Let’s take a look at what’s happening this June and in the coming months, as well as a few highlights of news and happenings from May.
IMEX Frankfurt Finally Happening
It was a great end to May and an awesome start to June as IMEX Frankfurt is happening right now (from May 31 to June 2).
One of the highlights was the breakfast session on June 1 where we talked about new initiatives as well as other updates that will help not just our partner cities, but the entire global MICE community in creating a positive impact.
We were also very excited to welcome our hosted buyers group, who got access to the Association Focus on May 30, Monday, and several other perks that came with the programme.
Our Managing Director, Lesley Williams, was one of the speakers during a joint session with IAPCO focusing on the importance of making an impact in this industry. They covered questions about the sustainability blueprint and other relevant issues.
BestCities Board Meets Again After 2 Years
For the first time in 2 years, the BestCities board finally gathered in an in-person meeting to discuss updates about each partner city, as well as within BestCities. This year's meeting took place in Dublin and so there's no better way to close a fruitful meeting day than with a pint of Guinness, right?
BestCities SBD Meeting in Frankfurt
Not only the BestCities board get together prior to IMEX Frankfurt. The BestCities Strategic Business Development meeting was held in Frankfurt on the 30th of May.
BestCities Welcomes Guadalajara
As you might have heard or read by now, we have expanded our reach as we welcomed Guadalajara as the 12th destination in our alliance. This is truly a milestone, extending our reach to Latin America and paving a world of possibilities in terms of business events and creating more positive impact globally.
Guadalajara already has a track record of serving as an excellent host to different global events, and we look forward to the bigger impact they’ll be making by joining our alliance.
Click here to read the announcement.
Or click here to learn more about the destination.
Houston and Berlin Celebrates 10 Years with BestCities
IMEX season has always been a magnet for new emerging destinations. We’re reminded of this fact as we remember that 10 years ago, during IMEX Frankfurt in 2012, Houston and Berlin were officially recognized as our partner cities.
The last 10 years have been a thrilling ride with these two cities doing all that they can to create a positive impact through their initiatives and active participation in the initiatives of others. Congratulations on your 10th year with us and we look forward to more decades of milestones with you.
Global Forum Registration Now Open
Arguably the most exciting news of this month's round-up is that registrations for the BestCities Global Forum 2022 are now open. This year's Global Forum promises an opportunity for delegates to learn about measuring the impact of business events and drawing insight from projects delivered on the ground in Vancouver.
Click here for more information and for registrations.
The Power of BestCities
BestCities shows yet again what great power this alliance holds as the next three rounds of the IHPBA World Congress are set to happen in three of our partner cities – Cape Town, Singapore and Vancouver.
As you know, the IHPBA World Congress is one of the biggest and most anticipated events in the field of medicine and sciences. To be chosen as a venue for this annual event is truly notable.
Our partner cities Houston, Melbourne and Singapore have also been chosen as the venue for the next three Rotary International Conventions. This is yet another display of the level of excellence that BestCities partner cities hold.
Incredible Impacts Deadline Set for June
We continue to highlight the impact of international association meetings beyond tourism as we look forward to the next batch of Incredible Impacts winners for this year. With the deadline extended until June 30, we’re looking forward to hearing more stories of the life-changing impact different associations have had on the communities surrounding them.
Last year’s batch of winners proved to be quite an inspiration, with groups like the European AIDS Clinical Society, The Garden of Hope Foundation, and Women Deliver – the three associations that received $7,500 grants each as their prize – show how this industry can make a difference on global issues.
Click here to read our case studies about last year's winners.
Click here to visit the newly launched Incredible Impacts Programme website.
What’s Happening in Our Partner Cities?
We’re expecting an amazing June ahead for our partner cities, a great follow up for an equally productive May. Here’s an overview of the latest updates.
Berlin
The Special Olympics World Games are happening in Berlin in 2023 where over 4,000 athletes are expected to participate in 20 different sports. Considered the world’s largest inclusive event, Special Olympics Germany aims to give kids and adults with disabilities different opportunities for them to be fitter and share their skills with the entire community. From 19-24 June the national Special Olympics will be held in Berlin, a great test run for next year's global event.
Berlin is also continuing its preparations for Bestival, a MICE and Travel Business Festival happening from August 25 to 26. A great venue to connect with potential business partners, Bestival is also a great platform to discover attractions, locations and services that could inspire other event and meeting opportunities in the future.
The Humboldt Forum is also going through reconstruction to further improve this centre of culture and science. Formerly the Royal Palace, the structure, once completed, is expected to be a venue for various cultural activities, which will prove to be beneficial to the MICE industry.
Copenhagen
May was a huge month for Copenhagen as Denmark’s much-loved monarch, Queen Margrethe II, visited the Tivoli Gardens on the 21st as part of the string of events to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. The timing of the visit couldn’t be better as 2022 also marks her 50th year as the head of state for Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland.
After such a great month of May, June is promising to be just as exciting. 3 Days of Design is set to happen from June 15 to 17 and will be the perfect setting to see what design looks like, Copenhagen-style. Here, some of the best minds in design from all over the city merge together to show people how much creative genius there is in the area.
The Copenhagen Sustainability Guide 2.0 is also set to be launched this coming month. With the initial version already making waves, the updated version serves as a pre-planning tool where steps to contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are further highlighted.
