HOST CITY 2015, which aims to become the biggest EU-based conference and exhibition for cities, cross sector event owners and event suppliers, is to take place in Glasgow on the 9th and 10th of November.

The first HOST CITY, held in London in 2014, brought world class speakers and delegates from IOC, FIFA, World Expo, MOBO, ITU (Triathlon), FIS (Skiing) and numerous cities. It was acclaimed as the optimal environment for cities and events owners to network with and learn from peers in the business of bidding for and hosting cross sector events.

HOST CITY 2015 will build on this unique dialogue between cities and rights holders of sporting, cultural and business events by creating a much larger platform.

A new platform for Cities, Event Owners and Suppliers to work together

Calls have been intensifying for a one-stop event where city representatives, destination marketers, event owners and suppliers can all meet.

HOST CITY 2015 addresses this need and Glasgow is the perfect destination for enabling the event to fulfil its ambition of becoming the largest conference and exhibition of cities and cross-sector events.

Matthew Astill, CEO of Cavendish Group, which owns HOST CITY, said: “In an increasingly competitive global market, a growing number of cities are hosting a wider range of events to attract a greater share of global trade, talent, tourism, and investment.

“HOST CITY 2015 provides the platform for cities, event owners and suppliers to work together to bid for and host the greatest range of events at any single gathering in the EU. We are especially delighted to commit to HOST CITY growing up in Glasgow over the next three to five years.”

Sir Craig Reedie, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee and keynote speaker at HOST CITY in 2014 said: “I am pleased to see that the HOST CITY 2015 will be coming to Glasgow, building a platform for the growing marketplace of cities staging many different types of events. I enjoyed speaking at the inaugural 2014 conference and I look forward to doing so again in Glasgow.” 

A top events destination

HOST CITY 2015 will take place at the University of Strathclyde’s new state-of-the-art Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) in the heart of Glasgow. 

Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau said: “We are delighted that HOST CITY 2015 will be held in Glasgow. 

“Cities need a forum where they can meet the owners of all kinds of events and plan their future hosting strategies. The market for sports, cultural and business events is growing at a rapid rate and we anticipate that HOST CITY will develop into a major conference and exhibition for cities and cross-platform events.

“Glasgow is one of the world’s top 10 sporting cities with a phenomenally diverse, annual cultural calendar and we’ve been named the UK’s Best Convention Bureau for the past nine years – a reputation that we’ve built through a strategy of attracting the best international events and conferences, continued investment in state-of-the-art facilities, the launch of a dedicated Major Events Charter and a powerful city brand.”

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said: “We are delighted HOST CITY 2015 is set to take place in Glasgow, this November. Scotland, and indeed Glasgow has a strong track record and international reputation as the perfect stage for major events and I have no doubt this prestigious event will once again place Scotland on the map as a pre-eminent destination for major cultural, business and sporting events.”

What's it about?

The conference and exhibition will focus on how cities and rights holders can work together to bid for and host sporting, cultural and business events. These range from mega events such as the Olympic Games and World Expos to major business, scientific and cultural events. 

HOST CITY 2015 is set to include VIP speakers from event owners: IOC, CGF, FIFA, sports federations, BIE, MTV, EU Capital of Culture, Rock in Rio, major scientific congresses; city event leaders from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Japan, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, USA and many more.

Speakers who have confirmed their intention to speak include: Dimitri Kerkentzes, Chief of Staff, Bureau International des Expositions (World Expos); Tessa Jowell, Former Secretary of State, Olympics, UK; Antonio Arimany Fernandez, Director General, International Triathlon Union; Louise Martin, Honorary Secretary, Commonwealth Games Federation; Alexander Koch, Corporate Communications Manager, FIFA.

Rights holders will announce plans for their events and share insights on bidding for and hosting their properties. Cities will share their experiences of building a portfolio of sports, business and cultural events that attract investment and benefit society. 

With a mix of panel discussions, keynote addresses and case studies focussed on mega events, transport, security, business and cultural events, HOST CITY 2015 highlights the issues and opportunities facing everyone in the business of city events.

Press coverage of HOST CITY Bid to Win 2014 included: The Telegraph, Daily Mail, O Globo, Bloomberg, Associated Press, ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, Huffington Post, Star Africa, Yahoo, China Sports, Indian Express, Yomiuri Shimbun, Sports Illustrated, Washington Times, Kyiv Post, La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Omnisports, MSN, beIN Sports, Eurosport, Fox Sports.

