The alliance, which brings together a host of exemplary meetings destinations across six continents to knowledge-share and create legacy with their international association clients, will see Dublin become the fourth European partner of the 12-strong network.
Despite the meetings industry facing challenges in the current climate, the announcement of Dublin’s new membership is testament to the strength of alliance and demonstrates the value of collaboration within the community.
Since the opening of the Dublin Convention Centre in 2010, the city has become a cultural and economic hub for the meetings industry – counting 109 association conferences in the last year alone. The Irish capital also boasts invaluable sustainability credentials; currently ranked 11th in the 2019 Global Destination Sustainability Index.
Lesley Williams, Managing Director of BestCities, said: “Creating legacy and building community through business events is at the heart of what we do, and this vision is mirrored in Dublin as a major player in the international association market.
“As well as being a stunning city to visit, the destination offers a rich culture and wealth of expertise that really complements the offerings of our alliance. There is strength in numbers, and with Dublin joining our network, all of our destinations and clients benefit from this extended opportunity to learn and connect. We look forward to doing incredible work with Dublin soon.”
Over the last year, Dublin has hosted reputable global conferences like the European Association of Neurological Societies (2,000 delegates), the Global Air Finance Conference (1,100 delegates) and Velo City’s cycling conference (2,000 delegates). The city boasts many unique sectoral strengths across industries such as aviation, tourism and bio pharmaceuticals.
Sam Johnston, Manager of Dublin Convention Bureau, said: “I am delighted to bring Dublin into the BestCities Global Alliance. For many years, Dublin has admired from afar the great work and cooperation of the Alliance, forging a strong global community that learns from its constituent parts.
“Dublin will not only benefit through learning and knowledge sharing, but we look forward to bringing our own strengths to grow the Alliance further.”