BestCities Global Forum Bogotá - December 2018
Interested in enhancing the impact of your international events? Join world-leading meeting planners at the BestCities Global Forum in an intimate yet stimulating learning environment.
Bogotá is the host partner for this year’s event from 9-12 December 2018.
Open to senior international association executives (or AMC on behalf of the associations), the Global Forum is the ideal opportunity for decision-makers considering hosting an event in a BestCities’ destination, to meet all the partner cities and meeting planners in one stunning location.
Introduction to Bogotá
Welcome to Bogotá, the only Latin-American city member of the BestCities Global Alliance.
The capital of Colombia is known for being different, alive and cosmopolitan. Nestled in the heart of the Andes, Bogotá is a vibrant city that has been absorbing cultures and traditions from across the country for centuries with a diverse blend of colors and customs. Our city is a public gallery of art, street music and exquisite cuisine from every corner of Colombia, making it the main economic, cultural, gastronomic epicenter and business hub of the country, and one of the main city in Latin America.
Bogotá feels the passion of the meetings industry; our history has shown us that fostering transformation is possible through the events industry and we strongly believe in the POWER OF PEOPLE.
We want to welcome you to a city 2600 meters closer to the stars. Welcome to Bogotá!
Meeting Venues
Bogotá’s newest convention centre Ágora Bogotá, the Grand Hyatt Bogotá and Torre EAR Calle 100 – Convention Center will each host a day of the Global Forum.
Accommodation
The Grand Hyatt Bogotá will be the headquarter hotel for the BestCities Global Forum 2018
Grand Hyatt Bogotá
Calle 24a, Cra. 57,
Bogotá
Colombia
Website
Who should attend?
Senior executives of associations that hold global events.
Participation
Participation is limited to 40 qualified international association executives. There is no cost to attend. We cover round-trip economy flights, accommodation and meals. For more information visit our FAQs.
Application
To apply please click on the button below to complete the application form.
For further information on the next BestCities Global Forum 2018 please email [email protected] @BestCitiesGA
Highlights BestCities Global Forum 2017 in Tokyo:
Delegates and organisers of the BestCities Global Forum were united in their praise for the four-day conference, which took place in Tokyo in December. One hundred percent of delegates surveyed agreed that they would recommend attending the BestCities’ 2018 event to other international association delegates, while a staggering 95% reported the Forum met or exceeded their expectations.
View the 2017 BestCities Global Forum page here.
| 8 Dec | Arrivals |
|---|---|
| 9 Dec | 09:00 - 15:30: Optional Tour: Weaving PeaceAfter the enormous effort made for the Peace Agreement that gave an end to a more than 50 year old conflict and its eight million victims Colombia is in a crucial moment which will define the path for the next decades. To understand the present, heal the wounds from the past, and build a solid peace fabric for the future, it is necessary to look ourselves from a different angle and understand the tremendous complexity of our history and the contradictions that had been part of us. Weaving Peace tour will make you understand key moments of Colombia's history to focus especially on its rebirth and future considering geography, the city, and through the voice and example of true peace weavers who are already working on new paths of hope and memory for the country. Starts at 9:00 am You can register for this tour upon registration. 19:00: Welcome Reception |
| 10 Dec | 0745-0815: Salsa ClassGet on your dancing shoes! Time for an energetic start of the day learning how to dance salsa. 0900: Transfer to Agora Convention Centre0915: BestCIties Brand and Breakfast1000: WelcomePaul Vallee 1005: Power of People PossibilitiesNeyder Culchac An inspirational story from Neyder on how attending one conference changed his life. 1020: People, your ideas, and the long termRick Antonson Every idea needs the power of people to activate it. Rick will introduce five principles that guide your idea to acceptance by others. 1040: Building big ideasSean Blair Build a model to show a big idea (up to Cathedral sized!) for your organisation or industry - that would truly inspire you and your stakeholders 1120: 3 City PitchesThree cities will present their cities and the power of their people in these snappy presentations 1130: Break1150: UN Sustainability GoalsGenevieve Leclerc To explore how the UN Sustainability goals might give power and meaning to our big ideas 1215: ReflectionReflect and write a gridcard on why this goal and what it might mean for ‘me’. 1225: Building your ideasSean Blair How will the UN Sustainability Goals change your Lego model? 1235: Share and discussSean Blair Share stories on your models on your tables and the room 1300: Lunch1400: 3 City PitchesThree cities will present their cities and the power of their people in these snappy presentations 1410: Open Space WorkshopSean Blair During the Open Space Workshop we will attempt to answer the question: How could the power of people - fully released, advance the cause of global gatherings? 1620: 3 City PitchesThree cities will present their cities and the power of their people in these snappy presentations 1630: Cultural Activity: Coffee TastingAt the end of this session you will have a good idea of what Colombian coffee is all about! 1750: Transfer to Grand Hyatt1900: Dinner |
