What’s New This October?
As we move into the final quarter of 2025, BestCities is entering one of the busiest periods of the year. From major trade shows and global congresses to collaborative events across our partner destinations, there is plenty of activity shaping the months ahead.This edition of our round-up highlights the latest association news, updates from the BestCities head office, and city stories that showcase the impact and energy of our global community.
Dive in to stay informed and inspired.
Global Perspectives: Insights from Industry Voices
The Productivity Revolution: Clear Your Inbox Before Breakfast
Inbox overload is a silent time-thief in the events industry. Conference organisers, venue managers, and destination executives know the feeling of dread when opening their inbox each morning, especially during busy months. Hundreds of emails arrive daily, some urgent, some routine, and many requiring careful negotiation of schedules. AI productivity tools are changing this reality by drafting replies, syncing calendars, and translating multilingual messages so that professionals begin their day with a neatly prepared digest instead of an inbox tsunami.
Beyond the Inbox
The impact goes further than efficiency. By automating repetitive communication tasks, AI frees event professionals to focus on creativity, strategy, and the human connections that define successful meetings. From drafting bid proposals to managing sponsor communication and delegate queries, these tools are already proving transformative.
Click here to continue reading.
Julian Moore will showcase practical applications live at the upcoming BestCities Community Café on October 16. Reserve your spot here.
About the author of this article:
 | Julian Moore, Chief AI Officer, Strategic Membership Solutions [email protected] smsonline.net.auJulian is well-known across Australasia for helping associations and other nonprofits boost their revenue through high-value partnership and sponsorship programs. As an unabashed technology geek, has a deep understanding of the AI world and how associations can use AI to improve their operational performance and make a greater impact on the sectors they represent.Having worked extensively in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, Julian has a knack for making complex topics easy to grasp. He loves to showcase practical ideas through stories and examples that people can relate to. Julian can guide organisations in adopting simple yet impactful solutions via his coaching, consulting, or customised training services. |
Association Focus: Important News and Events
BestCities Destinations Recognised at the 2025 GDS Awards
For associations, choosing where to meet is about more than infrastructure and accessibility. It is about aligning events with destinations that can deliver on sustainability, legacy, and regeneration goals. The 2025 GDS Awards reaffirm that BestCities partner cities are leaders in this space, offering associations confidence that their events can contribute to positive, measurable change.
Key highlights from this year’s results:
Five BestCities partners ranked in the global top 20: Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Melbourne, and Singapore
Four of the top five destinations in the Metropolis and Megacity category were BestCities members: Singapore, Melbourne, Berlin, and Dublin
Washington DC was recognised among the top five in North America for its leadership in sustainability and social impact
These results demonstrate how associations can leverage BestCities destinations to deliver world-class meetings that also align with global sustainability priorities.
BestCities Community Café: AI in Action
The upcoming Community Café on October 16 at 14:00 CET will take a hands-on approach to AI, showing how event professionals can integrate these tools directly into daily workflows. From streamlining inbox and calendar management to translating multilingual communication in real time, the session will spotlight practical use cases already delivering measurable impact in our sector.
Hosted virtually on Zoom, the session will be led by Julian Moore, who will demonstrate how AI can reduce friction and free up valuable time for creativity and connection.
BestCities Global Forum 2026: Guadalajara
The Global Forum in Guadalajara, February 5–8, 2026, will bring together association leaders for a programme that blends global insight with authentic local experiences. Delegates can look forward to thought-provoking sessions on women’s entrepreneurship, a closer look at Intermoda, one of the largest fashion trade shows in Latin America now advancing sustainability practices, and a tequila workshop hosted in a unique city venue.
The Global Forum will conclude with an inspirational address by Isaac Hernandez, one of the world’s best ballet dancers. Through the Engage for Good initiative, delegates will raise a donation to support his ballet school and a local charity, with the amount determined by their interactive participation throughout the programme.
