dubai

BestCities Global Alliance, a strategic collaboration between 11 of the world’s premier meeting destinations, has announced its most impressive programme to date, for its flagship annual event, the BestCities Global Forum, taking place in Dubai from 4-8 December 2016. 


Hosted in partnership with Dubai Business Events and Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the BestCities Global Forum presents the ideal learning environment for association senior executives responsible for organising international events.  The unique and stimulating four-day session is guaranteed to educate and inspire delegates to create a lasting legacy for their organisation, while also generating new opportunities for future collaboration with peers from around the world.

Places are limited, but still available, with over 20 associations already signed up, including World Autism Organisation, Alzheimer’s Association, International Astronautical Federation and World Environmental Education Congress.

Held in the impressive surroundings of Dubai, the Forum features a packed programme of relevant case studies and thought-provoking expert speakers. This year’s programme includes: Forum Facilitator, Hazel Jackson, CEO of Emirates based biz-group; Dr Tommy Weir, Speaker and Professor of Hult International Business School; Oliver Martin, a stakeholder engagement strategist, specialising in destination development; Philip Davies, President of strategic brand consultancy EMEA Siegel + Gale and Sherrif Karamat, Chief Operations Officer, PCMA.

The Forum will cover a range of relevant topics such as advancing the purpose of international associations through long-term legacy development, improving the event’s benefits to the host community and creating strategic partnerships with destinations. 

BestCities Board Chair, Jonas Wilstrup, Convention Director of Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau said: “The Global Forum will focus on advancing the purpose of meetings, beyond delegate numbers to long-term legacy development. We will be exploring how global associations can create genuine partnerships with destinations, improving the event’s benefit to the host community and strengthen the success of the organisation moving forward. 

“This is the biggest event in the BestCities’ annual calendar and an exclusive opportunity for association delegates to learn and work with one another, beside the Forum’s experts.  It brings them together with 11 of the world’s best convention bureaus, enabling delegates to gain an in-depth and a bespoke understanding of each city’s unique, high quality offering, guaranteed by the BestCities Alliance standard.”

While the majority of the sessions will take place in the impressive five star JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, host Dubai, will also play an integral part of Global Forum, with Dubai Business Events planning a lavish showcase of the city’s rich cultural and social environments.  There will also be the opportunity for delegates to establish relationships with local industry contacts, along with the network of BestCities partners. 


 Steen Jakobsen, Director of Dubai Business Events, said: “Dubai Business Events is delighted to be hosting the BestCities Global Forum.  As a destination, Dubai is the ideal backdrop for an event that promotes innovation and legacy development, both crucial elements to associations’ future success and growth. In recent years Dubai Business Events has worked closely with a number of international association meetings to help develop long-term legacies, both for the emirate and the organisation.  With legacy also a core element of World Expo2020 Dubai, the Forum will be the ideal opportunity for delegates to gain a greater insight into the Expo team’s legacy planning ahead of this prestigious global event.”   


Oliver Martin, Partner at Twenty31 Consulting Inc, said: “During my career I have worked with over 50 national and regional tourism boards, helping them to identify the unique opportunities for their destinations and develop strategic branding plans that bring future success. The priority focus for my Global Forum session will be to present the linkages between tourism and economic development and how attending association delegates and BestCities’ partner cities can collaborate and build potential lasting legacies for their international meetings and host destinations.”

With no cost to attend, including return business class flights to Dubai, accommodation and meals, the Global Forum is open to senior association executives (or AMC on behalf of Associations) considering hosting International Business Events that rotate globally, relevant to any of the 11 BestCities Global Alliance partner cities: Berlin, Bogotá, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, Houston, Melbourne, Singapore, Tokyo and Vancouver.


What: BestCities Global Forum
When: 4-8 December 2016
Where: JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Dubai
Attendance: Open to all senior executives of associations that hold global events, (or AMC on behalf of the associations).
Cost: Free to attend, including return business class Dubai flights, accommodation and meals

For further information and to register interest: tiny.cc/GFDubai     

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