Cape Town To Chair Bestcities Board

Corne Koch will take over to lead Global Alliance

Corne Koch, Head of Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau, a division of WESGRO, has been elected to the role of board chair for BestCities Global Alliance. She will make her first appearance in her new position at the BestCities media breakfast at IMEX Frankfurt today (Tuesday 21st May). Corne will take over from Jeannie Lim of Singapore, who had chaired the board since May 2018.

Corne will play an important role in ensuring the alliance continues to focus on creating positive impact through the power of collaboration and community. With five years’ experience at WESGRO, and more than fifteen years working in destination marketing, Corne brings to the role an abundance of industry knowledge and exceptional leadership experience.

As Head of Convention Bureau at WESGRO, Corne leads on promoting Cape Town as one of the world’s premier destinations for meetings, incentives, conferences, events and trade fairs.  

Corne takes up the position at an exciting time for the alliance as it gears up for the fourth annual BestCities Global Forum, taking place this December in Copenhagen, as well as running the Incredible Impacts Grant programme, in partnership with ICCA, for the third year running.

The board is comprised of herself and senior representatives from the other eleven BestCities destinations – Berlin, Bogotá, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Dubai, Houston, Madrid, Melbourne, Singapore, Tokyo, and Vancouver.    

As she steps into her new role, Corne said: “For the past five years I have been privileged to be part of a passionate community who share a vision of delivering exceptional service to its clients, while at the same time be a responsible and relevant body. I have been part of the work done in designing a new strategic intent for the alliance that addresses customer experience, connecting communities and providing innovative thought leadership. 

“It is an honour to take over the position from my esteemed colleagues on the Board who have led the Alliance through this process and giving it a new purpose. I see my role as ensuring that the Alliance deliver on its new strategic intent and remain a relevant body, by living its purpose of harnessing the power of collaboration & community to create positive impact through business events.”

Paul Vallee, Managing Director of BestCities Global Alliance, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Corne Koch as our new board chair, taking over from Jeannie Lim. In Jeannie’s time as chair, she was vital in driving the alliance’s growth and strengthening its focus, and we thank her immensely for her time and support throughout.

“Looking ahead, Corne will play a key role in driving forward the strategic direction of the alliance, as we continue to work with our global community to create positive impacts. We are committed to creating stronger and lasting legacies, and we are excited about what Corne will bring to her role, with her extensive experience from over 15-years in the industry.”

BestCities Global Alliance also announced that Michael Drake, Director of Sales, Meetings & Conventions of Tourism Vancouver, has taken up the position of Treasurer of the Board and Executive Committee. Iris Lanz, Director Conventions of the visitBerlin Berlin Convention Bureau will join the Executive Committee.