Media Partners for HOST CITY 2015 include Sportcal; SportsPro; Fcbusiness.co.uk; iSportConnect; Around The Rings and TheFootballStadiums.com.

Who Should Attend?

•City representatives, destination marketing organisations, national sports and event bureaus;

•Owners of all large-scale events and exhibitions (sports, business, science and culture);

•Suppliers of infrastructure, technology and services for events.

Cavendish Group looks forward to welcoming you to HOST CITY 2015 in Glasgow on the 9th and 10th of November, 2015.

For more information visit www.bidtowin-hostcity.net 

Book your place and discuss speaking, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities with Ben Avison at +44 (0) 7876 682072 or ben.avison@hostcity.net

HOST CITY has launched “HOST CITY 2015: The Largest Meeting of Cities and Sports, Business and Cultural Events” – a major conference and exhibition to take place on 9 and 10 November 2015. 

With 100 per cent attendee satisfaction, HOST CITY: Bid to Win in 2014 was acclaimed as the optimal setting to network with and learn from peers in the business of hosting major events. 

The HOST CITY 2015 Bid to Win ConfEx will again create a unique dialogue between cities and rights holders of sporting, cultural and business events, on a bigger scale than ever before. 

The 2015 conference will focus on how cities and rights holders can work together to deliver successful, safe and sustainable sporting, cultural and business events. These range from mega events such as the Olympic Games and World Expos to major business, scientific and cultural events. 

HOST CITY 2015 is set to include VIP speakers from event owners: IOC, CGF, FIFA, sports federations, BIE, MTV, EU Capital of Culture, Rock in Rio, major scientific congresses; city event leaders from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Japan, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, USA and many more.

In an increasingly competitive global market, cities are hosting a wider range of events to attract a greater share of global trade and investment. HOST CITY 2015 provides the platform for them to work together to attract, build and host the greatest events in the world. 

Rights holders will announce plans for their events and share insights on bidding for and hosting their properties. Cities will share their experiences of building a portfolio of sports, business and cultural events that attract investment and benefit society. 

With a mix of panel discussions, keynote addresses and case studies focussed on mega events, transport, security, business and cultural events, HOST CITY 2015 highlights the issues and opportunities facing everyone in the business of city events.

Press coverage of HOST CITY Bid to Win 2014 included: The Telegraph, Daily Mail, O Globo, Bloomberg, Associated Press, ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, Huffington Post, Star Africa, Yahoo, China Sports, Indian Express, Yomiuri Shimbun, Sports Illustrated, Washington Times, Kyiv Post, La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Omnisports, MSN, beIN Sports, Eurosport, Fox Sports, with media partners SportCal, Around the Rings, iSportConnect and widespread social media coverage on #HostCity.

“We were very pleased with the overwhelmingly positive reaction to Bid to Win and very proud to present the HOST CITY 2015 Bid to Win ConfEx,” said event chairman and editorial director Ben Avison.

“The world’s most highly regarded speakers will cover all aspects of bidding for and hosting major events.

“We look forward to welcoming you to HOST CITY 2015: Bid to Win, The Largest Meeting of Cities and Sports, Business and Cultural Events on 27-28 October.”

To download the latest agenda visit www.bidtowin-hostcity.net

Book your place and discuss sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities with Adam Soroka on +44 (0) 203 077 8732 or adam.soroka@bric.com 

HOST CITY is following on from the success of its inaugural Bid to Win conference by supporting the Host Cities And Sports Events conference, which takes place in Geneva within the International Sports Convention (ISC) on 10th-11th December.

A number of speakers who featured in HOST CITY Bid to Win will be making an appearance at Host Cities and Sports Events, including David Grevemberg, CEO, Commonwealth Games Federation; Ric Birch, Managing Director, Filmmaster Special Events; and Nick Varley, Founding Partner and CEO, Seven46.

HOST CITY shares sponsorship of the conference with sports PR firm Calacus, insurer AON and TV production company Actua. 

The ISC features 18 conferences with a total of 150 speakers, including FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne and former Manchester United FC Manager David Moyes.

The four Event Partners for ISC are UNICEF, ASPIRE, MAPEI and the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFC). 

“We are very proud to work with UNICEF in assisting them to achieve their goals,” said Nigel Fletcher, Chief Executive of the International Sports Convention.

