Here’s an overview of BestCities initiatives, key business events, and exciting events in our partner cities this March and the coming months.
IMEX Frankfurt
Registration for Hosted Buyer groups in the upcoming IMEX Frankfurt has officially opened! IMEX attracts exhibitors from all over the world, making this a fantastic opportunity to expand your network and be inspired by the people you’ll be meeting at this event.
The BestCities Hosted Buyer Programme is open to International Association representatives and comes with perks like:
- Access to the Association Focus happening on May 30, Monday
- Allows participants to schedule appointments with exhibitors that meet your needs
- Learn more about The Madrid Challenge and what it takes to be part of it
- Meet other Hoster Buyers
- Attend an exclusive breakfast event on June 1, Wednesday
Our Hosted Buyer Programme also includes complimentary flights or trains, accommodations, airport and hotel transfers, and the option to stay for additional days if the participant needs more time to explore the destination.
Click here to read more about BestCities at IMEX Frankfurt 2022.
The requirements are simple – anybody who regularly plans and contracts events and meetings outside of their home country is qualified to join. Register here to join the BestCities Hosted Buyer Group.
Incredible Impacts
Incredible Impacts is still open for submissions until June 1, 2022. After assessing the initial group of submissions, the shortlisted qualifiers will then be further assessed a second time to gauge who are most worthy to receive three grants (each worth $7,500) from BestCities Global Alliance and ICCA.
The Incredible Impacts Programme aims to highlight the value of international association meetings beyond tourism. It seeks international associations that cause a lasting positive impact on society through their initiatives.
Past winners include the World Parkinson Coalition, The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME), The European AIDS Clinical Society, and Women Deliver.
Click here to find last year's case studies.
AIME 2022
The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) will be happening on March 21 to 23 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. A must-attend trade event for the MICE industry in the Asia Pacific region, it promises to be a great opportunity to meet vital contacts and explore what the different exhibitors have to offer.
Something to look forward to in this event would be the session by BestCities, GainingEdge, and the Melbourne Convention Bureau where industry expert Gary Grimmer, Executive Chairman of GainingEdge, talks with Susan Harris, Chief Executive of ITS Australia, about incorporating legacy into the process of event planning. The session, held on Monday 21 March, promises global perspectives on convention legacies, practical workshops to optimize learning, and so much more.
What’s Happening in Our Partner Cities?
It’s an exciting month for our partner cities as they close the first quarter of the year with a bang. Here’s a peek at what’s happening in our partner cities.
Copenhagen
March 23 signals the start of the 100-day countdown to the Le Grand Depart de Tour de France, which marks the start of various cycling activities around the city. Christian Prudhomme, General Director for A.S.O. and Tour the France, will be in Copenhagen to officially launch the program. Highlights include a bicycle exhibition at the city hall and a Tour de France Grand Depart pop-up shop.
Other events to watch out for in Copenhagen include:
- March 21 to 23 - Leaders in Logistics: Post and Parcel Summit at Tivoli Congress Center
- March 28 to 30 - Probiota at Scandic Copenhagen
- March 23 to April 3 - CPH:DOX – the Documentary Film Festival
For updates on other events in Copenhagen, feel free to visit this link.
Dubai
Dubai Business Events (DBE) has secured 120 events from 2021 to 2025, paving the way to a strong post-pandemic comeback for the city. This feat comes after the Dubai Expo hits the 12-million mark early February, cementing its success even before the expo ends on March 31.
Dubai started re-establishing their tourism efforts in July 2020 and eventually allowed international events in October of the same year. This gave them a stronger foothold in recovering from the global pandemic and has shown how critical in-person business events still are despite the rise in virtual and hybrid events.
Dublin
The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Dublin has announced the newest addition to the premier city centre hotel – The Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
Opening in October 2022, the state-of-the-art conference centre covers 1,150 sqm of meeting space spread out over two floors. It boasts an extensive exhibition space, a main plenary hall, and four breakout rooms.
With this exciting addition to the opportunities that Dublin presents to the global MICE industry, it’s perfect timing that the city’s food industry is thriving as well.
