European cities reunited in Hamburg

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

The ECM International Conference in Hamburg on March 30-April 2, 2022 was the opportunity for the 190+ delegates from European cities and beyond to meet again in person and discuss tourism as an integral part of the shared DNA that unites our cities.

The conference was also the opportunity for European Cities Marketing to unfold its new brand: City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA).

Reunited with purpose

Lviv Tourism’s Head of TIC, Lidia Fedchuk and Lviv Convention Bureau’s Deputy Director, Sofiya Kayinska had the room speechless as they shared all they do and the strength with which they do it in the face of the horrors and atrocities of war to help international journalists, working on all levels to inform industry, associations and others on how best to help.

Create change through what you do and how you do it

Jakob Trollbäck, Founder of The New Division and Creator of the iconic Graphic Language for the 17 UN SDGs inspired the room, as he spoke about the power of design and communication – and simplification and human decency – in creating change.

The SDGs needed to be recognizable and understandable around the world, transcending regional, cultural and linguistic barriers.

He came up with 17 unique icons, which have now become part of our collective consciousness!

Norbert Kettner, CEO of Vienna Tourist Board shared how the city has been campaigning famous artwork as a protest to censorship by social networking sites while refocusing on the role of cities.

Viva con Agua’s Benjamin Adrion took the meaning of engaging for change and building purposeful social business to new levels, including the 12 levels of their new Viva Villa in Hamburg.

The organisation’s engagement is to provide access to drinking water to all.

They connect people to raise awareness about the importance of water as a resource by using the universal language of music, sport, art and tourism!

Participants also got the latest trends from other CityDNA Member cities such as Antwerp, Berlin, Hamburg, Heidelberg and Tel Aviv, but also from companies and organisations like the Scottish Tourism Alliance, Tony’s Chocolonely, Visit Queensland Australia, World Travel & Tourism Council as well as CityDNA’s Partners: ForwardKeys, GDS-Movement, Modul University, Simpleview and Transparent.

The conference was co-moderated by Signe Jungersted and Peter Rømer Hansen, from Group NAO.

City Destinations Alliance’s President, Petra Stušek said that their first in-person conference since 2019 was a real success both in terms of content, of the organisation from the host city and of course the people, their beloved members who mobilized and came in large numbers.

They met and worked for a full 3-day event to create new narratives, new partnerships and a new trajectory for urban tourism!

The next City Destinations Alliance Conference will take place in Tel Aviv on October 19-22, 2022.

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