IMEX America: Insights for Association Leaders
At IMEX America’s Smart Monday on October 6, BestCities Global Alliance will host a panel designed for associations considering their global meeting strategies. “Going Global? What Factors Are Affecting International Meetings Around the World” brings together Michael Drake (Vancouver), Adriaan Fourie (Cape Town), Katja Sukale (Berlin), and Nicolena Oborn (Melbourne), with Loren Christie moderating. The panel will examine how environmental, economic, and geopolitical shifts are influencing international events, and what cross-destination collaboration means for associations navigating these changes.
Later in the day, Loren will join ICCA for “When the Host Becomes the Headline,” a session exploring how geopolitical realities are shaping site selection, delegate experience, and risk management. Association professionals attending IMEX America are encouraged to join these conversations in Las Vegas.
Head Office Highlights: What’s Happening at BestCities Global Alliance
Partner Cities Connecting at Global Trade Shows
A key strength of the BestCities community is how partners support one another at international trade shows. Even when the head office is not onsite, our partner cities connect under the BestCities umbrella to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and explore new opportunities together.
Looking ahead, partners will be collaborating at IMEX America, the ICCA Future of Healthcare Meetings 2025, and PCMA Convening EMEA in Rotterdam. These gatherings create valuable opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement, while also opening the door to invite clients when the programme allows.
ICCA Congress in Porto: Incredible Impacts
At the upcoming ICCA Congress in Porto, the three finalists for the Incredible Impacts programme will present their cases before the 2025 winner is selected. The winning association will receive a $20,000 grant in recognition of its outstanding legacy initiative.
Read the press release on the finalists here.
BestCities will also contribute to the main education programme through two workshops. These sessions will feature past winners and finalists sharing their experiences, highlighting both challenges and solutions in building lasting impact through international meetings.
City Buzz: What’s Happening in BestCities Destinations
Berlin
Berlin Event Board Established
Berlin has launched the Berlin Event Board, a new coordinating platform that brings together leading stakeholders from the city’s tourism and event industry. The board will streamline planning and implementation of major events across areas such as permits, security, transport, hotel contingents, and city dressing. It will also serve as a think tank for the long-term development of Berlin as a sustainable and competitive global destination for events and congresses.
Estrel Complex Expansion
With the Estrel Tower nearing completion, Berlin’s Estrel site will soon expand further with a new multifunctional hall for up to 10,000 guests. The project will include a redeveloped riverside park and increase the Estrel’s total capacity to 25,000 participants across congresses, exhibitions, and large-scale events. Already Europe’s largest hotel, congress, and entertainment complex, the Estrel continues to strengthen Berlin’s capacity for major international meetings.
IFA Berlin Extended Until 2034
IFA Berlin, the world’s largest trade fair for home and consumer technology, welcomed more than 1,900 exhibitors from 49 countries and 220,000 visitors this year. The event also announced the extension of its partnership with Messe Berlin until at least 2034, reinforcing the city’s role as a global hub for technology and innovation. The next edition will take place September 4–8, 2026.
Guadalajara
Concurso Mundial de Bebidas Espirituosas – Spirits Selection by CMB, 2025
Guadalajara, Tequila, and Puerto Vallarta welcomed the 2025 edition of Spirits Selection by CMB, a global competition that celebrates excellence in distilled beverages.
Guadalajara Open AKRON
The city also hosted the Guadalajara Open, bringing top tennis players and international fans together for this key tournament.
Ambassadors Event: Cacao Tasting
As part of Guadalajara’s Ambassadors Programme, local leaders gathered to discuss strategies for attracting future congresses and events. The meeting included a cacao tasting experience with renowned expert Cristina Taylor, highlighting both collaboration and culture.
Melbourne
World Conference on Health Promotion, 2028
Melbourne will host the World Conference on Health Promotion in 2028, welcoming 1,500 delegates and generating more than $8.4 million in economic impact. Held every three years by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education, the event reinforces Melbourne’s global leadership in health equity, innovation, and sustainability.
Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) Congress, 2028
The 30th APLAR Congress is set for Melbourne in 2028, bringing together over 2,000 rheumatology professionals from across the Asia Pacific. The congress will provide a vital platform for international collaboration and knowledge exchange in medical research.
Vision 2027, September 2027
Vision 2027 will unite global experts in eye disease, vision correction, rehabilitation, assistive technologies, and policy. With more than 750 delegates expected, the event was secured by Melbourne Convention Bureau in partnership with the Centre for Eye Research Australia and the University of Melbourne.
Innovation with Purpose
Melbourne welcomed The Economist’s Progress 2030 Summit, its first event in Australia, which drew more than 400 global leaders. The city continues to advance ethical innovation through initiatives such as the Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation (ACAMI) and MAVERIC, Australia’s first AI supercomputer, led by Monash University.
World Chambers Congress, September 2025
The 14th World Chambers Congress brought delegates from more than 100 countries to Melbourne, marking the largest global gathering of chamber and business leaders. Hosted at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event focused on how collaboration between business, government, and chambers can drive shared prosperity.
Dublin
Dublin launches new business events video
Dublin has released a new promotional video showcasing the city as a world-class destination for business events, aligned with Ireland’s Business Events 2030 strategy. The film highlights Dublin’s heritage, natural beauty, and the warmth of its people, offering international delegates an exceptional meeting experience.
Dublin enters Top 20 in the GDS-Index
For the first time, Dublin has secured a spot in the GDS-Index Top 20, climbing ten places to 19th in 2025. The city achieved a score of 80.3%, a significant rise from 75.7% in 2024 and 63.9% in 2023, and is ranked among the top five destinations in the Metropolis and Mega City category. This achievement reflects close collaboration between Fáilte Ireland, Dublin Convention Bureau, and Dublin City Council in driving sustainable progress.
14th Autism-Europe International Congress, September 11–13, 2025
The 14th Autism-Europe International Congress in Dublin, hosted by AsIAm and supported by Fáilte Ireland, delivered a powerful Intentional Impact project. Outcomes included the launch of an Employment Advocacy Pathway to address autism unemployment and a public engagement campaign to combat misinformation. The congress also earned recognition as the winner of this year’s Incredible Impacts Seed Fund, highlighting Dublin’s commitment to purpose-driven events that leave lasting legacies.
Tokyo
Tokyo is making headlines with two major international competitions.
From September 13–21, the World Athletics Championships brought the world’s top athletes to the Japan National Stadium, where Japanese competitors shone before an enthusiastic home crowd. Next, the city will host the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics from November 15–26 at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, celebrating sport, culture, and community while promoting diversity and greater understanding of deafness and sign language.
Goldschmidt Conference, July 9–14, 2028
Tokyo has secured the winning bid for the 2028 Goldschmidt Conference, the world’s leading event in geochemistry. The conference is expected to attract 4,200 delegates, further strengthening Tokyo’s position as a hub for international scientific exchange.
Meet Tokyo at IMEX America, October 7–9, 2025
Business Events Tokyo will be at IMEX America, stand F605, where suppliers will be on hand to showcase how Tokyo can deliver exceptional events. Delegates can also follow updates from the TOKYO booth on LinkedIn.
Singapore
Grand Prix Season Singapore, September 26–October 5, 2025
Singapore will host the Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS), a 10-day festival of race-themed events culminating in the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix from October 3–5. The programme includes music festivals, after-parties, race-inspired dining, and immersive lifestyle experiences across the city, offering business delegates distinctive networking and entertainment opportunities.
Singapore at IMEX America, October 7–9, 2025
The Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau will showcase the destination at IMEX America alongside 17 industry partners at booth F917. Visitors can explore new MICE developments, connect with venues, hotels, and DMCs, and enjoy an immersive pavilion experience featuring a bespoke scent by local brand Postcard. Delegates are also invited to join happy hour on October 8 from 16:00–17:30 to sample a Singapore Sling and explore collaboration opportunities.
