Guy Bigwood, FIEMA

Guy Bigwood, FIEMA, is the CEO and Chief Changemaker of the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), a transformation platform that inspires, educates, and drives sustainability in destinations worldwide.4 As the founder of the GDS-Index, Bigwood leads an international change agency that catalyzes socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions.5

Professional Background

Bigwood is a prominent figure in the sustainable tourism and events industry, known for his expertise in:

• Sustainability consulting
• Tourism development
• Event management
• Destination leadership

His work focuses on driving sustainability initiatives through destination leadership, emphasizing the critical role that destinations play in promoting sustainable practices.3

Involvement in Industry Events

Guy Bigwood is a frequent speaker and participant at major industry events, including:

• IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Conference 2024 in Victoria, Canada, where he was a keynote speaker1
• Event Sustainability Live 2023 in London, where he presented on various topics related to destination sustainability and regenerative events1
• TIS 2023 in Seville, Spain, where he spoke about the effects of Agenda 2030 on business operations1

GDS-Movement Initiatives

Under Bigwood's leadership, the GDS-Movement has developed several key initiatives:

1. GDS-Index: A sustainability benchmarking and improvement program for destinations worldwide1
2. GDS-Academy: An educational platform for sustainability in the tourism and events sector
3. GDS-Events: Organizing events that promote sustainable practices in the industry

Guy Bigwood's work with the GDS-Movement aims to inspire and enable regeneration in destinations through sustainable tourism and events practices.2 His efforts contribute significantly to the global conversation on sustainability in the travel and events industry.