Szczecin to host GDS Forum & Impact Day 2026

I am delighted that Szczecin has been chosen to host the GDS Forum & Impact Day 2026, says Piotr Krzystek, Mayor of Szczecin. We can see that our growing involvement in the MICE industry is beginning to bear fruit. We are a modern metropolis that focuses on a sustainable and ecological approach, and our unique location is a huge asset. I hope that the Forum will give a further impetus to the development of the MICE industry in the city and the region and will help attract further significant events in the spirit of sustainable development.

Thanks to the activities of the Szczecin Convention Bureau, our city is no longer perceived as peripheral, and the MICE industry is increasingly recognizing our potential. We are changing the image of Szczecin from a “city at the end of the world” to a modern, sustainable meeting center. In line with our development strategy, we focus on accessibility, sustainable development, and reducing our environmental impact. The revitalization of port areas such as Cielętnik and Stara Rzeźnia shows how we combine tradition, modernity, and responsibility for the future. Our unique location and growing recognition are confirmed by the fact that next year we will host the GDS-Forum & Impact Day, says Ireneusz Nowak, president of the board of ŻSTW.

GDS-Forum & Impact Day is three days of meetings, discussions, and inspiration. Unlike traditional conferences, GDS-Forum acts as a “living laboratory” – an experimental, co-creative space where participants actively shape the program. Through workshops, in-depth discussions, and learning, the forum unleashes the collective intelligence of its community. Together, they test ideas, share challenges, and create solutions in real time, building regenerative leadership capabilities and preparing destinations for an uncertain future.

Our mission is to support professionals in creating more regenerative and resilient destinations,” says Guy Bigwood, CEO of GDS-Movement. “Szczecin is the perfect host; its DNA based on renewal reflects the courage and creativity we need in times of uncertainty.”

Impact Day, co-created by GDS-Movement, #MEET4IMPACT, and the International Alliance for Impact (IAI), aims to lead participants from inspiration to action. The program is designed to help destinations and global organizations more effectively create, measure, and scale the positive social value of tourism and events.

“The greater the uncertainty, the greater the opportunity for collective action,” adds Geneviève Leclerc, co-founder of #MEET4IMPACT. “Impact Day is about harnessing collective intelligence—bringing together sectors, communities, and innovators to accelerate systemic change that we cannot achieve alone.”

In June 2026, Szczecin will find itself at the heart of Europe's most important challenges and extraordinary opportunities, becoming a center for global dialogue on sustainable development, regeneration, and positive impact leadership. In a world without a ready-made script, we must write the future together.

“The fact that Szczecin will host the GDS Forum & Impact Day 2026 is a great honor not only for the city, but also for the whole of Poland,” emphasizes Aneta Książek, Manager of the Poland Convention Bureau of the Polish Tourist Organization. "In supporting the application process, we were aware that this event could be a breakthrough moment in promoting Poland as a responsible and innovative destination for business meetings. The organization of the GDS Forum & Impact Day puts our country at the center of the global debate on sustainable development and regenerative business tourism. It is also a signal that Poland is increasingly marking its presence on the map of the most important industry events in the world. Szczecin, thanks to its unique location, modern infrastructure, and consistent approach to sustainable development, fits perfectly into this narrative and will be a worthy host of the forum."

ABOUT THE GLOBAL DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT (GDS-Movement)

The GDS-Movement is a pioneering, data-driven international change-making organization that stimulates socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions around the world. Its mission is to empower tourism and events professionals by equipping them with the right attitudes, skills, and tools to collectively create regenerative and resilient destinations that are worth traveling to, meeting in, and living in.
Learn more at www.gds.earth

ABOUT THE GLOBAL DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY FORUM (GDS-Forum)

The GDS-Forum is a gathering of destination leaders, sustainability advocates, and tourism experts. Its ever-evolving, open “un-conference” format fosters collaboration, leveraging the collective intelligence of participants to solve common challenges and accelerate the implementation of regenerative tourism and event strategies.

ABOUT IMPACT DAY

Impact Day, co-created with #MEET4IMPACT, is entirely dedicated to implementing and scaling positive social impact in tourism and events.

Through collaborative sessions, participants learn to design, measure, and amplify social impact, moving from ideas to systemic change.

About #MEET4IMPACT

#MEET4IMPACT is a global non-profit organization that works with destinations, associations, and event organizers to embed measurable social impact into the very fabric of business meetings and events.

Find out more at www.meet4impact.global

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