Following the success of the Global Forum 2022 in Vancouver, Canada, the BestCities Global Alliance has announced that its next annual gathering will be held on 18-21 January in Melbourne.

Leaders in the industry, representatives from across the world, and BestCities member destinations all attend the organisation’s signature event. Planners of significant global events that travel the world are allowed to sign up for the first time in 2022, regardless of their discipline.

While the Global Forum is generally held in December, BestCities has chosen to organise the next event in January 2024 to coincide with the Australian Open tennis tournament. Delegates can extend their stay in Melbourne to attend the games, with BestCities and the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) seeking to make the most of the city’s exciting, significant events schedule to improve the conference offers.

For meeting planners, organisations, and delegates, the Global Forum Melbourne will explore how in-person meetings are essential to developing meaningful relationships and a sense of purpose. Workshops, seminars, and hands-on activities highlighting the value of in-person learning and collaboration will be provided to attendees throughout Melbourne.

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibitions Centre, one of the biggest event venues in the southern hemisphere, is among the most famous conference facilities in Australia that are available to professional organisations and international associations. The city has developed a reputation for fostering cross-industry cooperation, backed up by an environmentally friendly event supply chain, luxurious accommodations, and unique pre-and post-conference activities.

According to BestCities Managing Director Lesley William, Melbourne is the perfect location to hold our flagship event. Melbourne provides once-in-a-lifetime experiences and access to significant knowledge exchange that has helped build ground-breaking legacies for worldwide organisations.

“We are thrilled to time the Global Forum with a great occasion like the Australian Open, which offers fantastic opportunities for team building and forging closer relationships with peers. Please block out your calendars and register right now as we work on sharing more information about our exciting programme over the coming months.

According to MCB CEO Julia Swanson, the Alliance is an excellent network of the best cities at the forefront of business events. “We truly appreciate the connections and teamwork among our partner cities throughout the globe, and we’re thrilled to be holding the next Global Forum here in Australia’s events capital Melbourne.

“It’s an exciting time for these global perspectives to come together and chart a way forward for our sector.” To register for BestCities Global Forum 2024 in Melbourne, visit events.bestcities.net/globalforum-melbourne.