As a partnership of twelve premier meeting destinations, BestCities Global Alliance is a step ahead when it comes to advancing the cause of associations through conference and events. With a reputation as the leading convention bureau alliance in the world, BestCities is increasingly focusing efforts on sharing valuable industry knowledge and best practice with stakeholders across the globe.
In June, two representatives from the BestCities Global Alliance attended the Conference and Incentive Travel Industry Fair (CITIE) in Hangzhou to provide delegates from across China with meetings industry knowledge on everything from destination amplification to generating loyalty and connecting strategic networks. Speaking to 500 attendees from the public and private sector, Paul Vallee, Managing Director at BestCities and Jane Cunningham, Director of International Associations, shared their intel on key success factors in the hope of raising the standard of excellence for conventions and events in China and beyond. Three of the BestCities partners – Bogotá, Singapore and Vancouver – also presented, sharing innovative ideas, cases studies and experiences.
As a foundation, BestCities understands the benefits intelligence sharing and knowledge exchange can bring to international destinations and associations. Paul Vallee, Managing Director of BestCities Global Alliance said:
“BestCities as an alliance has the strength of twelve of the best conference destinations across the globe and collectively our shared knowledge and experience provides us with the skills and resource to become an innovative leader in our sector. Meetings must become more than simply well-planned events, with an increasing focus on their lasting impact and success in the long-term. For destinations and associations, meetings should be regarded as a means to an end, not an end in itself.
“It’s great to see Hangzhou actively working to improve their offering as a conference destination and the CITIE event will have given them the intel and knowledge needed to make the next steps.
“Speaking at key events like this will allow us to share our acquired knowledge and experience to stakeholders worldwide on the ways they can be working more effectively to achieve excellence in areas including legacy, sustainability, economic impact and more.”
BestCities plans to share their industry insights at various events on the lead up to their Global Forum at the end of the year. Building on the 100% delegate success ratings in Dubai 2016, the second BestCities Global Forum will be hosted in partnership with the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) in December. The impressive programme of education, insight and networking, is already shaping up to be this year’s must-attend event for senior international association meeting planners, looking to increase the positive impact of their meetings.