Two of Dublin’s restaurants – Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen and Liath – have both been awarded two Michelin stars each. Two others have also been granted their first Michelin stars – Bastible and Glovers Alley.
On the Covid-19 front, restrictions for meetings and events have also eased. Restrictions for meetings and hospitality have been removed, including the general 2-metre physical distancing requirement. Attendees of various events and activities across the city still need to keep their Covid passes handy at all times, with venues still required to keep track of each participant’s contact details for more efficient tracing if the need for it arises.
Madrid
March continues to be a busy month in Madrid as they gear up for back to back promotional events. The Spain Convention Bureau will be handling two presentations – one for national associative clients and one for agencies and corporate clients in France.
The Madrid Convention Bureau will also be working with the Meliá hotel chain to hold familiarization trips with clients from Germany. As a premier conference hotel in Madrid, this partnership could potentially attract future business, especially for the MICE industry.
Meanwhile, the MCB board will gather in the first week of March to take a peek at 2021 and review their performance. The General Assembly of Members will also take place in the last week of the same month.
As for new initiatives that highlight Madrid as a premiere destination, potential visitors can now take a virtual trip throughout the city to help them prepare an itinerary. The virtual experience showcases museums, historical parks and gardens, historical centres of worship, emblematic monuments, iconic cultural centres, and other things to enjoy when in Madrid.
Speaking of things to enjoy in Madrid, meeting and event organizers should consider adding Wah Madrid to their event attendees’ Madrid experience. An out-of-the-box addition to the things they can enjoy in Madrid, it’s a gastronomic musical experience that event professionals can take advantage of to make every visitor’s experience unique.
Other things to watch out for this March are the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid and the spectacular view of the blossoming of almond trees at the Quinta de los Molinos.
Melbourne
The Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) welcomes its newest knowledge partner, the Melbourne Centre for Cities. It directs its action, research and training on urban governance and aims to foster a cosmopolitan city leadership. Through this partnership, the MCB hopes to cement Melbourne’s global position as a knowledge capital and secure even more business as a global business events destination.
Further securing the strongest possible future for the city is MCB CEO Julia Swanson, who recently spoke about how events like the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) can help push capability and capacity in Australia. She joined the Honorable John Brumby AO and discussed how well the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation are going in the country.
Meanwhile, Melbourne continues to thrive as visitors are given even more great reasons to stay and enjoy the region. One such reason is the Melbourne Skydeck, formerly known as the Eureka Skydeck, which gives visitors a thrilling view of the entire city as the highest observation platform in the Southern Hemisphere.
After a multi-million-dollar redevelopment, the Skydeck has reopened its doors and features amazing attractions like the Melbourne Skydeck Voyager Theatre, the largest virtual reality theatre in the world, and other exciting activities.
Tokyo
The Japanese government has extended the implementation of the quasi-state of emergency in Tokyo until March 6. This means that dining facilities are requested to close by 9PM.
As for events, an attendance cap of 20,000 is in place. Venues that have an infection prevention plan prepared and implemented are allowed to operate at full capacity.
With events still possible in the city, it’s perfect timing that the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) is releasing the new Tokyo Meeting Planners Guide 2022-2023 this month.
The Planners Guide contains 125 pages of essential literature about planning meetings and events in Tokyo, complete with an impressive guide of the 21 convention venues, 38 hotels, and 26 event venues that planners and organizers can consider for their next event. It will surely strengthen Tokyo’s standing as one of the best potential destinations for any kind of event, considering how ready the city is to host professionals from all over the world regardless of their unique requirements.
A PDF version of the guide is available for download on the Business Events Tokyo website.
Vancouver
Cirque du Soleil has once again come up with a new masterpiece – Alegria. Possibly the most iconic production from this acrobatic wonder, it will be showing daily from March 25 to May 1 at Under the Big Top, Concord Pacific Place.
As for those looking for a unique take on Happy Hour, the Vancouver Cocktail Week will be happening from March 6 to 10 at various locations across the city of Vancouver.