Szczecin is steadily strengthening its position on the map of sustainable business tourism. On 28 January 2026, the city hosted the workshop “Co-Building the 2026 GDS Forum & Impact Day”, one of the key steps in the preparations for the international event GDS Forum & Impact Day 2026. The full-day session brought together nearly 50 participants from a wide range of communities, united by a shared goal: to design an event that delivers real impact on destination development and residents’ quality of life.
“Better together” in practice: collaboration that leads to tangible outcomes
The workshop format was built around co-creation. Participants worked with examples from around the world, analysed good practices, and explored the vision and structure of the GDS Forum and Impact Day. The facilitators referred to the experience of other cities, highlighting the opportunities Szczecin gains by hosting major international events.
As emphasised by Celina Wołosz, spokesperson for Żegluga Szczecińska Turystyka Wydarzenia, the workshop was divided into thematic blocks. This made it possible to move from inspiration to designing solutions that can be applied not only during the June forum, but also in the day-to-day work of the tourism, meetings and events sector.
A crucial part of the process was integrating the MICE community with partners outside the industry, including public administration, academia, NGOs, the cultural sector and industry. Cross-departmental and cross-sector collaboration was identified as a prerequisite for delivering outcomes that go beyond operational delivery and extend to a lasting legacy.
From brainstorming to solutions: what the workshop delivered
During “Co-Building the 2026 GDS Forum & Impact Day”, the programme centred on practical workshop tools: brainstorming, group work, moderated discussions and collective synthesis of conclusions. This format supported the creation of actionable recommendations that can be used both in shaping the programme for GDS Forum & Impact Day 2026 and in developing Szczecin’s long-term strategy for events.
Geneviève Leclerc, co-founder of #MEET4IMPACT, highlighted the value of “collective intelligence”, noting that simply bringing such a diverse group of stakeholders together is already a meaningful step towards building a shared vision of a regenerative, resilient and responsible destination.
Sustainable city development starts with organisational choices
The workshop also demonstrated that sustainability standards can be implemented consistently, even in a working meeting format. The organisers prioritised solutions that support local suppliers and reduce unnecessary materials, including regional refreshments (local apples, coffee from Szczecin’s Qualia roastery, juices from local producer Sady Rajewscy, and faworki from Cukiernia Malek) and print materials produced on recycled paper.
GDS Forum & Impact Day 2026: Szczecin on the global stage
The culmination of the preparations will be GDS Forum & Impact Day 2026, taking place in Szczecin on 16–18 June 2026. The event is co-organised by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), #MEET4IMPACT, and the City of Szczecin, represented by the Szczecin Convention Bureau.
GDS-Movement stresses that this is not a traditional conference, but a “living lab” in which destination leaders and business tourism professionals co-create solutions to climate and social challenges through workshops, dialogue and peer-to-peer learning.
A shared project and a strong signal for the MICE market
The organisers underline that Szczecin is hosting the event thanks to the collaboration between the Szczecin Convention Bureau and the Poland Convention Bureau at the Polish Tourism Organisation. An important part of the preparations is also international promotion carried out consistently beyond Poland’s borders. One example is the communication activity of the Poland Convention Bureau during IBTM World 2025 in Barcelona, where the GDS Forum & Impact Day 2026 in Szczecin was promoted.
As noted by Aneta Książek, Head of Poland Convention Bureau, in June, the “international industry” will come together, along with leaders of the meetings industry from Europe, Poland and around the world, to discuss sustainable destinations and responsible travel.
What’s next
The “Co-Building” workshop confirmed that preparations for GDS Forum & Impact Day 2026 are being carried out in the spirit of partnership and responsibility, and that the co-creation methodology itself adds value for the destination. Registration is already open, and early bird rates are available until 10 April 2026.
Text: own compilation, press release. Photos: Szczecin Convention Bureau.
