tourism is no longer resilient and sustainable. In these transformative and unsettled pandemic times, an entirely new approach is required to enable visitor economies, their host communities and nature to recover, flourish and thrive. Destination professionals must resist the temptation to return to the ‘old normal’, and instead catalyse a “systems reset” in the way that destinations are developed, marketed and managed.  


This systemic change requires a regenerative, resilient, and zero carbon growth economic model that gives back to the people and planet more than it takes. A visitor economy that works in harmony with, and not against, nature and within the boundaries of the planet.  


In this course, you will be taken on a 4-month journey to explore and develop a new mindset leveraging the latest in regenerative systems thinking. You will investigate and learn about new regenerative business models, destination stewardship approaches and stakeholder engagement methodologies that enable DMOs to catalyse investment, generate jobs, develop knowledge, equitably distribute prosperity, and deliver unforgettable visitor experiences. You will learn from destination leaders, experts and each other, to gain new perspectives on what it entails to create, market and steward future fit destinations. 


  • Outcome #1

    Learn the key concepts of regenerative systems design, and explore how to use nature-based principles, biomimicry and systems thinking to develop destinations that thrive and flourish.

  • Outcome #2

    Expand your knowledge of sustainable and regenerative destination management approaches, methodologies, best practices and failures.

  • Outcome #3

    Apply the learning from the sessions (in teams) to enhance your destinations tourism and events strategy and catalyse long-term social, environmental and economic impact.

Schedule and Time Commitment

Live sessions are 2 hours. Allow 1 hour for pre-reading and another 1-2 hours for homework, reading and review after each module. The final group project will involve at least 8 hours of work. So that’s a minimum of 40 hours.

You will have access to the course content on the learning management system for 6 months after finishing the course. 

Dates for class 2022 are now confirmed - see the full course description HERE 


Key dates for class 2021/2022:
Start date: 16 November, 2021
Reflection and project preparation time: 10 February - 03 March, 2022
Graduation: 17 March, 2022

Live sessions taking place on a weekly basis 8:30 - 10:30 AM CET. 

Pricing options

*GDS-Movement, ICCA and CityDNA members have 200 euros discount. Contact us HERE to get your discount code. 

**We invite you to help us support students from low-income countries by donating and gifting 50 euros towards their education. Financially challenged right now, but want to learn? We offer a limited number of scholarships, please contact us HERE, explaining why you would love to learn with us and how you will benefit from our scholarship.

Chief Executive Officer, 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.

Consulting Storyteller, 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.

Consulting Futurist, GDS-Movement

Ed Gillespie

Ed Gillespie is a keynote speaker, writer, communications specialist, serial entrepreneur and futurist. As well as the Consulting Futurist at the GDS-Movement, Ed is a facilitator with the Forward Institute for responsible leadership, a Director of Greenpeace UK, a Trustee of Energy Revolution, and a founder investor and former Chair of pioneering online rail ticketing business ‘Loco2’ now rebranded as Rail Europe. Ed co-hosts Itunes chart-topping podcast ‘Jon Richardson and the Futurenauts’ and ‘The Great Humbling’.

CEO, #Meet4Impact

Geneviève Leclerc

Geneviève has over 25 years of global experience in congress management and strategic consultancy for associations and destinations. She works as a content curator, facilitator, speaker and trainer with the association meetings and business tourism industry and is specialized in sustainability and social impact practices.  Geneviève is passionate about applying design thinking practices to accompany organizations through innovation. She has founded her current organization, #MEET4IMPACT, in 2019 with the vision of transforming the business tourism industry by generating a movement to create positive societal impact with its actors and their events.

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.

CEO & Founding Partner, Group NAO

Signe Jungersted

Signe Jungersted is CEO and partner in innovation and strategy agency Group NAO. NAO works with strategic transformation and innovation within the experience and visitor economy. Projects include 101sustainableideas.com with Gothenburg and Power of Community with European Cities Marketing. Signe is formerly Development Director with Wonderful Copenhagen (DMO), where she was lead responsible and author of the 2020-strategy that declared ”The End of Tourism” and welcomed a new era of people-centric tourism development and localhood.

Founding Partner & CCO, Group NAO

Peter Rømer Hansen

Peter Rømer Hansen is founding partner in innovation and strategy agency Group NAO. NAO works with strategic transformation and innovation within the experience and visitor economy. Projects include The Tourism Co-Operative with South Coast Demark and Tourism Taxes by Design as a multi-client project. Peter has been a key figure in developing destinations and tourism co-operation across Europe. As Executive Vice President of Wonderful Copenhagen, Peter played a lead role in building a strategic and analytical DMO, taking tourism to new levels with Big Tourism and innovation strategies.