| 11 Dec | 0745-0815: Champeta ClassToday we'll be learning how to dance Champeta to get us started for the day! 0900: Bogota BreakfastSample some typical Colombian breakfast dishes with the chef on hand to explain. 1000: Introduction to the City CafeSean Blair 1005: 3 City PitchesThree cities will present their cities and the power of their people in these snappy presentations 1015: City Cafe Common QuestionsYour chance to question the BestCities partners. 1030: City CafeGet to know our BestCities partner cities 1300: Lunch1400: Magician for a DayCarlos Lopez Carlos is the Founder of The Smiling League (La liga de las Sonrisas) a Colombian foundation dedicated to bringing smiles to the less fortunate. During the workshop participants will learn more about the work they do plus participants will learn magic. 1530: Break1600: Magic Performance1630: An introduction to FriendraisingLina Tangarife Lina is an expert in strategic management of Civil Society Organizations, strengthening volunteering from companies, the 1700: Free time1830: Transfer to National Museum1900: Ambassador Dinner |
| 12 Dec | 0800: Sound of Bogotá Breakfast0900: Transfer to Torre EAR Calle 100 - Convention Center1000: Morning Cocktail1015: 5 Questions for activating the Power of PeopleRick Antonson 5 Questions for activating the power of people 1045: Building Plans ExerciseSean Blair 1115: Break1130: Developing PlansSean Blair 1300: Lunch1400: Interviewing the InterviewersAndres Gomez 1420: Embracing Your IdeasDavid Moncada Varela & Maria Paula Franky 1530: Break1545: Developing Presentations Messages and MessagingUse this time to develop a) Messages (why and what) and b) to play (in a safe environment) with Messaging (how). Use this opportunity to set us (or a small group of us) up into the kind of scenario where you might need to ‘pitch’ your idea. 1630: Presenting IdeasOpportunity for participants to present their idea and gain feedback from the group 1710: Learning ReviewTo share learning and reflections from forum 1800: Handover from Bogota to next year's hosts Copenhagen18:15-20:00: Free Timefree time to walk around T Zone (trendy area of Bogotá). 2000: Farewell DinnerAndrés D.C |
| 13 Dec | Departures |
Sean Blair
Global Forum Facilitator & Owner, ProMeet
Sean is a facilitator with over twenty five years’ experience of leading and supporting organisations to innovate, learn and change.
He is a co-founder of the Service Design Network. He was an honorary Fellow in Enterprise at Durham University. He served as a Trustee of the Royal Society of Arts, a council member of the Design Council and a commissioner on the Mayor for London’s Creative Industry Commission.
Rick Antonson
Author
Self-proclaimed “accidental executive” Rick Antonson habitually opts for the path less wandered - or sometimes where there’s not path at all. As former President and CEO of Tourism Vancouver, Rick also made time to travel the world and author five books, yet has had his hand in some of Canada’s most renowned accomplishments including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games for which Rick served as an Ambassador.
Lina Tangarife
General Manager - Acai Consulting
Lina is an expert in strategic management of Civil Society
Organizations, strengthening volunteering from companies, the
government and NGOs and establishing high-level alliances for
sustainable development of the sector in Latin America. She is
a volunteer at heart and of action and has donated more than
10,000 volunteer hours to different causes throughout her life.
Neyder Culchac
Young Leader
Aged 19, Neyder is a young leader, from a region called Putumayo in the south-west of Colombia. He grew up in a region that was for many years the epicentre of conflict, but this didn’t impact his ambitions. He created an initiative to transform the lives of 480 families of his community by replacing illegal crops by pepper and cacao through a rural entrepreneur project. He attended the One Young World Summit in Bogotá 2017 and during the 2018 Forum, Neyder will share the story of his life andan event transformed his reality.
Carlos López
LATAM Director for Magicians Without Borders (MWB)
Carlos López (Bogotá, Colombia) is the LATAM Director for Magicians Without Borders (MWB) a Nonprofit that uses the art of magic to Entertain, Educate and Empower underserved youth, mainly in the slums of big cities across the world. Since 2001 MWB has entertained more than 1,000,000 people in over 40 countries, and have implemented a unique long term education program that blends magic and entrepreneurship skills, in 6 countries; El Salvador, Costa Rica, Brazil, Colombia, India and USA.
Andrés Gómez
FTI Consulting
Mr. Gómez has been working in business consulting (specific in communications) for almost two decades: planning, developing and executing communications strategies for different companies. He focused on issues like crisis management, mergers, public affairs and corporate matters. Andrés started as a journalist, then worked in the public sector, and after started working in consultancy.
Andres in mentor for Endeavor and Ashoka. He is a speaker, teacher, and Ed Op for several magazines. He runs marathons. Andres studied mass media communications, he received a Master Degree in Media Management, Information and Audiovisuals and he holds two specializations: one in European Culture Studies focused on Politics, Sociology and Economics and the other in Political Marketing and Public Opinion. He also holds a GDP in business.
Maria Paula Franky
Improvisual
Co-founder and managing director of Colombian theater company Improvisual Project.
