What’s New This October?
Welcome to the October round-up. This edition covers recognition for our partner destinations, upcoming conversations on inclusive meetings and practical AI for associations, and a closer look at the Incredible Impacts Programme and Global Forum. As always, we also share the latest updates from across our network of partner cities.
Dive in to stay informed and inspired.
Association Focus: Important News and Events
Beyond the Prompt: Building AI Tools That Actually Do the Work
Our next BestCities Community Café takes place on Wednesday 4 November at 13.00 CET, with a free, 60-minute session on Zoom.
Julian Moore, Chief AI Consultant at Strategic Membership Solutions, will build a working AI tool live from a single association event brief.
You’ll see it draft an RFP, assess destination and venue responses against the association’s requirements, and flag gaps and unanswered questions to support early destination selection.
Julian will show how it performs, where it falls short, and how you could start building something similar for your own work without a developer or a lengthy project.
Register for the Community Café session.
BestCities Partner Cities in the 2026 GDS-Index
BestCities Global Alliance had a partner city in the top five of every region in the 2026 GDS-Index results.
Copenhagen held third place globally, while Madrid gained 19.8 points to reach 21st and placed among the top three for Most Improved Destination.
Dublin achieved its highest score yet, ranking 17th globally and fourth in UK & Ireland; Berlin ranked 14th globally and third in Central & Southern Europe, sharing the highest Environmental category score.
Melbourne placed 25th globally and third in Asia-Pacific, while Washington, DC ranked fifth in North America.
A Global Perspective on Inclusion at IMEX America
How can association planners make international meetings welcoming to attendees whose needs and expectations differ across regions and cultures?
At A global perspective on inclusion, BestCities Global Alliance will explore those differences and share practical steps for designing more accessible, globally relevant events.
Managing Director Loren Christie will moderate the session with Maeva Haguma from Kigali, Carrie Kwik from Singapore and Manuel Wrobel from Berlin.
Association professionals attending Smart Monday are invited to join them on 12 October, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., in South Pacific J at Mandalay Bay’s North Convention Centre.
Head Office Highlights: What’s Happening at BestCities Global Alliance
BestCities Global Alliance Heads to the ICCA Congress in Panama
We’re looking forward to the 65th ICCA Congress in Panama City from 8–11 November.
One of the highlights is on 10 November, when we’ll be hosting the Incredible Impacts Programme final.
Run by BestCities Global Alliance and ICCA, the programme recognises associations whose international meetings create lasting social, economic and environmental impact.
This year’s three Main Grant finalists will present their submissions:
- Autism Europe Congress 2025
- International Social Housing Festival 2025
- WindEurope Annual Event 2025
After the presentations, the audience will vote for the winner.
Right after the congress, we will also have all BestCities Global Alliance board members together for our second board meeting of the year.
A Closer Look at the Cape Town Global Forum Programme
The 10th anniversary BestCities Global Forum will bring association leaders and representatives from all 14 partner cities together in Cape Town from 21–24 January 2027.
With Africa Melane facilitating, the programme moves from education sessions at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business to City Café in Stellenbosch, where associations can meet our partner cities.
There is a practical way for delegates to contribute beyond the sessions, too: through Engage for Good, their participation will help raise funds for Uthando’s Goal50 Early Childhood Development Centre, which is being built using repurposed materials.
View the BestCities Global Forum programme for more session details and Cape Town experiences.
City Buzz: What’s Happening in BestCities Destinations
Tokyo
22nd Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention & Exhibition, October
Tokyo will welcome the 22nd Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention & Exhibition, bringing retail leaders and decision-makers together to exchange ideas on the future of the sector.
The convention returns to Tokyo after 19 years.
Business Events Tokyo at IMEX America, 13–15 October
Business Events Tokyo will meet planners at stand E1740 during IMEX America.
Visitors can connect with Tokyo suppliers to discuss future events in the city.
Melbourne
Data Center World and The AI Summit Return in 2027
Following their inaugural Australian editions, Data Center World and The AI Summit will return to Melbourne.
The returning events are expected to attract 1,850 delegates and contribute $8.2 million to the economy.
ACI Airport Experience Summit, 2027
Melbourne has secured the ACI Airport Experience Summit, bringing the event to Australia for the first time.
Airport, aviation and customer experience leaders will meet to discuss innovation, accessibility and the future of passenger experience.
AIME, 15–17 February 2027
AIME has launched a new brand ahead of its next edition in Melbourne.
The event will bring the global business events community together in the city.
Washington, DC
The Collective Brings Meetings Capitalized to Life
Destination DC hosted The Collective, a three-day programme for leaders from its International Business Events Council and Annual Meeting Alliance.
Participants experienced the Meetings Capitalized approach through sessions at American University Washington College of Law, an ASAE leadership discussion and a visit to National Geographic’s Museum of Exploration.
