News and Media
Find business travel news and media from BestCities. These media related topics, including recent press releases, media resources, FAQ and other international meeting news covers the alliance's cities.
Recent Press Releases
Click here to view recent and archived press releases
Media Resources
Email your request for any of the following resources to Jane Vong Holmes, BestCities Managing Director.
- High resolution BestCities Global Alliance logo
- Additional information regarding the BestCities Global Alliance and Head Office
Chronology of Events
1999
The CEO’s of the convention bureaus of Boston, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Melbourne and Vancouver met to officially discuss the formation of a new alliance.
2000
BestCities.net was founded in February as a global convention bureau alliance by Boston, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Melbourne and Vancouver as a strategic response to escalating global competition. The alliance set out to address the growing expectations of clients and CVB stakeholders through shared information, combined communication messaging, technological innovation and superior customer service to ensure the maintenance of a sustainable competitive advantage.
2001
A General Manager was hired on a contract basis and the Operations Group met officially for the first time and established a regular rotating meeting pattern.
2002
The Alliance sent out a RFP to other primary convention cities with a view to include a maximum of two new partners in 2003.
2003
In February BestCities.net expanded with Cape Town and Dubai as new active, full-fledged partners in the alliance that now covers 7 partners on five continents.
2004
The Alliance has sent RFP to Asian cities with a view to include one Asian city together with San Juan in 2005.
2005
Singapore joins the Alliance; the global network now covers Asia.
2007
San Juan is the newest Partner in the Alliance
2008
The Alliance became the first and only Destination Marketing Organizations to have service standards certified by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA). This is the first world-wide certification programme for convention bureau organisations. Certification by LRQA guarantees to clients that BestCities bureaus live up to these standards every time.
2009
Gary Grimmer & Company is the new management company for the Alliance.
Media FAQ:
What are the primary objectives of BestCities Global Alliance?
- To access and lever resources through an exclusive, partner-based network of convention bureaux with a common purpose. These resources include financial, new markets and organisational expertise
- To facilitate the exchange of best practices, ideas and knowledge, market intelligence and the development of new convention bureau programmes among the partners
- To share costs for joint activities of collective benefit, particularly in the areas of sales, research and marketing
- To gain a competitive advantage by developing an alliance brand that raises the profile and increases the exposure for all partners as key players in the international congress market
What is the goal of the Alliance?
The goal of BestCities is to become a preferred source for clients seeking potential meeting destinations, so that the BestCities brand will be widely recognised as a standard for trustworthy convention bureaux and desirable destinations.
What are the BestCities Service Standards which have been certified by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA)?
BestCities' certified Service Standards may be viewed on the Client Service Standards page, along with more information about LRQA certification.
Are clients solicited by all partners even if they are interested in only one destination?
No. Through its global network and its culture of sharing information, BestCities partners have an understanding of client needs without having to be intrusive. Partners will happily cross promote other BestCities destinations only if the client’s needs match those being offered by fellow partners.
How is BestCities Global Alliance managed?
BestCities Global Alliance operates as a strategic alliance on a goodwill basis. Each partner respects the Code of Ethics and a self regulatory Compliance Panel is set up to ensure compliance. A CEO Group acts as a Board of Directors, providing general direction and approves policies. The Chair is rotated amongst the partners. The current Board Chair is Ana Maria Viscasillas, President and CEO of Puerto Rico Convention Bureau.
A Management Committee manages the affairs of the Alliance, including strategic planning, executing activities, managing finances, communicating and monitoring results. The Current Management Committee Chair is Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo of Cape Town Convention Bureau.
Anne Dissing of Wonderful Copenhagen leads the Alliance’s Sales Group and plans and executes joint client and sales events.
The efforts of these working groups are supported by the Alliance’s management company Gary Grimmer & Company which is Melbourne-based. Jane Vong Holmes, the Alliance’s Managing Director who manages its day-to-day affairs, is the main contact person for the Alliance
How were the eight cities selected?
Members were selected on the basis of their commitment to improving CVB client service levels and delivering an outstanding client service experience. Other factors such as compatibility of infrastructure, demonstration of international meetings industry success as well as having a global perspective are also considered.
How did the name BestCities Global Alliance come to be?
Each member has made a commitment to excellence and to deliver superior destination experiences for their clients - to essentially be the "Best.”
Who are the eight members?
The convention bureaus of Cape Town, South Africa; Copenhagen, Denmark; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Edinburgh, Scotland; Melbourne, Australia; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Singapore and Vancouver, Canada.
Why is convention bureau certification needed?
The assurance of consistent quality across our global partnership is the Alliance’s core proposition. The Alliance has developed a Quality Management System (QMS) that links to its Service Charter and service standards.
An official certification programme confirms that member organisations are complying with the BestCities standards.
What is the benefit for clients?
Working with certified convention bureaus means that clients are assured a defined set of quality services. BestCities QMS translates to self assessment, third party independent audits, bureau management reviews at both individual and Alliance levels, greater efficiencies and quality control procedures, and a professional organizational culture.
What sets BestCities service standards apart from those of other bureaus?
- Consistency of delivery across the globe
- Checks in place to ensure that BestCities bureaus maintain high service standards.
Will this certification be a requirement to become of partner of BestCities?
Yes, this is a group wide certification. All partners have to be audited by Lloyds Registered Quality Assurance Ltd and comply with our QMS. New partners will be reviewed against our QMS and their readiness to comply with our service standards will be evaluated. New partners that have been seen fit to become a partner will be given a timeframe to comply with all service standards before they can be a full partner.
Why was the firm of Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) selected?
The audit of BestCities QMS and service standards by a third party gives our clients the assurance of consistent quality service. It is also a strong signal that top management are commited to a systematic and sustainable improvement of our global standards.
LRQA was chosen due to their extensive experience with implementing ISO9001 Quality Management Systems and their overall understanding of and approach to our Alliance.
What are the key elements of the auditing process?
BestCities QMS is in place and adopted by all partners with complaint handling processes, quality policy and code of ethics. An internal audit programme has been launched with the purpose to confirm that the QMS is met and to monitor and improve the quality and performance of convention bureau service standards.
LRQA will conduct annual audits and an internal auditor system is in place to ensure that policies and procedures are consistently followed.
If, however an auditor does not pass a partner bureau, the bureau will be given a short specified time frame to take corrective action and implement changes, and they will then be re-audited.