The city has been selected among the four finalists for the 2026 Impact Award by Global Destination Sustainability (GDS), one of the world’s leading sustainability networks for meeting destinations, bringing together more than 100 cities and countries.
The nomination recognizes Bogotá’s Impact Calculator, an initiative led by the Bogotá Convention Bureau to measure the social, economic, and environmental legacy generated by international events hosted in the city.
Bogotá shares the nomination with Barcelona (Spain), Gothenburg (Sweden), and Ireland, all recognized as global leaders in sustainability and impact.
Bogotá has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Impact Award, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the global meetings and events industry, thanks to an initiative that is transforming how destinations measure the value generated by international events.
The nomination was earned by Invest in Bogotá, through its Convention Bureau, following the implementation of the Impact Calculator, a tool designed to comprehensively measure the benefits generated by congresses, conventions, and international meetings across three key dimensions: economic, social, and environmental.
The initiative was selected among the best practices submitted by members of the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) network, which brings together more than 100 destinations worldwide committed to sustainability and the development of the meetings industry.
“This nomination recognizes Bogotá’s vision of international events—not only as drivers of economic development, but also as tools to generate knowledge, strengthen capabilities, promote sustainability, and create value for communities,” said Isis Durán, Executive Director of Invest in Bogotá.
The Impact Calculator makes it possible to identify and quantify the positive legacy generated by events in the city, going beyond traditional indicators such as the number of attendees or hotel room nights. Through this methodology, Bogotá can objectively measure how international meetings contribute to knowledge transfer, capacity building, economic opportunities, and environmental sustainability initiatives.
One of the most notable examples was the implementation of legacy and environmental compensation activities during international events such as the CELAC Summit, where a tree-planting initiative was carried out in partnership with Universidad Externado de Colombia, generating positive environmental impacts while strengthening the connection between events and the local territory.
The nomination comes at a particularly significant moment for the city. Bogotá recently achieved its highest-ever position in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Ranking, placing 36th among the world’s leading destinations for international meetings, ranking fourth in Latin America and first in Colombia.
For the Bogotá Convention Bureau, this nomination represents international recognition of a vision that seeks to ensure every event attracted to the city generates tangible benefits for its citizens, institutions, and productive sectors.
The awards ceremony will take place on June 17. Beyond the final outcome, Bogotá’s selection among the world’s four finalists reaffirms the city’s leadership in the evolution of an industry that increasingly measures success not only by economic impact, but also by its ability to generate social transformation and environmental sustainability.
Key Fact
The Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) network brings together more than 100 meeting destinations worldwide and is recognized as one of the leading international platforms promoting sustainability, innovation, and impact measurement within the global meetings and events industry.
About the Bogotá Convention Bureau
The Bogotá Convention Bureau is part of Invest in Bogotá and works to position the city as a world-class destination for meetings and events. It supports associations, corporations, and institutions in organizing congresses, conventions, and incentive programs by connecting them with suitable venues, trusted local partners, and destination benefits, simplifying every stage of the planning process while maximizing the impact of events held in Bogotá.
About Invest in Bogotá
Invest in Bogotá is a public-private partnership between the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce and the Capital District, created in 2006. Its purpose is to serve as the preferred partner for catalyzing international business opportunities in Bogotá–Region, positioning it as a leading destination for doing business in Latin America while fostering resilient, sustainable, and inclusive socioeconomic development. For more information, click here.