Best MICE Destination (Asia) Award
Singapore has been named Best MICE Destination (Asia) at the M&C Asia Stella Awards 2025 for the sixth year in a row. Held in Bangkok, the awards honour industry leaders driving innovation and best practice, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a top global hub for MICE events.
Madrid
Trade Shows and Key Events, October 2025
Madrid Convention Bureau is maintaining strong visibility this month with a packed agenda of international trade shows. The team will attend GMF Iberian Agencies (October 1–3, Lloret de Mar), IMEX America (October 7–9, Las Vegas), Convening Leaders EMEA (October 15–17, Rotterdam), PURE Spain (October 16, Paris), and M&I Transatlantic (October 19–23, Madrid).
Two Fam Trips will also be hosted: one for US agencies following M&I Transatlantic (October 23–24), and another for Brazilian MICE agencies (October 23–26).
Major Conferences in Madrid
October brings a series of significant conferences to the city, including the 62nd Congress of the Spanish Society of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology (SECOT, 2,000 delegates), the Smart Energy Congress (1,000 delegates), and the Annual Conference on Industrial Electronics – IECON 2025 (1,500 delegates).
From September 30 to October 2, Madrid also hosted Fruit Attraction, the world’s largest horticultural trade show, which last year drew nearly 120,000 professionals from 59 countries.
Music Festivals, October 2025
The city will be alive with music throughout the month. JazzMadrid International Festival returns for its 11th edition starting October 5, while Suma Flamenca celebrates its 20th edition beginning October 14, showcasing Madrid’s rich cultural scene.
Cape Town
Upcoming International Events
Cape Town has secured several prestigious events, including the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) 2028, marking its first time on African soil; the SportAccord Convention 2027, which will bring more than 1,700 global sport leaders to South Africa for the first time; and the 2026 ISCN Symposium, gathering experts to share innovative campus sustainability solutions.
XXV FIGO World Congress, October 8–13, 2025
Over 8,000 delegates are expected in Cape Town for the XXV FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Alongside world-class knowledge sharing, delegates will enjoy the city’s renowned hospitality, culture, and natural beauty.
Expanded Connectivity from the USA
New direct flights from the United States will make Cape Town more accessible than ever for international business travellers. Starting this month, New York/Newark will offer four weekly flights, Washington DC three weekly flights, and Atlanta five weekly flights, making it easier for delegates to attend conferences and events.
V&A Waterfront Expansion
The V&A Waterfront has announced a R20 billion Granger Bay expansion that will reshape Cape Town’s iconic coastline. Plans include a super-luxury hotel, upgraded Table Bay Hotel, modern residences, tidal pools, and new promenades. With construction already underway, this project is set to create thousands of jobs and further elevate Cape Town’s profile as a world-class destination.
Dubai
27th ICOM General Conference, November 2025
Dubai will host the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), marking the first time this landmark event takes place in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The congress will bring together museum professionals, cultural experts, and thought leaders to discuss the future of museums in rapidly changing communities. This milestone underscores Dubai’s role as a global hub for cultural dialogue and intellectual exchange.
Dubai World Trade Centre Showcases Global Reach
In the final quarter of 2025, Dubai World Trade Centre will host more than 135 major exhibitions, conferences, and industry events. Covering sectors from technology, sustainability, and healthcare to food and beverage, energy, transport, and finance, this packed season highlights DWTC’s central role in driving innovation, commerce, and international collaboration.
About the author
Marlieke Kemp-Janssen
Marlieke Kemp-Janssen has over 10 years of experience in the international hotel industry, specialising in digital marketing, eCommerce, and communications. She has held leadership roles in luxury-branded hotels, where she developed and executed successful online strategies. Now based in Kuala Lumpur, Marlieke is the online marketing project manager for BestCities Global Alliance. She manages the alliance’s LinkedIn presence, website content, and monthly round-ups, along with other digital projects that support global engagement and visibility.