The capital and leading cities of Europe were invited by European Cities Marketing (ECM) and VisitOslo to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo in December.
This year’s prize was awarded to the European Union with the Nobel committee drawing reference to the reconciliation between Germany and France after the Second World War as the beginning of 60 years of European peace.
The EU’s three presidents Herman van Rompuy, José Manuel Barroso and Martin Schulz collected the prize. German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president François Hollande were given a spontaneous round of applause as they were honoured in a speech. In a moving acceptance speech, Mr. Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, announced “Ich bin ein Europäer” – I am (proud to be) a European.
© VisitOSLO/Nancy Bundt
In a similar spirit of co-operation and mutual benefit, 20 CEOs of the Capital and leading City Tourist organisations of Europe were invited by European Cities Marketing to share best practise in marketing and strategy in a summit meeting before the ceremony.
The CEOs discussed the future of city-tourism based on the example of Barcelona Tourism Strategic Plan 2010-2015. Pere Duran, Managing Director of Turisme de Barcelona and Joan Torrella, Tourism and Events Manager of Barcelona City Council shared their insights on how the plan was built using a holistic approach to the idea of the city and the various interest groups within it. The plan considers the future needs of visitors and residents and the need for a strategic bold vision for city infrastructure that creates a win-win situation for making the city more successful.
Addressing the meeting, Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, the President of European Cities Marketing said : “this is a truly historic moment for Europe and for every European institution. European Cities Marketing has, in its own way, brought together the cities of Europe over many years. It has brought about trust and friendship and mutual benefit through sharing.”
Tor Sannerud the CEO of VisitOslo and the host of ECM summit meeting announced his retirement in August 2013. He went on to add: “As a former vice-president of ECM, I want to thank you all for your friendship over many years. We have achieved a lot together and built up a spirit of co-operation that has been of tremendous benefit not just to me as a leader, but all my directors and managers who have attended your conferences, forums and events.”
The next ECM annual meeting of Chief Executives of Capital and major cities is scheduled for Amsterdam in December 2013.
