MADRID ACCEPTED AS THE NEXT OFFICIAL PARTNER OF LEADING GLOBAL ALLIANCE

MADRID ACCEPTED AS THE NEXT OFFICIAL PARTNER OF LEADING GLOBAL ALLIANCE
BestCities welcomes the leading convention bureau on board

Madrid Convention Bureau (MCB) was today (16 MAY) officially confirmed as the twelfth partner of BestCities Global Alliance. The new signing will bring a truly dynamic international congress city and convention bureau to the alliance that now holds 12 members.

With more than three decades of experience, Madrid has played host in the last years to some of the world’s leading events including the World Petroleum Congress, the World Air Traffic Management Congress and The Congress of the International Dental Federation. With more than 14,000 meetings and events per year serving to more than 1 million delegates, MCB is already paving the way for global standards in the sector.

Adding value to MCB’s offering and shaping its future growth, BestCities will work with MCB to support future innovations and refine its legacy development, such as creating impactful city events for its future association meetings.

As the first BestCities destination within the Mediterranean, MCB will help the alliance establish stronger ties and a more pronounced presence within the area.  Very much in line with BestCities practice, MCB is committed to constantly evolving and reviewing its standards and undergoes an annual audit associated with ‘Q de Calidad Turistica’ – a quality certification for tourism services in Spain. Since 2012 MCB has passed the audit with flying colours, cementing its dedication to continually improving standards in its workings.

Madrid has been committed to improving its sustainability with various programmes aimed to target this issue including City Hospitality Desks which help to control the wastage of unused city brochures through a dedicated delegates desk at conventions. This has grown massively with 11 meetings serving over 18,000 delegates supported this way in 2016. Ambassador programmes are also a key investment for the MCB with its own platform that identifies individuals within areas including non-for profit, NGO’s and universities that have helped secure meetings in Madrid.

The BestCities partnership will support the MCB in acquiring knowledge in legacy development and position Madrid as innovative leaders in this field, alongside the other BestCities’ partners: Berlin, Bogotá, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, Houston, Melbourne, Singapore, Tokyo and Vancouver.

The MCB is the first destination to go through BestCities’ revised quality management system (QMS). With admission into the Alliance a guarantee to clients that the vital commitments to excellence such as venue capacity, international accessibility and infrastructure framework are a given, the new QMS further extends BestCities offering beyond the key convention elements a city must possess to host world class events. With a focus on advancing the purpose of meetings through vital areas including sustainability, accessibility and legacy development, it adds a further dimension and unique strength to its partner cities’ offering.

BestCities Board Chair, Jonas Wilstrup from Wonderful Copenhagen commented on the new signing:

“Madrid is a world class destination for conferences and events and we’re ecstatic to be welcoming them onto the BestCities Global Alliance. Madrid’s successful submission truly cements BestCities dedication to setting industry standards which we hope to help build with them over the next few years.

“Our dedication is to providing customers with seamless, worry-free services across a global network of cities. As our twelfth member, Madrid will enable us to continue to build the long-term loyalty by adding value through contributing to the cause of meetings. We’re excited to be able to offer our expertise particularly within this area.”

David Noack, Director of Madrid Convention Bureau said:

“MCB trust that becoming a member of BestCities will enrich our knowledge as a convention bureau by embracing their ethos for commitment to excellence. In short, our aim is to guarantee that each congress held in Madrid will be a unique and successful experience made possible through the close working of our organisations.”

For more information on BestCities and its upcoming events including the BestCities Global Forum in Tokyo (4-7 December 2017) visit www.bestcities.net  @BestCitiesGA

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BESTCITIES GETS READY TO WELCOME MADRID TO GLOBAL ALLIANCE

BESTCITIES GETS READY TO WELCOME MADRID TO GLOBAL ALLIANCE

BestCities Global Alliance is cementing its reputation as the world’s leading convention tourism destination partnership, with the announcement that Madrid is set to become its twelfth member in 2017.

Revealed today (10 January) at PCMA’s Convening Leaders conference in Austin, Texas, the Spanish capital’s Madrid Convention Bureau (MCB) has been accepted as the newest member of the alliance, which also includes Berlin, Bogotá, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, Houston, Melbourne, Singapore, Tokyo and Vancouver.

MCB is expected to become a full partner in spring 2017, following a comprehensive internal review to ensure the city surpasses the highest quality commitments required of all BestCities partners.

BestCities Board Chair, Jonas Wilstrup, Convention Director of Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau said: “Madrid is one of most established and vibrant international conference destinations in the world and we are proud to welcome them into our alliance. The combination of the exceptional work by MCB, supported by the city’s premiere meeting venues, modern infrastructure and rich cultural offering, make it the ideal candidate to join the BestCities family.

“Achieving and maintaining a standard of excellence that surpasses our clients’ expectations is at the heart of BestCities offering. Madrid’s preliminary membership not only further strengthens the alliance and its profile in Europe, but will help BestCities build on its ambitions and commitment to help clients create lasting legacies for their organisations and events.”

With Madrid ranked fifth in the world by the ICCA International Congress rankings and voted “2016 Best MICE Destination” at the 2016 IBTA Business Travel Awards, MCB is one of the world’s most experienced and successful convention bureaus.  During the last year, the city hosted 14,283 meetings, welcoming over 1 million delegates.

A popular destination for international association meetings, high profile events coming to Madrid in 2017 include the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology ESMO 2017, the European Congress of Medical Oncology EULAR 2017 and the 54th. European Renal Association and European Dialysis and Transplant Association congress.

David Noack Pérez, Director of Madrid Convention Bureau said: “Madrid is a lively and friendly city where everyone feels at home; at the same time, it offers a safe and comfortable setting where taking time out and doing business are equally enjoyable. Its rich artistic and natural heritage, cutting-edge transport network, quality accommodation, fine cuisine and the passion locals show when enjoying our city’s day and night life make Madrid one of the most attractive cities.

“MCB is confident on the fact that becoming a member of BestCities will not only enrich our knowledge as a CB but also that Madrid can for sure enrich the excellent offer for holding events that BestCities represents. Our aim, in short, is to guarantee that in Madrid, each congress held will be a unique and successful experience and this association will contribute on it.”

MCBs’ preliminary BestCities membership follows in the footsteps of Greater Bogotá Convention Bureau, who became a full BestCities partner in April last year, the first Latin American bureau to join the high profile alliance.

For more information on BestCities and its upcoming events visit www.bestcities.net  @BestCitiesGA

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