Business events are powerful tools for advancing SDG 8. BestCities and its partner cities drive inclusive growth and decent work through sustainable, impactful conferences.The COVID-19 pandemic, escalating trade tensions, mounting debts in developing nations, and geopolitical strains have created a perfect storm threatening economic growth. This challenging environment has led the United Nations to predict a deteriorating labour market that not only exacerbates income inequality but also undermines equitable pay for women and decent work opportunities for young people. In this climate, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 emerges as a critical framework, aiming to foster sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth while ensuring full, productive employment and decent work for all.
Business events play a pivotal role in advancing SDG 8 objectives by generating local employment, stimulating growth for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), and delivering valuable skills training – all of which contribute to enduring economic benefits in host countries worldwide. By advocating for sustainable international events with positive, lasting impact, BestCities Global Alliance and its 13 partner cities are making tangible, meaningful contributions to SDG 8 objectives, transforming communities one conference at a time.
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The global employment challenge
Two billion people around the world are informally employed, contributing to economic and social development in ways that are not protected, regulated, or valued. This precarious situation is compounded by persistently high youth unemployment, with studies indicating 64.5 million youths between 15 and 24 years were unemployed in 2024. Even among employed young people, many find themselves in jobs lacking opportunities for advancement or stability.
With economic growth intrinsically tied to decent employment opportunities across all communities and sectors, this unstable job economy poses a threat to overall economic security. In response, SDG 8 calls for more productive work, inclusive industry development, and sustainable tourism models to address these pressing challenges.
Best Cities’ approach to SDG 8
BestCities supports international association events that generate measurable economic impact in host communities, driving direct delegate spending alongside broader industry stimulation. The alliance encourages legacy planning to create long-term value by upskilling local workforces, supporting entrepreneurship, and building global industry connections – initiatives that collectively generate equitable work and stimulate local economies. Through knowledge exchange between partner destinations, BestCities fosters scalable ideas for inclusive economic growth that benefit regions worldwide.
As a passionate advocate for sustainable events, BestCities demonstrates how meetings tied to local sourcing and fair labour can introduce decent work, reduce inequality, and channel greater value into local economies, leading to a lasting, positive impact.
The role of business events in supporting SDG 8
Business events are powerful catalysts for job creation and economic growth, helping to facilitate:
- Direct employment: Events engage workers in logistics, AV, catering, hospitality, and transport sectors.
- Indirect growth: Conferences drive demand for local SMEs and can elevate sectors through international exposure.
- Skills and education: Business events support training, youth programs, and industry development (e.g. volunteer engagement, workforce mentoring).
- Economic legacy: Business events often lead to new investments, policy commitments, or resource allocation that support long-term economic outcomes.
- Sustainable tourism: When integrated with local supply chains and fair practices, events can strengthen tourism’s economic contribution.
Empowering economic growth: How BestCities destinations leverage business events to advance SDG 8
Several BestCities partner destinations have demonstrated their commitment to SDG 8 by successfully hosting, or planning to host, major international events that directly advance economic growth, productive employment, and decent work objectives:
Melbourne:
- Rotary International Convention 2023 generated AUD $91 million in economic impact. By hosting 14,000 rotary members, the event created significant opportunities for local suppliers, including transportation companies, hotels, and catering services, while also engaging local artists and youth (see video below).
- Asia Pacific Financial and Innovation Symposium (2024) convened more than 500 finance industry professionals, including leading executives from the world’s largest asset managers and capital allocators. This inaugural event highlighted Victoria as a major investment hub within the Asia Pacific region, emphasizing Melbourne’s significant concentration of superfunds. The symposium provided a valuable platform for developing practical, scalable solutions to address global economic challenges.
Coming up on September 2-4, 2025, the World Chambers Congress (2025) will bring together more than 1,000 business, chamber, and political leaders from over 100 countries. This global gathering will explore how fostering collaboration can drive economic growth and prosperity in communities worldwide.
Copenhagen:
- Copenhagen Gaming Week 2025 (February) attracted over 23,000 gaming enthusiasts, showcasing its vital role in the city’s strategy to boost year-round tourism. The event allocated space to showcase some of the best new games from Denmark to accelerate a fast-growing industry. Student and indie developers were invited to present, promote, and test their games for gaming enthusiasts (B2C) and meet industry experts, investors, and publishers from the industry to open new channels for funding and development (B2B).
Washington DC:
- “Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion through Destination DC’s DEI Business Fellowship by Destination DC”, a whitepaper recently published by the Institute for Journal-Based Event Legacy, examines the measurable impact of Washington DC events on local employment, community engagement, and skills development. Open to independently owned and operated small businesses in the travel, tourism, hospitality, or related industries, the fellowship serves a critical segment of DC’s economy – these small businesses constitute 98.1% of all DC enterprises and employ 48% of the region’s workforce.
Cape Town:
- In 2023/24, the Cape Town International Convention Centre hosted 368 events – including 43 international events – contributing R6.9 billion to the national GDP and supporting over 12,700 job opportunities throughout various sectors of the economy.
Berlin:
- In 2023, Berlin hosted over 70,000 events with 7.6 million attendees and €1.4 billion in direct economic impact.
Guadalajara:
- In 2023, Expo Guadalajara generated MXN 36.75 billion and served over 2.1 million visitors, boosting employment across tourism, events, and creative industries.
Building stronger economies through business gatherings
International business events can be powerful tools for economic growth and job creation, with impact that extends far beyond the conference centre. BestCities and its partner cities recognize that these events create lasting legacies by igniting innovation, strengthening local businesses, and boosting long-term workforce resilience. By embracing inclusive planning strategies, implementing fair practices, and strategically aligning with key sectors, events that champion SDG 8 are building better cities and more equitable opportunities for all.
Related Posts:
Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Advancing Education through Business Events: BestCities’ Commitment to SDG Goal 4
Championing Gender Equality through Business Events: BestCities’ Approach to UN SDG Goal 5
Advancing Clean, Affordable Energy through Business Events: BestCities’ Commitment to SDG Goal 7