For associations aiming to create meaningful, high-impact events, the choice of destination is no longer just a logistical decision—it’s a strategic alliance. Global city partnerships, such as those formed through destination marketing organisations (DMOs) and alliances like BestCities, are transforming the way international conferences and congresses are planned and delivered.
These alliances combine the strengths of multiple cities, offering associations access to shared resources, unified branding, and coordinated strategies that extend far beyond securing venues. In an unpredictable world, they provide resilience, allowing associations to adapt to geopolitical, economic, or market shifts while maintaining event continuity through alternative partner cities.
More importantly, these destination alliances act as innovation hubs. By sharing insights, ideas, and creative approaches across cities, they enable associations to design richer, more engaging programs for their members. They also bring established legacy frameworks—ensuring events leave tangible benefits in areas such as community engagement, knowledge transfer, and policy influence.
For associations, partnering with destinations in this way means gaining more than an event host; it means acquiring a co-strategist invested in the same long-term outcomes. The result is greater credibility, stronger stakeholder buy-in, and the ability to deliver events that leave a lasting mark—not only on attendees but also on the industries and communities they serve.
