BestCities News
Sector: Destination Marketing
ICCA 2016 Country and City Rankings Released
The International Congress and Convention Association – a partner of The Iceberg – has published its 2016 country and city rankings. Paris – last leading in 2014 – has reclaimed the top city spot. The USA is the country holding the most meetings. International association meetings continue to double every ten years. Fuller data will be released in June. From ICCA…
Governor Tours to Save Visit Florida Funding
The fortunes of Visit Florida have reversed again and the agency looks like it will after all lose 67% of its funding. In a last ditch attempt to change the Legislature’s course – its Speaker sees Visit Florida as extravagant and wasteful – Governor Rick Scott is on tour to persuade Floridians to invest in destination marketing. From Orlando Rising…
Sector Sceptical About Saudi Arabia’s Meetings Launch
Saudi Arabia is to launch itself on the global meetings, conferences and exhibitions market. It has hired a UK PR firm to oversee a marketing campaign, and will also exhibit at the forthcoming IMEX in Frankfurt. But both professional conference organisers and association executives are sceptical about the country’s suitability as a destination. From Association Meetings International…
Defining Conventions as Urban Innovation and Economic Accelerators
The meetings and conventions industry is evolving into a global innovation distribution channel. Over the last decade, convention bureaus have been collaborating more strategically with their local and state governments, economic development agencies, academic and scienti c institutions, and local business improvement districts to better leverage the value of conventions in their cities, especially those aligned…
Go Vilnius: Marketing & Economic Development in One Agency
Vilnius, capital of the Republic of Lithuania in Northern Europe, was the host for CONVENE earlier this year and has long been a leading events destination in the region. Now the new Go Vilnius agency will link up the city’s marketing with its more strategic economic goals of attracting investment and talent. From tmf dialogue marketing…
Visit Florida’s Proposed Budget a “Game Changer”
Visit Florida’s fortunes could be on rise. After its very future was left in doubt, then a House of Representatives bill passed to cut its budget by two thirds to $25m, then Governor Rick Scott called for $76m… now he has proposed raising funding to $100m. Visit Florida CEO Ken Lawson calls the possibility a “game changer”. From Meetings & Conventions…
27 November 2017
Destination Texas, Horseshoe Bay
Connect with the top hotels, CVBs, DMCs, and venues from across the Lone Star state in pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments and unique experiential networking events, while enjoying a fully hosted, three-night stay at Horseshoe Bay Resort in Horseshoe Bay, TX, from November 27-29, 2017.
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29 October 2017
Destination Arizona, Phoenix, USA
Connect with the top hotels, CVBs, DMCs, and venues from across Arizona in pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments and unique experiential networking events, while enjoying a fully hosted, two-night stay at The Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, AZ, from October 29-31, 2017.
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24 September 2017
Destination Hawaii 2017, Maui
Invaluable business connections, targeted education, and unforgettable experiences—all while experiencing the magic of the Hawaiian Islands. This unique event is hosted by Northstar Meetings Group’s leading brands—Successful Meetings, Meetings & Conventions, and Incentive Magazine—in partnership with Meet Hawaii, Maui Visitors Bureau, and The Wailea Beach Marriott.
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6 November 2017
Destination Caribbean, Grand Cayman
Experience Caymankind culture on the beautiful Grand Cayman! Connect with the top hotels, CVBs, DMCs, and venues from across the Caribbean in pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments and unique experiential networking events, while enjoying a fully hosted, three-night stay at The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa from September 17-20, 2017.
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10 September 2017
Destination Southeast, Miami Beach, USA
Connect with the top hotels, CVBs, DMCs, and venues from across the Southeast in pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments and unique experiential networking events, while enjoying a fully hosted, three-night stay at Nobu Hotel Eden Roc Resort in Miami Beach from September 10-13, 2017.
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Montreux: Less Talk About Conferencing, More About Business
Sarah Fleming Associates has always maintained that in order to successfully engage a potential buyer and to attract conference business to any city or destination, it is important to be able to put forward a strong business case for holding an event or conference in the city. An effective lead generation programme should therefore focus on…
$76m Budget for Visit Florida Backed by Senate Subcommittee
Shortly after the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill cutting Visit Florida’s budget by two thirds to $25m – also capping salaries and increasingly accountability – now a Senate subcommittee has proposed backing Governor Rick Scott’s request for a $76m budget. Visit Florida says the state attracted 112.8m visitors in 2016, after just 87.3m in 2011. From Meetings & Conventions…
Singapore: Building Asia’s Business Events Nexus
Under the leadership of its first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore became something of an economic miracle for a city-state which only gained independence from Malaysia in 1965. And despite a population of just over five million, the destination has transformed itself from Third World to First World in a single generation. It is now firmly established as a gateway…
Business Events: Delivering Economic Prosperity for Australia (2017-18...
The Association of AACB’s latest analysis of bids won, bids lost and the bid pipeline highlights that while its members have secured 360 international business events in the Forward Calendar (as at July 2016), 235 bids had been lost for the next decade. This lost business is estimated to be valued at AU$805m in direct…
Florida House Proposes 67 Percent Cut to Visit Florida Budget
Following on from the earlier news of Visit Florida’s battle for survival, the Florida House Speaker has now suggested making the organisation part of the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity. Richard Corcoran also wants its budget slashed by just over two thirds. Visit Florida CEO Ken Lawson has called the proposal “misinformed”. From Meetings & Conventions…
Geneva: Sibos 2016 and Aligning with Knowledge Sectors
Why Sibos and Geneva were the perfect match… The Geneva Convention Bureau has recently restructured its marketing communications and resources in order to align its bids to the city’s growth agenda. It has taken nearly two years to develop the organisational knowledge of – and relations within – the key clusters of industry identified by the Economic Development Office…
Visit Florida in Jeopardy Following Government Showdown
Visit Florida is in a fight for its survival as the state introduces legislation calling for its abolition. New CEO Ken Lawson has been championing the role the DMO plays in generating employment and tax revenue. But an ill-fated marketing deal with rapper Pitbull has already damaged the DMO’s standing among politicians. From Meetings & Conventions…
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