The BestCities Global Alliance is gathering industry thought-leaders, international associations and destination partners from around the globe under one digital roof for the anticipated return of their annual Global Forum – with a virtual twist.
There has been much to learn from the challenges that the business events sector has faced over the last year, and this year’s Global Forum is set to end the year on a high with a chance to knowledge-share, collaborate and network for the future.
The event will be based around ‘Transforming’ associations & destinations to future-proof models, ‘Engaging’ with your audience & community building, and measuring ‘Impact’ by exploring the latest exemplary legacy projects within the industry.
The alliance is collaborating with industry leaders including Renata Lerch from Integrated Niche, Future Strategist Michel Mol, and Madrid Convention Bureau on the three-day online programme.
Taking place on 17-19 November, this year’s Global Forum is aimed to inspire and motivate digital delegates as we head into the new year – as well as shine the spotlight on Madrid as the next upcoming (non-digital) Global Forum. More guest speakers are still to be announced.
Lesley Williams, Managing Director at BestCities, said: “While it may not be in the way that we expected, we are very excited for the return of our flagship Global Forum and to see the faces of the many associations, destinations and stakeholders that make up our community – albeit, via webcam.
“We’ve been working with our fantastic guest speakers to prepare an insightful, future-thinking programme that we hope will galvanise our delegates as we head into a new year.”
In previous years, the annual Global Forum would see each of the BestCities Global Alliance destinations take the baton to showcase their stunning city on a global stage to associations and stakeholders. The Madrid Global Forum event that was originally scheduled for November this year, will now be taking place in 2021.
Michel Mol, Future Strategist, and Guest Speaker at this year’s Global Forum, said: “I look forward to kicking off the discussion about the convention industry’s future in these transformational times. By exploring strategic and operational pivots made in other industries, I aim to inspire and to boost the future-proofing strategies of the participant associations.
“With real life cases from my futurist consulting practice, I will demonstrate how organizations have successfully adjusted their business models and services to a rapidly changing world.
Renata Lerch, of Integrated Niche, and Guest Speaker at this year’s Global Forum, said: “I’m really excited to share with global association leaders the latest thinking on value and innovation creation.
“More than ever, members are experiencing value chain fragmentation, opening a world of new opportunities for associations. This will be a fantastic interactive discussion.”
The previous BestCities Global Forum was hugely successful and seen delegates guided through the theme of Exploring the Congress of the Future – Fortifying Impact – all while enjoying the picturesque setting of Copenhagen in winter. One of the key topics from the event was looking at how the business events landscape would look in 20 years – with the insights from this becoming hugely relevant much earlier than expected.
Registration is open now. For more information and to register visit the BestCities Global Forum website.