The BestCities Global Alliance welcomed international association leaders, trade media, industry experts, and representatives from 13 partner destinations to its annual Global Forum, held February 5-8 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The event was delivered with support from the Guadalajara Visitors and Convention Bureau.
BestCities’ flagship event drew on Guadalajara’s identity as a cultural capital to shape the programme. Sessions, keynotes, and experiences connected business events strategy with local heritage, creative industries, and community impact. The goal: to show how destination culture can elevate international meetings, leaving a positive impact long after delegates return home.
Over four days, attendees were immersed in the history, culture, and music of Jalisco. Delegates visited the city’s most iconic venues, including the historic Teatro Dellogado and Hospicio Cabañas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the city’s convention centre, Expo Guadalajara. Heritage attractions like Hacienda El Carmen offered a distinctive cultural setting for B2B meetings. The programme also included trips to the iconic destinations of Tequila and Tlaquepaque, adding further local context.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better host than Guadalajara. The team perfectly demonstrated the value of local culture in adding important context and real-world value to business events,” said Loren Christie, Managing Director, BestCities. “As we look ahead to 2027, we’re excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Global Forum in Dubai – the city where this event first began.”
Sustainability and Social Impact in Action
Sustainability remained a core pillar of the Global Forum and was closely aligned with Guadalajara’s growing focus on responsible tourism and events. BestCities partnered with ZEERO EVENTS to calculate and offset 155 tonnes of emissions generated by flights, transportation, catering, and other conference elements. BestCities further offset the Forum’s footprint by planting 945 trees, helping to ensure the event delivered climate-positive outcomes alongside economic impact.
Community impact was also built into the programme. Each year, the Forum incorporates an “Engage for Good” initiative, which challenges attendees to earn points through active engagement. These points are converted into a financial donation to a local charity. This year, Engage for Good raised USD $2,500 for Centro de Formación y Promoción de Danza Clásica Isaac y Esteban Hernández, an organisation that provides free classical ballet training to children and young people, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds.
Immediate Insights Powered by AI
BestCities extended its partnership with Snapsight, an artificial intelligence platform that captures live event content and turns it into actionable insights. Delegates received real-time summaries, complete transcripts, key takeaways, and visual clouds. Access the summaries here.
“Hosting BestCities Global Forum wasn’t only a great opportunity to showcase Guadalajara, but indeed an unforgettable experience,” said Gustavo Staufert Buclon, CEO, Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau. “I want to express my gratitude to the whole team. I also want to praise every single attendee. I know the flights were long and the nights were short, but you always kept a high spirit, with a little help from tequila. ¡Mi casa, será siempre, su casa!”
For more information about BestCities Global Alliance, visit www.bestcities.net.