Has a degree in Communications and film production from Javeriana University in Bogotá
(2014), an academic degree for improvisational theater techniques from El Bosque
University in Bogotá (2016) and has deepened her production studies with Gustavo
Schraier`s “Production, marketing and theater management” course in CELCIT
(Argentina).
She is currently working on production, marketing, project management, concept design
and teaching in Improvisual Project, where she has worked on designing and producing
entertainment or training experiences for theater and corporate events. She booked and
managed the following company tours: 2015 (Argentina), 2016 (Europe), 2017 (Colombia)
and 2018 (Spain) She has also been host of TEDxBogotá and TEDxBogotáMujeres in
several opportunities.
David Moncada Varela
Improvisual
Artistic Director, performer and teacher in Colombian improvisation theatre company
‘Improvisual Project’. Has a Master degree in advanced theater studies with emphasis on
stage direction from Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (Spain – 2017). Two academic
degrees in Improvisational theatre techniques from El Bosque University (Bogotá
2011-2012). And has deepened his training with Keith Johnstone and The Loose Moose
Theatre company in Canada (2015) and with teachers such as Patty Stiles and Shawn
Kinley. Additionally, he has a degree in Visual Communication and film production from
Javeriana University in Bogotá (2014),
He has been able to share his work in festivals, theaters, companies and training centers
in Colombia, Argentina, Perú, Chile, Spain, Germany and Canadá.
He’s currently working as improvisation and acting teacher at Javeriana University and
with ‘Improvisual Project’, his own company, in which he works on developing and
producing theater shows and training processes for artistic or corporate purposes. He also has worked as teacher at the ‘IX Diplomado Internacional de improvisación teatral’ (El Bosque Universit) and as host on public events; Tedx Bogotá (2014 – 2015 - 2107), Tedx Bogotá Mujeres (2015 – 2016 - 2017) and TedxCesa (2015).
HelloCrowdHaving a mobile event app at your event will make a big impact. Leave your attendees wanting more by engaging and building relationships with their fellow attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and speakers.
Visit Partner
Bogotá Chamber of CommerceBogota Chamber of Commerce are a private, non-for-profit organization whose goal is to foster a sustainable Bogotá-Region in the long term, by promoting its residents' prosperity, through services which enhance and strengthen the enterprise capabilities present in the region, and which improve the business environment with an impact over public policies.
Visit Partner
Bogotá Majors OfficeGovernment of Bogotá. A strategic ally of the Convention Bureau that support the events industry through the following institutions:
" Bogotá Tourism Institute (Instituto Distrital de Turismo)
" Economic Development Secretariat
ProcolombiaPROCOLOMBIA is the entity that promotes international tourism, foreign investment and non-traditional exports in Colombia. Through its national and international network of offices, it offers support and integral consultancy to clients through services or instruments aimed at facilitating design and execution of its globalization strategy, which seeks to generate, develop and close business opportunities.
Visit Partner
Great Bogotá Convention BureauThe Bureau of Conventions of Bogotá and Cundinamarca, is the entity in charge of leading the international positioning strategy of the city as host of high impact events. Supported by the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, Corferias and a network of 130 companies, the Bureau works to contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of Bogotá by looking for events that are aligned with the interests of productive development of the city, the public policy, and above all, to contribute significantly to the global visibility of Bogotá.
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Ministry Of Commerce, Industry And TourismThe national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia concerned with promoting economic growth though trade, tourism and industrial growth.
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FONTUR
Ágora BogotáThe new convention center of the city opened on October 2017 and has a capacity of up to 4.000 ppl in plenary session. Ágora will be one if the venues of the Global Forum.
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RLA - SAV RLARental Latin America, is a company specialized in audiovisual solutions for congresses, fairs and events, with offices in Chile, Peru, Brazil and Colombia.
Visit Partner
Grand Hyatt BogotáInaugurated last August 2018, Grand Hyatt is the first of the Hyatt company in the Colombian capital and the first hotel of the Grand Hyatt brand in the country. The Grand Hyatt is the official hotel of the BestCities Global Forum.
Visit Partner
National Museum of ColombiaThe National Museum of Colombia has built a collection of more than 20,000 objects that are symbols of national history and heritage. The collections include remains of the first inhabitants and material culture of prehispanic societies, objects from current indigenous and afrocolombian ethnography, evidence of different periods of the nation's history, and works of art that range from the colonial period through the works of 'the first modern' artists: Fernando Botero, Alejandro Obregón, Guillermo Wiedemann, Juan Antonio Roda, Eduardo Ramírez Villamizar, Edgar Negret and Enrique Grau
Visit PartnerBestCities Global Forum was an exceptional event. The combination of knowledge sharing, networking and opportunities to learn more about the BestCities partners made it a very worthwhile and inspirational trip.
Association Manager
World Small Animal Veterinary Association
A BestCities Global Forum provides excellent networking opportunities, city insights, advice and inspiring talks that resonate across all associations - no matter what sector you come from. A thought provoking and action orientated event that rewards the investment of time to reflect and connect.
Director Professional Policy
World Confederation for Physical Therapy