Guest Speakers

Over 20 guest speakers from destination management organisations around the world!
  • 1

    Introduction to GDS-ICCA-CityDNA Certificate in Regenerative Destination Management 

  • 2

    Module 1 - An introduction to the Regenerative Revolution: biophilic and living system inspiration for destination stewardship

    • Module 1 - Description and Learning Outcomes

    • Module 1 - Pre-Module Activities

    • Module 1 - Recording

    • Module 1 - Presentation slides

    • Module 1 - Homework
  • 3

    Module 2 - Leading for the Future: From strategy to systems transformation

    • Module 2 - Description and Learning Outcomes

    • Module 2 - Pre-module activities

    • Module 2 - Presentation Slides/Part 1

    • Module 2 - Presentation slides/Part 2

    • Module 2 - Recording

    • Module 2 - Homework
  • 4

    Module 3 - Impact Strategy: Enabling, measuring and reporting on social and environmental transformation

    • Module 3 - Description and Learning Outcomes

    • Module 3 - Preparations and pre-module activities (part 1)

    • Module 3 - Preparations and pre-module activities (part 2)

    • Module 3 - Recording

    • Module 3 - Presentation slides (Part 1)

    • Module 3 - Presentation slides (Part 2)

    • Module 3 - Homework
  • 5

    Module 4 - Building Capacity: Tactical approaches to accelerating transformation

    • Module 4 - Description and Learning Outcomes

    • Module 4 - Preparations and pre-module activities

    • Module 4 - Presentation slides

    • Module 4 - Recording

    • Module 4 - Homework (Part 1)

    • Module 4 - Homework (Part 2)
  • 6

    Module 5 - Funding for tomorrow: developing regenerative funding and tax systems

    • Module 5 - Description and Learning Outcomes

    • Module 5 - Preparations and pre-module activities

    • Module 5 - Presentation slides

    • Module 5 - Recording

    • Module 5 - Homework (Part 1)

    • Module 5 - Homework (Part 2)

  • 7

    Module 6 - Events as a driver of good. Regenerative MICE strategies

    • Module 6 - Description and Learning Outcomes

    • Module 6 - Preparations and pre-module activities

    • Module 6 - Presentation slides (Part 1)

    • Module 6 - Presentation slides (Part 2)

    • Module 6 - Recording (Part 1)

    • Module 6 - Recording (Part 2)

    • Module 6 - Homework (Part 1)

    • Module 6 - Homework (Part 2)

  • 8

    Module 7 - DMOcracy: Stakeholder engagement, co-creation and governance

    • Module 7 - Description and Learning Outcomes

    • Module 7 - Preparations and pre-module activities

    • Module 7 - Recording

    • Module 7 - Presentation slides (Part 1)

    • Module 7 - Presentation slides (Part 2)

    • Module 7 - Presentation slides (Part 3)

    • Module 7 - Presentation slides (Part 4)

    • Module 7 - Homework (Part 1)

    • Module 7 - Homework (Part 2)
  • 9

    Module 8 - Using technology and data to drive regeneration

    • Module 8 - Description and Learning Outcomes

    • Module 8 - Preparations and pre-module activities

    • Module 8 - Presentation slides (Part 1)

    • Module 8 - Presentation slides (Part 2)

    • Module 8 - Recording

    • Module 8 - Homework activities (Part 1)

    • Module 8 - Homework 2 (Part 2)

    • Module 8 - Homework (Part 3)

  • 10

    Module 9 - Storytelling and communication strategies for regeneration

    • Module 9 - Description and Learning Outcomes

    • Module 9 - Preparations and pre-module activities

    • Module 9 - Recording

    • Module 9 - Presentation slides (Part 1)

    • Module 9 - Presentation slides (Part 2)

    • Module 9 - Homework (Part 1)

    • Module 9 - Homework (Part 2)
  • 11

    Module 10 - From theory to practice: Strategising and purposing the DMO

    • Module 10 - Preparations and pre-module activities

    • Module 10 - Presentation slides

    • Module 10 - Recording

    • Module 10 - End-of-the-Course Project Details

    • Module 10 - Homework
  • 12

    Final Module

    • Final notes

    • Graduation - Recording

    • Project - Evelyn Teploff-Mugii | Regenerative Crafts Tourism

    • Project - Khalisah Stevens and Jess Henson | GDS-Movement Policy Renewal

    • Project - Martin Pohl | Exchange Vehicle Key for E-Bike

    • Project - Noémi Mátray and Anna Békefi | Regenerative Events Strategy Budapest

    • Project - Frances van Klaveren | ICCA : Creating Meetings that Matter

    • Project - Orachorn Wongpan-ngam and Pat Satkhum | The Earth Point

    • Project - Francesca Sibilla and Cristina Cerutti | Regenerative Destination Management Project Torino Region (Tourism)

    • Project - Petra Stusek | CO2 Offset Park

    • Project - Kristin Oishi and Kristin Overvaag | OsLOVE