Organised by the Berlin Convention Office of visitBerlin, the festival served as a platform for creative exchange, showcasing Berlin as a pioneering destination for sustainable, inclusive and forward-looking events.
With a focus on innovation, sustainability and community, this year’s BESTIVAL provided a hands-on experience of Berlin as a vibrant event venue. Attendees participated in panel discussions, workshops, and site inspections, gaining valuable insights into emerging trends that are shaping the global MICE industry. The event officially opened with welcome remarks from visitBerlin’s Managing Directors Sabine Wendt and Burkhard Kieker, alongside Michael Biel, State Secretary for Economics of the State of Berlin.
Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin, commented: “Berlin is one of Europe’s leading event metropolises. People from around the world are drawn here to share the latest research, innovative ideas and emerging trends. Berlin offers the perfect setting for this—as we are showcasing at BESTIVAL.”
Sabine Wendt, Managing Director of visitBerlin, added: “This is where we showcase Berlin’s vision for events—sustainable, diverse and community-driven. Our city is both a stage and a laboratory.”
A programme highlight was the keynote “Unbreakable – How the Ukrainian Tourism Industry Redefines Resilience in Times of Crisis” by Ukrainian tourism expert Mariana Oleskiv. The programme also featured keynote contributions from Dr Prateep Beed (neuro360), Emiko Gejic (Clubcommission Berlin), and Franziska Lienert (visitBerlin), offering bold perspectives on innovation, culture, and sustainability.
Speakers from organisations such as Bitkom, Berlin Partner, Kulturprojekte Berlin, Estrel Berlin and Berlin Food Week contributed to the festival’s ten-panel programme, underlining the event’s multidisciplinary and forward-thinking agenda.
BESTIVAL 2025 also launched a new Young Talents Programme, supporting emerging professionals with mentoring, networking and exclusive behind-the-scenes access—reinforcing Berlin’s commitment to shaping the future of the MICE industry.
The festival was designed and delivered in line with the city’s “Sustainable Berlin” guidelines and ISO 20121:2024 certification, aiming to reduce CO₂ emissions per participant by ten per cent compared to 2023. Initiatives included vegetarian catering, low-emission transport options, and the reuse of existing furnishings and materials.
BESTIVAL 2025 was organised by visitBerlin in cooperation with visitBerlin Partnerhotels and BEN Berlin Event Network, with support from the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises. TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg also took part in the festival.
