Convention Bureau partners from all corners of the world – Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, Melbourne, San Juan, Singapore and Vancouver – came together in Cape Town recently to further enhance the BestCities Global Alliance; the world’s first Convention Bureau alliance, created to deliver the world’s best services for the meetings industry.
In line with a commitment to deliver best practice across 36 service standards, as audited by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance, the BestCities meeting included an Alliance Management Review (AMR), and Client and Sales Workshop, bringing together the eight BestCities member Bureaux and targeted clients.
Ramón L. Sánchez, Chair of the BestCities Management Committee and the representative for San Juan, said the main focus of the AMR was the discussion of an 18-Month Action Plan that would guide the BestCities strategy through to the end of 2010.
“In keeping with BestCities’ four pillars – Brand Development, Business Development, Knowledge Exchange and Service Standards – one day of our meeting was dedicated to a brainstorming session with our Sales Group representatives so that our partners could leverage existing programmes and pool resources. While in Cape Town, we had the opportunity to meet with the local meetings industry and discuss various common ground issues on how to face challenges and opportunities in the present global economy.”
“We were also pleased that Cape Town hosted our 2009 BestCities Client Workshop, where key decision makers from seven international associations were invited to participate in a one-on-one business session with each partner,” said Mr Sanchez.
Dr Les Chappell, Executive Secretary for the World Federation of Parasitologists, attending the meeting as a client, said, “Everything was exceptionally well organised and presented, and the discussions were useful. After meeting with each Bureau representative, I believe all eight cities in the BestCities Global Alliance provide superb venue options for future conferences.”
As part of the BestCities’ CSR commitment, the Cape Town programme also included a visit to the Baphumelele Children’s Home, where BestCities representatives were invited to donate an item of clothing or blanket for the project, which provides refuge for orphaned, abandoned or abused children.
The next BestCities Client Workshops will take place in 2010 in Melbourne, followed by Vancouver.
Mr Sánchez, who is Executive Vice President and COO of Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, will lead the Alliance’s Management Committee until the end of this year. Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Convention Bureau Manager of Cape Town Routes Unlimited, will be the Incoming Chair of the Management Committee.
For more information contact Jane Vong Holmes, Managing Director, BestCities Global Alliance. Telephone: +603 7781 8004; Mobile: +601 2220 8365; Email: jane@bestcities.net.