“The ISC focusses on the business of sport, and many are there to grow their businesses, which is what we set out to facilitate but we as organisers wanted to have a balance and re-emphasize the power of sport in today’s world.”

MAPEI supplies adhesives and chemical products for building sport facilities, such as the installations of swimming pools and running tracks, for Olympic Games and numerous international sports events. 

The host of the 2006 Asian Games, Qatar’s ASPIRE Zone offers a unique sports medicine, research and education destination for the international sports industry among some of the world’s finest sport venues.

The QFC Authority is the commercial and strategic arm of the Qatar Financial Centre, a thriving jurisdiction for global and regional financial services firms looking to capitalise on the opportunities offered by the region.

“It is an exciting time for Qatar, now and especially the road to 2022 and we look forward to working with Qatar Financial Centre,” said Fletcher.

For information about the ISC please visit www.geneva2014.com

Rio's venues will be ready to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016, despite the slow start to construction, the event's communications director said at Host City: Bid to Win on Tuesday.

“There is not a chance in the world that Rio will not be ready venue wise,” said Mario Andrada, executive director of communications, Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games.

“The construction of the Barra Olympic park is coming off the ground and the whole Olympic village will be ready around mid-2015,” Andrada said.

The comments were made at Host City’s unique Bid to Win event in London, where event organisers, bidding committees and rights holders were able to discuss issues related to bidding for major sports and cultural events.

Many observers have questioned Rio’s ability to meet its obligations for the 2016 games.

Long-term legacy issues underpin investment plans for Olympic construction projects and Rio intends to transform areas of the city using the Games as a catalyst, by using a mixture of public and private investment.

“This [the Barra Olympic Village] is a private enterprise and after the Games will be sold as condos – and there has been a complete redesign of the transport system in the area.”

Andrada explained the reasons why certain aspects of its Olympic Games preparations have been called into question.

“The Deodoro was a little late but we are now moving ahead and catching up. It is important to know in our case the bar is set really high following London but we have to mindful of our spending and our obligations to the Brazilian people. This is one of the reasons why we started the Deodoro a little late,” Andrada explained.

Members of the panel “Bidding Processes Under Review” at Host City: Bid to Win in London on Tuesday highlighted the first stage of the bidding process for the Olympic Games as being too long and raising expectations and costs at too early a stage.

“It is the first process that needs to be reduced and then six months before the decision the bid should be formally placed,” said Stefan Lindeberg, president of the Swedish Olympic Committee.

Stockholm dropped its bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic in January 2014 when senior politicians and city officials baulked at the rising estimated cost of hosting the games.

“The bid process has become an expensive competition and not because of the IOC requirements but because the bidding process is too long,” said Antonio Fernandez Arimany, director general, International Triathlon Union and former bid leader of Madrid 2016. 

“The bidding process is too long and you spend the maximum resources on that bid – this could be reviewed,” he said.

The panel included Sir Craig Reedie, vice president of the International Olympic Committee. “It is possible to revise the bidding process, but is difficult to tell cities what they may and may not do and then enforce this, because if the city is determined to win a prize they will go beyond what the IOC requires,” he said.

“The value of the prize is so enormous.”

Members of the panel identified non-organising committee costs, such as civic infrastructure projects that are often associated with a Games bid, as a source of unwelcome spikes in expenses. These infrastructure projects often bring benefits beyond the Games.

 “It seems to me the IOC faces a communication gap,” said Reedie.

“We seem to find it impossible to get anyone to understand that there are two separate budgets; one for the organising committee and one for the non-organising committee.

“The organising committee [of London 2012] made a modest surplus but the non-organising committee cost is the result of the Games being used as a catalyst to develop the host city.”

The cost of hosting the Games has come under unprecedented scrutiny since revelations about Sochi’s expenditure on infrastructure projects associated with hosting the Games. 

“At no time did we invite Sochi in Russia to make a USD 51bn contribution,” said Reedie.

The bidding procedure for the Olympic Games is currently under review, through the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020 initiative. 40 recommendation have been made to the IOC Executive Board. The recommendations will be presented, discussed and voted upon by IOC members at the 127th IOC session in Monaco on 8 and 9 December.

Host City: Bid to Win was held in London on 28 October 2014 and acted as a unique dialogue platform between cities and rights holders.