Despite facing the challenges of Storm Éowyn, the BestCities Global Forum concluded its annual meeting industry event in Dublin with resounding success, raising US$5,000 for the Solas Project, a local children’s charity.
Held from January 24-26, 2025, in partnership with the Dublin Convention Bureau, the forum welcomed international association representatives, trade media, industry thought leaders, and representatives from 13 BestCities destinations.
The event, capitalising on Dublin’s status as the European Capital of Smart Tourism, focused on how technological innovation can build more resilient, connected, and compassionate communities. A key highlight was the first-time use of Snapsight, an AI tool that captured event content in real-time, providing actionable insights. Summaries, key takeaways, transcriptions, and idea clouds from each session are available online.
Attendees experienced the best of Irish culture, history, and music, visiting iconic venues such as the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, The Convention Centre Dublin, Trinity College, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Croke Park, and the Guinness Storehouse.
BestCities also partnered with Trees4Events to offset 74 tonnes of carbon emissions generated by the forum, planting 450 trees in Mozambique and contributing to a UN carbon offset renewable energy programme in China.
The forum’s “Engage for Good” programme, which encourages attendee participation in charitable activities, raised US$2,500 for the Solas Project, an organisation empowering at-risk children and youth in Ireland. The Dublin Convention Bureau matched this amount, bringing the total donation to US$5,000.
The next BestCities Global Forum will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from February 5-8, 2026.
