News

Report

Sapporo Breaks the 70% Mark in the 2026 GDS-Index

The 2026 Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) results are out — and we’ve officially (finally!) crossed the 70% mark!Sapporo achieved a score of 73.18%, an improvement of 3.68 points from last year. This also puts Sapporo among the 2026 GDS-Index Top 40 sustainable destinations worldwide.A big step forward for our local suppliersOne of the biggest highlights this year was the Supplier category, where Sapporo’s score increased by 10 points to 59%. This progress reflects the growing commitment to sustainability among the local businesses supporting tourism and business events in Sapporo — from hotels and PCOs to convention facilities. A great example is Sapporo Convention Center, which recently achieved LEED O+M Gold certification.Sustainability is a marathon, not a sprintFor the second year in a row, Helsinki, Finland, took the top spot in the GDS-Index, with an impressive score of 92.94%. What stood out to us was a message shared in an interview following the results. When asked what keeps Helsinki motivated to continue its sustainability journey, the message was clear: the city still has a long way to go before it can call itself truly sustainable — and that’s exactly why the journey must continue.We couldn’t agree more.The GDS-Index is not simply about rankings or scores. It helps destinations understand where they are today and identify the next steps forward.The Sapporo Convention Bureau will continue working closely with our suppliers, partners and the wider local community to build an even more sustainable tourism and business events destination.70% achieved. The journey continues.

Report

Year in Review - Annual Report 2025

From hosting a major international event with 10,000+ delegates to advancing research on sustainable convention funding, 2025 was a year of momentum and impact.Strong demand from key Asian incentive markets and new collaborations with partners at home and abroad helped us further elevate Sapporo's global profile.Read more in our Annual Report 2025!

Venue

Sapporo Convention Center Achieves Japan’s First LEED O+M Gold Certification

We’re proud to congratulate our partner, Sapporo Convention Center, on becoming the first convention center in Japan to achieve LEED Operations + Maintenance (O+M) Gold certification - an internationally recognized mark of excellence in sustainable building performance.Awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system evaluates buildings on criteria such as energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site development. Achieving Gold status places the Sapporo Convention Center among a select group of event venues demonstrating exceptional environmental performance.This milestone further highlights Sapporo’s strong commitment to energy efficiency, responsible operations, and creating a healthier environment for visitors and the local community.

Travel

Sapporo Joins the Global Sustainable Tourism Council

Marking another milestone since its 2008 Eco-Capital Declaration, Sapporo joins the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), reinforcing its commitment to sustainable tourism.

Tools

New Video Alert!

We’re thrilled to share our new promotion video, highlighting Sapporo’s academic clusters and key industries.A huge thank you to our clients and partners who made this possible!