Table of Contents
Association Focus: Important News and Events
Summer Reading for Association Leaders
As summer unfolds in the northern hemisphere, many of us are taking time to enjoy vacations, bask in the sun, and perhaps catch the excitement of the Olympics. While it’s a season for relaxation and celebration, it’s also a great time to catch up on insightful reading.
To help you make the most of your summer downtime, we’ve curated a selection of essential reading materials tailored for association leaders. These resources will keep you informed and inspired as you plan for the months ahead. Dive into these recommended reads to stay ahead in your field and bring fresh perspectives to your association’s strategies.
Spotlight on the UN SDGs
Our first series of recommended articles focuses on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These articles provide valuable insights into how associations can align their initiatives with global sustainability efforts. We’ve published three articles so far and will be adding more in the coming months:
Everything You Need to Know About the SDGs
This comprehensive article covers the fundamentals of the SDGs, their significance, and how associations can contribute to achieving these global goals. It’s a perfect primer for those new to the concept or looking to deepen their understanding.
SDGs FAQs: Your Questions Answered
In this piece, we address frequently asked questions about the SDGs, offering clear and concise answers to help association leaders navigate their implementation and impact.
Diving into Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
This article explores SDG Goal 11 in detail, discussing its importance, the challenges faced by urban areas, and how associations can play a pivotal role in fostering sustainable cities and communities.
Stay tuned for more insightful articles on the SDGs as we continue to explore each goal and its relevance to the association sector.
Case Studies: Insights and Success Stories
The first half of the year has seen the release of several detailed case studies that highlight the impactful work of various global associations and their successful events. These case studies offer valuable insights into effective strategies and best practices. Here are some highlights:
ITS Melbourne
Discover how Melbourne successfully hosted the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress, bringing together experts to discuss the future of transportation. This case study highlights the strengths in innovation and collaboration that made the event a success.
World Parkinson Coalition
Learn about the World Parkinson Congress held in Kyoto, which united the global Parkinson’s community. This event emphasized inclusivity, education, and the latest research in Parkinson’s disease, demonstrating the power of global cooperation.
World Down Syndrome Congress
This case study delves into the World Down Syndrome Congress held in Glasgow, focusing on advocacy, support, and advancements in Down syndrome research. The event’s success is a testament to the dedication of the organizers and the welcoming nature of the host city.
Global DIY Summit
Explore the highlights of the Global DIY Summit in Dublin, which brought together leaders in the DIY and home improvement industries. This case study showcases how the event fostered innovation, sustainability, and networking among industry professionals.
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that four more case studies will be published in the final quarter of this year. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and valuable insights from the association sector.
Head Office Highlights: What’s Happening at BestCities Global Alliance
Preparations for the BestCities Global Forum in Dublin
As we fine-tune the program for the upcoming BestCities Global Forum in Dublin, we are thrilled to announce the facilitator, Patrick Delaney.
Patrick is the Managing Partner at SoolNua, a boutique consultancy firm in the Meetings and Events industry, and has a distinguished career including roles with MCI and the Irish Tourist Board. Recognized with numerous industry awards, including the IMEX Academy Award and the EIBTM Lifetime Achievement Award, Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.
With him at the helm, the Forum promises to provide invaluable insights and engaging discussions. We look forward to welcoming you to Dublin for this impactful event.
Filling Up Hosted Buyer Spots for PCMA EMEA
As the highly-anticipated Convening EMEA in Barcelona approaches this September, registration is filling up quickly! This event promises to be an incredible learning and networking opportunity for professionals in the global business events industry.
Enhance your experience by joining our Hosted Buyer Group, which offers exclusive perks such as offsite exploration tours, a welcome reception, an all-access pass to the onsite event and event platform, and a special BestCities networking event. You’ll also have post-event access to the platform for 12 months, allowing you to revisit valuable content and connections.
Register as a hosted buyer through this link: BestCities Hosted Buyer Registration or reach out to Tia Daniels at [email protected] if you have any questions.
City Buzz: What’s Happening in BestCities Destinations
Cape Town
15th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP 2024)
Cape Town recently hosted the 15th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP 2024) from July 21 to 26. The event brought together experts and thought leaders from around the world and featured workshops that provided an interactive learning experience for participants. Throughout the conference, topics included tackling challenging mercury issues, identifying best practices and methods, and gaining insight on the latest methods and equipment used in mercury research.
International Astronomy Union General Assembly (IAUGA)
This month, Cape Town is also hosting the International Astronomy Union General Assembly (IAUGA) to be held from August 6 to 16. This is also the first time that the assembly will be offering full online participation to give a positive experience to those who will be unable to travel to the host city this year.
82nd FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Preparations are underway as Cape Town hosts the 82nd FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences from September 1 to 4. The theme, “Innovating for the Future of Healthcare,” reflects the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa’s commitment to personalized, efficient, and affordable care. This event highlights pharmacists’ role in advancing healthcare through medication management, technology, and patient care.
16th International Congress on Yeasts
Cape Town will also host the 16th International Congress on Yeasts from September 29 to October 3. This event will bring together academics, researchers, industry scientists, and students to focus on yeast biodiversity, biotechnology, and pathogenic yeast.
