Houston is the first city in the U.S. to be granted preliminary membership to the BestCities Global Alliance, an international collaborative of convention bureaus.
BestCities is the first global alliance to develop a certification program to ensure a consistent level of excellence from all partner cities.
Houston will join an elite alliance of partner cities-Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, Melbourne, San Juan, Singapore, Vancouver and Berlin.
"Qualifying for BestCities membership is a major coup for Houston," said Greg Ortale, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"We're in great company with these incredible cities, and we look forward to showcasing Houston to the world through this global alliance."
"The vibrant sharing of best practices, intelligence and knowledge amongst partners in the Alliance has sharpened Singapore's competitive edge," said Melissa Ow, assistant chief executive for the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau.
"The commitment to uphold the standards under the QMS underscores the spirit of excellence in the delivery of services to all our clients."
All partner cities are proven international meeting destinations and meet the BestCities criteria for membership with includes international class convention facilities and a minimum of 10,000 hotel rooms and a track record for hosting international conventions.
In addition, BestCities selects cities with professional convention bureaus committed to quality assurance and outstanding client focus. The bureaus have partnering experience and are prepared to work toward joint goals through resource sharing.
Houston will receive international promotion through the alliance at a significant savings because the cost is shared amongst all partner cities. Additionally, all partners will share leads for convention business, increasing Houston's opportunities to book international conventions.
BestCities will also receive significant value from Houston's membership:
- Houston, as America's fourth largest city and corporate destination, will bring expertise and leads to the alliance's client workshops, knowledge and leads exchange sessions particularly in the oil and gas, medical, biosciences and aerospace sectors;
- The GHCVB can provide access to some of the most modern facilities in the world via tailored technical tours of the Texas Medical Center, NASA and more;
- The GHCVB can reach out to its vast network of corporate partners to identify potential sponsors and speakers;
- The inclusion of Houston will offer BestCities clients another exciting and diverse destination option;
- In short, the membership of Houston will enrich the portfolio and expertise while enhancing sales opportunities within the alliance for all other partners.
