The BestCities Global Alliance welcomed international association representatives, trade media, industry thought leaders, and representatives from 13 BestCities destinations to its annual Global Forum, which took place January 18-21 in Melbourne, Australia.
Across the four-day programme, conference attendees experienced numerous venues around Melbourne, such as the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre; Cargo Hall by Showtime Event Group, a reimagined former docking shed with a nod to its maritime past; and the recently 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.
BestCities’ flagship event also featured an education programme with speakers including Mark McCrindle, social researcher and futurist, who discussed five demographic trends transforming associations today; and 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, also discussed the added value of well-designed programmes for meetings and events; while Olena Lima, digital marketing expert, shared how digital trends such as AI tools can benefit professional associations. Natalie Simmons, global business consultant, then hosted a teambuilding activity aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainability remained a central focus of the Global Forum. BestCities partnered with Trees4Events, a sustainability tool that supports climate-positive meetings and events, to calculate and offset 149 tonnes of carbon emissions generated by flights, transportation, catering, venues and other conference elements. 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 for OzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, through Engage for Good, a programme that incentivises delegate engagement for a worthy cause.
“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. Together with our partners, we help associations streamline the planning process, access relevant resources, and gain essential educational insights.”
The next BestCities Global Forum will take place in Dublin in January 2025. Further details, including dates and programming, will be announced in the coming months.