The congress will showcase the latest in yeast research and its applications in food, health, energy, and the environment. It aims to foster innovation and collaboration between African and international partners and highlight yeast science’s significant contributions to various sectors.
Boost to Tourism Industry
The influx of delegates, estimated at around 3,500 for the FIP World Congress and the International Congress on Yeasts alone, will significantly boost the destination’s tourism industry. Recent developments in air connectivity further enhance the region’s appeal as a world-class destination.
Cape Town Air Access, powered by Wesgro, has announced that Lufthansa will increase its Munich-Cape Town route frequency from five times per week to daily for the upcoming IATA Winter Season (November 2024 – March 2025). Additionally, the Airbus A350, known for its reduced fuel consumption and enhanced efficiency, will be deployed on this route.
Berlin
UEFA 2024 European Championship
The UEFA 2024 European Championship ended on July 14, and the German capital welcomed football fans from all over the world during the tournament. The European Championship was a huge, invaluable advertising campaign for the city and its hospitality, which paves the way for even more sporting events in the future.
Enhanced Connectivity
Berlin is also better connected, with new international flights to and from the city for business travelers from around the world. More flights are coming into Berlin from Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vienna, Innsbruck, Zurich, Birmingham, Toulouse, Salerno, and more. From Berlin, there are also new direct flights to top MICE destinations in North America and Asia, such as New York, Beijing, and Dubai.
WeAreDevelopers World Congress
Meanwhile, Berlin hosted the WeAreDevelopers World Congress from July 9 to 11, welcoming more than 15,000 participants and 500 speakers who shared their insights, exchanged ideas, and shaped the future of technology.
BESTIVAL Masterclass on Innovation
The Berlin Convention Office also invited 15 international meeting experts to Berlin for the BESTIVAL Masterclass on INNOVATION this July. In just two and a half days, the MICE planners gained expert knowledge, new ideas, and valuable business contacts that will help them create more transformative, user-centric, and meaningful events and unique experiences in Berlin.
In relation to this, the Berlin Convention Office put together two more Masterclasses on SUSTAINABILITY (happening from October 9 to 11) and COMMUNITY (happening from December 4 to 6) to build on the other focus topics that are shaping the meeting destination of Berlin.
Melbourne
Local Host and Bid Leader Engagement
As part of MCB’s local host and bid leader engagement, the Business Development team hosted an event at one MCB’s Knowledge Partners, the Doherty Institute with the aim of inspiring and informing mid-career academics on the value of business events and the role of MCB.s. The event featured guest speakers Paul Rathbone from The Burnet Institute, along with Prof. Eric Reynolds AO and Prof. Jose Villadangos from the University of Melbourne.
Interview Series Highlights
Meanwhile, the new episode from MCB’s interview series features The Doherty Institute’s Professor Sharon Lewin, Nobel Laureate Professor Francoise Barre Sinoussi, and MCB CEO Julia Swanson as they reflect on the 20th International AIDS Conference held in Melbourne in 2014, which left a lasting legacy in the form of new HIV legislation, the Melbourne Declaration, and increased community education. This further showcases the importance of business events in creating legacy outcomes and highlight Melbourne’s strengths as a knowledge city.
Watch the new episode here.
Sustainability Accreditation
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre MCEC has joined Australia’s largest, longest-running sustainability program with over 3,000 other eco-friendly businesses. This accreditation means MCEC is not just an iconic venue that brings visionary ideas to life, but one that also embeds top-notch sustainability into everything it does—environmental, cultural, social, and commercial.
Client Familiarisation
On the corporate side, MCB hosted a wonderful group of clients from India this July to experience Melbourne’s business event and incentive product highlights. The action-packed familiarisation was held in partnership with Business Events Australia and included visiting the MasterChef set at Melbourne Showgrounds, a behind the scenes tour at Melbourne Cricket Ground, followed by a helicopter ride to Phillip Island Nature Park, a ride on Puffing Billy, a visit to Healesville Sanctuary and much more.
IEEE Convene 2024
Moving to August highlights, MCB will be at IEEE Convene 2024, happening from August 1 to 2 at Waikoloa Village, Island of Hawaii. Maria Rivera, Director of Business Development North America will be there promoting Melbourne and sharing how MCB can work with clients to deliver an unforgettable event in the country’s events capital.
MCB CEO Julia Swanson recently joined IEEE Victorian Section Chair, Vijay Paul and David Stankiewicz, host of the IEEE Forums of the Future Podcast to discuss all things Melbourne.
Accessibility Action Plan
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust (MCET), operators of MCEC and the future Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, have launched their Accessibility Action Plan. This plan aims to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities, enhance access to facilities, collaborate with event organizers for inclusive participation, and change discriminatory attitudes and practices.
Tokyo
Hosting the 2028 IEEE ICASSP Conference
Tokyo has been selected to host the 2028 IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP 2028) from May 29 to June 2 at the Tokyo International Forum.
ICASSP is the world’s leading conference in the field of signal processing and the Tokyo conference, held under the theme of “Smart and Sustainable Signal Processing for the Future” is expected to attract approximately 4,000 participants from around the world. Japan’s strong academic background in signal processing, international contributions to the field spearheaded by local signal processing societies, world-leading industrial research and a strong academic program set out by the Japanese Bidding Committee were deciding factors in Tokyo’s bid win.
