On 20 March 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the workshop “Regenerating Polish Destinations: Sustainable Tourism in Action”, held in Gdańsk. Organised by the Gdańsk Convention Bureau, part of the Gdańsk Tourism Organisation, in collaboration with the Poland Convention Bureau at the Polish Tourism Organisation and the GDS-Movement expert team, the event brought together key stakeholders from across Poland.
Inspiring Leadership from GDS-Movement Trainers
The workshop was led by two experienced GDS-Movement trainers – Marta Mills and Janie Neumann -whose methodical, collaborative and energetic approach created a dynamic environment.
Participants were divided into groups and worked on three key areas: identifying current opportunities and threats, developing actionable plans, and generating ideas to promote regenerative tourism. My team focused specifically on Gdańsk.
A Growing Community of Polish Cities in the GDS-Index
As Małgorzata Skowron from the Kraków Convention Bureau noted, this was the first time a genuine community of Polish cities linked to the GDS-Index came together.
Kraków was the first Polish city to join the index in 2022, followed by Gdańsk in 2023, which completed the process in record time. Now, two more cities – Wrocław and Szczecin – have officially joined the GDS Movement initiative.
Wrocław and Szczecin Join the Sustainability Movement
Wrocław enters the GDS-Index with a strong academic and civic foundation, while Szczecin – rapidly developing along the Oder River and within the Baltic basin – is poised to become a sustainability leader in north-western Poland. The spirit of the initiative is not about competition, but about cooperation between cities.
Gdańsk Shares Lessons Learned from Its Sustainability Journey
A highlight of the workshop was a presentation by Katarzyna Nałysz-Safuryn from the Gdańsk Convention Bureau. She shared a transparent and honest case study on the city’s implementation of the GDS-Index, including both its achievements and its challenges.
While Gdańsk is now nominated for the “GDS-Index Most Improved Award“, the journey was not without setbacks. Initial results placed the city in the lower ranks of the global index.
GDS-Index: A Global Benchmark in Sustainability
The GDS-Index is more than just a ranking – it’s a process. It involves deep engagement from stakeholders and a willingness to be open and to learn.
Today, over 100 cities participate, benchmarking across four key areas: environmental policy, social policy, destination management, and supply chain performance.
100cznia: A Symbol of Sustainable Urban Revitalisation
As a native of Gdańsk, I was especially proud that the workshop took place in 100cznia, a creative venue on the site of the former Gdańsk Shipyard. With views of iconic cranes and the “Stocznia Gdańska” sign, this revitalised industrial hall now hosts cultural and educational events – a shining example of sustainable urban transformation.
Local Flavours and Regional Craftsmanship
During the break, we sampled four types of cheese from “Radostowskie Rarytasy”, a family-run dairy producer from Kociewie. It was a small yet meaningful reminder of the importance of supporting local and sustainable food producers.
Event Synergy: 100cznia and New Trends in Tourism
The day after the workshop, 100cznia also hosted the networking evening of the New Trends in Tourism conference.
The synergy between the event’s content, its setting, and its sustainable focus underscored the importance of aligning purpose with place.
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