The programme showed how planners can connect meetings with the people and institutions of Washington, DC.
International Association Meetings in October
Washington, DC will welcome the Association of the United States Army 2026 Annual Meeting & Exhibition, the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s IDWeek and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting.
Together, they bring defence, infectious disease and neurological surgery communities to the capital.
Dublin
Dublin Improves Its GDS Index Ranking
Dublin has reached 17th place in the 2026 Global Destination Sustainability Index, up from 19th in 2025.
Its score rose from 80.05 to 83.76 points, reflecting continued work on sustainable destination management across the city’s business events sector.
Autism-Europe Congress Receives Impact Event Award
The 14th Autism-Europe International Congress, held in Dublin in 2025, has received the Impact Event Award at the 2026 PCMA Convene4Climate Global Awards.
The award recognises work on autism inclusion, accessibility, employment and public awareness developed through a collaboration involving Fáilte Ireland, AsIAm, Autism-Europe, Dublin Convention Bureau, Keynote PCO and the RDS.
Dublin Ranks Sixth in Global Cities Index
Dublin ranks sixth among 1,000 cities in the 2026 Oxford Economics Global Cities Index.
The city’s result reflects strengths across economic performance, human capital and sustainability.
Silver for Dublin Convention Bureau
Dublin Convention Bureau received Silver for Best Overseas Convention Bureau at the M&IT Awards.
It shared the recognition with fellow BestCities Global Alliance partner Copenhagen Convention Bureau.
Global Bioeconomy Summit, 20–21 October
Dublin will host the Global Bioeconomy Summit at The Convention Centre Dublin, with a wider programme running from 19–22 October.
Political leaders, researchers, industry representatives, investors and civil society will meet to discuss sustainable, bio-based innovation.
Berlin
Berlin Reaches Third Place in the GDS Index
Berlin ranks third among large cities in the 2026 Global Destination Sustainability Index, its best result to date.
Its score of 85 per cent is five percentage points higher than last year.
Among the assessed event venues, 81 per cent of congress centres and conference-focused venues hold sustainability certification.
An Autumn of Specialist Congresses
The World Health Summit, Neuro Week and Deutscher Pflegetag are among the specialist congresses bringing health, science and research communities to Berlin this autumn.
The city’s congress and exhibition calendar brings together upcoming events across its venues.
More Ways to Meet Across Berlin
A series of new event venues is expanding the options for meetings and conferences across Berlin.
The Berlin Meeting Campus also combines venues within walking distance for events of 500 or more attendees, with new partners joining several of its locations.
Dubai
Emirates Expands International Connectivity
Emirates is expanding its network with new destinations, additional frequencies and upgraded aircraft, including Helsinki services and second daily services to Accra, Tokyo Narita, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
The airline carried more than 8.6 million passengers between July and August, with its network expansion adding options for international delegates travelling through Dubai.
Hotel Occupancy and Visitor Numbers Rise
Dubai’s hotel inventory approached 149,000 rooms by the end of August, while occupancy reached 66%, up from 36% in March.
The city welcomed 6.97 million international overnight visitors in the first eight months of the year, according to its latest tourism and hospitality figures.
Arabian Travel Market Brings Together International Buyers
The 33rd Arabian Travel Market brought travel buyers from more than 115 countries to Dubai World Trade Centre, alongside tourism authorities, airlines, hospitality brands and technology companies.
More than 55 destination stands participated, while the co-located ATM Travel Tech show featured AI-powered travel solutions.
Madrid
Medical Congresses, October
Madrid will host ESMO Congress 2026 for the fourth time, with 37,000 delegates expected and an estimated economic impact exceeding €95 million.
The city will also welcome the 40th National Congress and 5th International Congress on Outpatient Pediatrics and Primary Care (SEPEAP 2026), and the 77th SEORL–CCC National Congress, each expecting around 1,500 delegates.
Fruit Attraction, 6–8 October
IFEMA MADRID will host Fruit Attraction, the international trade show for the fruit and vegetable sector.
The event expects more than 120,000 trade visitors and over 2,400 exhibiting companies.
Madrid Convention Bureau at IMEX America, 13–15 October
Madrid Convention Bureau will join 11 member companies representing the city’s meetings industry at the Turespaña stand, E2105.
Its participation will also include a dedicated Madrid event for 15 North American buyers, organised with Northstar Group.
Business Development in Beijing, 19–23 October
Madrid Convention Bureau and Madrid Unique Destination will sponsor the World Corporate Golf Challenge final in Beijing, which brings together executives for golf, networking and social activities.
A delegation of five Madrid companies will also make sales calls to local agencies and tourism companies.
About the author
Marlieke Kemp-Janssen
Marlieke Kemp-Janssen has over 15 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.