Montréal sets the standard for sustainability in tourism

Montréal is North America’s most popular destination for international association meetings — and with that popularity comes certain implications. To address the environmental, social, and economic impact, Tourisme Montréal has worked diligently to maintain its first-place ranking in North America on the 2025 Global Destination Sustainability Index, an international reference in sustainable tourism. Montréal has been certified bronze by the EIC Sustainable Event Standards this year, plus the city received the highest score ever recorded by GreenStep, the only certification program for destinations in North America based on criteria recognized by the World Council for Sustainable Tourism. 

All this confirms the city’s position as a sustainable tourism destination. 

What is the EIC certification?

The EIC Sustainable Event Standards are a collection of eight specific standards that assess events and industry suppliers on a wide range of criteria in support of environmental and social responsibility. The standards were written through a global collaborative process with participation from subject matter experts in all sectors, in these categories:

• Accommodation
• Audio Visual & Production
• Destination
• Event Organiser
• Exhibition Services
• Food & Beverage
• Integrated Property
• Venue

What is the Global Destination Sustainability Index?

Montréal maintains its raking of first place in North America on the 2025 Global Destination Sustainability Index, an internationally recognized body in sustainable tourism. It reached second place worldwide in the Metropolis category for destination management, as well as ranking 20th globally across all categories, ahead of Stockholm and Amsterdam.

The city was judged on nearly 70 criteria inspired by the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, classified into four main categories: 

• Environmental
• Social
• Supplier engagement 
• Destination management

What gives Montréal its edge? Largely Tourisme Montréal’s Sustainable Destination strategy, which outlines tangible ways that to have a positive impact at destination, both socially and environmentally.

What is GreenStep?

GreenStep is a social enterprise that helps businesses and organizations measure, report on, and improve their sustainability performance and take climate action. 

Tourisme Montréal has achieved Platinum certification for its sustainability efforts as an organization, while Montréal as a destination achieved Silver certification this year, with a score of 74% — the highest ever recorded for a destination certified by this Canadian organization. 

What are some measures Tourisme Montréal is activating to become more sustainable?

Tourisme Montréal’s sustainable development actions are plentiful:

• Implementing a multi-year Sustainable Destination Policy aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals;
• Utilizing a calculator of the carbon footprint of visitor stays — one of the first destination in the world to do this — as a first step to make visitors aware of adopting more responsible practices when travelling;
• Assessing the social impact of business events strategies;
• Training employees and members of Tourisme Montréal on sustainable tourism;
• Implementing a responsible purchasing policy to prioritize the purchase of local products (around 95% of the gifts offered within trade shows are locally made);
• Offsetting carbon for all employee business trips;
• Publishing information to educate visitors and encourage them to adopt more responsible practices.

The rankings mentioned above are undeniable pledges of Tourisme Montréal’s commitment to more responsible, regenerative and sustainable tourism.

To find out even more about our objectives in terms of sustainable tourism, consult our Sustainable Destination Policy.