Dubai
After successfully concluding the long-delayed Expo 2020, Dubai continues to prove that they are right on track in terms of post-Covid recovery.
Dubai kept its borders open while also prioritizing the vaccination process earlier than a lot of other countries. This, as well as their continued adaptation of relevant technological innovations, has paved the way toward faster economic recovery.
The fact that Dubai was named the Most Popular Destination of 2022 by TripAdvisor shows the city’s successful strategy. Even more impressive is the fact that they do not impose strict travel restrictions that other countries still have in place up to now.
Dublin
The 2023 European Professional Club Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will be taking place in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on May 19 to 20 next year. It has been a decade since the events were held in the area.
The event was originally slated to happen at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Premier League have caused a few schedule conflicts, prompting the move to the new venue which is great news for Dublin.
Houston
Houston will be hosting this year’s Rotary International Convention from June 4 to 8. With the theme Discover New Horizons, the event is expected to bring in over 25,000 attendees.
The venues for the next two Rotary International Conventions have also been announced, with Melbourne and Singapore – both our partner cities – taking those succeeding slots.
Madrid
The Madrid Convention Bureau continues unstoppable in June, after its participation in IMEX Frankfurt 2022. Up to 3 professional forums are part of this month's calendar: the international Events Club Forum and a fam trip organized by the Spain Convention Bureau for Benelux agencies and a forum only for the national market, MICE & Forum. Although the celebration of MCB's star event stands out this month: the Madrid Agency Forum will take place from 12 to 15 June, as a themed familiarization trip with a game format intended this year for 20 professionals from LATAM markets. The participants, in this 2022 edition, will travel to Madrid recruited as the technical team for the shooting of a film by the most famous and eccentric film director of Madrid.
June is also the quintessential month to enjoy terraces and rooftops in Madrid, and all the hotels and venues take the opportunity to celebrate parties and networking events in their open-air facilities. The Madrilenian Hotels Association AEHM even organizes a program of activities that, for a week, allows visitors and locals to take advantage of the good weather and these terraces and rooftops to have a cocktail, attend a yoga class, enjoy a very special dinner or watch a movie! It is the second edition of Madrid a Cielo Abierto (27 May to 5 June) and takes over from the recently concluded Gastrofestival 2022. MCB will also take the opportunity to gather the entire sector with the excuse of good weather and the holidays about to arrive and, at the end of the month, our annual networking event of CVB members will take place. This social event seeks to create personal ties among our members and to promote new spaces, services and technologies at the service of events in Madrid.
Melbourne
Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) has secured six international incentive groups from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and New Zealand. This will be the first time Melbourne and regional Victoria welcome back incentive groups since Australia’s international borders closed in 2020.
Across the six incentive groups arriving, delegates will visit an array of attractions in Melbourne and regional Victoria. The exciting line-up includes some of Victoria’s most popular regions, the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island Nature Park for the iconic Penguin Parade as well as a trip to enjoy the splendour of the Great Ocean Road.
MCB's marketing team has launched a brand-new interactive video planning tool Ready. Set. Melbourne. Somewhere between a video showreel and a choose-your-own-adventure book, Ready. Set. Melbourne is a new interactive video experience that integrates engaging clickable options for business events professionals to access information about Melbourne’s and regional Victoria’s capabilities as a business events destination.
Jason Balkin, Director, Convention Services & Bidding, hosted a site visit for the Rotary International Convention 2023 from 23 – 26 April. A group of seven senior Rotary leaders including their first-ever female President visited Melbourne ahead of next year’s event to view venues, and meet with the local host committee and also the Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Unique Melbourne experiences showcased during their stay included the Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance and the Australian Football League (AFL) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Anzac Day. Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served".
MCB’s Joanna Garrie, Director Corporate Meetings and Incentives and Laura Luo, Manager, Corporate Meetings and Incentives, held 70 appointments with incentive and corporate meeting buyers from across the globe at Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) 2022. The event provided an invaluable opportunity to reconnect and showcase what Melbourne can offer business events.
Tokyo
With the current rise of hybrid events in mind, Tokyo has released the “Online Sustainability Experience in Tokyo for International Conferences.” Five additional programs were added to the original series for the online participants of hybrid international conferences to also enjoy Tokyo’s charms and contribute to the SDGs achievement through their virtual attendance.
Located in FOOT TOWN at the base of the iconic Tokyo Tower, a new cutting-edge esports park, which is the largest in Japan, opened on April 20. The total space of approx. 5,600 sqm RED° TOKYO TOWER offers everything from esports to board games. The venue spanning three floors feels like something out of a sci-fi movie with artistic and high-tech spaces that organizers can rent for events.
June events:
01 - 04 June 2022
Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery 2022 (CARS2022)
Vancouver
Vancouver is definitely well on its path towards post-pandemic recovery as the city pledges $5M in the effort to bring the FIFA World Cup to B.C. in 2026. Mayor Kennedy Stewart says that he is willing to do anything to make it happen, stating this as their biggest chance of welcoming the world back to the Province of BC.
Meanwhile, cruise season has also returned to the Port of Vancouver after Covid-related prohibitions were lifted in November of last year. With enhanced public health plans and regulations in place, the city is expected to revive an industry that has been thriving for 40 years before the pandemic.
