BestCities Global Alliance welcomed international association representatives, trade media, industry thought leaders, and representatives from 13 BestCities destinations to its annual Global Forum, 18-21 January in Melbourne, Australia. The meeting, staged with the support of Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) ,is the organisation’s flagship event and featured a strong education programme with speakers including:
- Mark McCrindle, social researcher and futurist, who discussed five demographic trends transforming associations today;
- Belinda Moore, consultant on association strategy and membership, who leveraged new research to demonstrate how associations can advance their purpose and provide value to members;
- Mike van der Vijver, co-founder of MindMeeting.org, who discussed the added value of well-designed programmes for meetings and events;
- Olena Lima, digital marketing expert, who shared how digital trends such as AI tools can benefit professional associations;
- Natalie Simmons, global business consultant, who hosted a team building activity aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The main business of the four-day programme was conducted at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, while delegates also visited Cargo Hall by Showtime Event Group, a reimagined former docking shed with a nod to its maritime past, and the recent AUD$225m redeveloped Marvel Stadium. Social programmes included a tour of THE LUME Melbourne digital art gallery; a progressive dinner starting at rooftop bar Madame Brussels; and a reception at the Langham Melbourne, followed by a boat ride to the Australian Open for evening matches at Melbourne & Olympic Parks’ Rod Laver Arena. Sustainability remained a central focus of the Global Forum. BestCities partnered withTrees4Events, a sustainability tool that supports climate-positive meetings and events, to calculate and offset 149 tonnes of carbon emissions generated by the event. Projects to offset the Global Forum’s emissions included UN carbon credits investing in renewable energy as well as planting 967 trees. Conference delegates also helped to raise US$2,500 forOzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, through the Engage for Good programme. “As strategic partners, the BestCities community is deeply invested in each destination’s success,” said Loren Christie, managing director, BestCities Global Alliance. “Our Alliance offers unparalleled support in sustainability, legacy and impact, ensuring events achieve success while leaving a positive mark.” Julia Swanson, MCB chief executive added that the Global Forum had provided “a terrific opportunity to also showcase how our city’s exciting events calendar, state-of-the-art infrastructure and world-class supply chain can enhance conference and meeting offerings”. The next BestCities Global Forum will take place in Dublin in January 2025. For more information about BestCities, visit www.bestcities.net
