Prague is better than any
other city at engaging with locally based association leaders to secure international
meetings and conventions, according to a new report.
The capital of Czech Republic
has a ‘harnessing ratio’ of 95 per cent, according to the second edition of Leveraging
Intellectual Capital by convention industry consultants GainingEdge.
The report identifies the relative strengths of 350
destinations based on the presence of leaders in the governing bodies of
international associations that organize large conventions (500+ attendees).
The harnessing ratio indicates
the correlation between number of international association meetings hosted and
the number of local people who sit on the boards of international associations
Once again London tops the rankings as the city with
the most international association board members, followed by Paris, Tokyo, Beijing,
and New York.
The
destinations that experienced the greatest increase in the influence of their
local leaders on boards compared last year were Sydney with its leaders active
in 46 additional boards, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Singapore (with +34 more
each) and Seoul (+28).
In Europe, Dublin and Lisbon had the strongest
harnessing ratios behind Prague. In the Asia-Pacific, Bangkok had the highest,
while in North America Montreal and Vancouver led the way.
Milos Milovanovic, head of GainingEdge Analysis and
Research (GEAR), said this year’s research was expanded to included data on
associations who organise smaller meetings (200-499 delegates).
It would use this information to help cities determine
how much ‘intellectual capital’ they have at their disposal in relation to the
industrial sectors they are interested in targeting for meetings.
Jon
Sivertson, GainingEdge’s CEO, said: “We see Intellectual
Capital Engagement as a key to success
for a meetings destination. Cities need to explore who are their local leaders with a strong international
reputation, and how to engage them.
“Our Harnessing Ratio provides a great starting point for assessing how
to leverage intellectual capital and what action destinations should take to
increase its use. By identifying sectors that the destination wants to
support and promote, convention bureaus can choose to bid for meetings of
associations that strongly contribute to the development of these sectors and
take a lead in the strategic implementation of the city`s economic
development.”
Roman Muška, managing director Prague Convention Bureau, said: "The ranking of Prague is a result of a long-term
collaboration of the Convention Bureau and local ambassadors, active
involvement of local PCOs and congress venues.
"Together with an attractive
package which Prague as a destination can offer, containing great
accessibility, wide range of accommodation possibilities, the genius loci with
all historical monuments, all in a walking distance as well as a great value
for money, while offering first class services and infrastructure, these
are the main recipe ingredients I see behind this success."
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
