Global cities are more similar than they are different. At least, that was the consensus at the recent IDA World Towns Leadership Summit in Stockholm, Sweden. The summit provided IDA and our partner organizations with a unique opportunity to explore the profession across varied socio-economic and geo-political environments. I want to thank Bjorn Bergman, CEO of Svenska Stadskarnor and Monica Bruvik, CEO of Stockholm City Center, for hosting the IDA group comprised of delegates representing six different countries.
The Summit opened with strategies for a Climate-Positive Stockholm. We then quickly moved to identify and build consensus on the challenges facing place management organizations worldwide. In addition to the climate crisis, the shifting nature of retail, need for more active storefronts, the changing demands for offices, and a consistent lack of attainable housing alternatives quickly emerged. Attendees recognized our communities are operating during extreme political and economic disruptions the world over. Compounded by dramatic shifts in public transportation use, perception of public safety, and a growing divide between resident and visitor opinions regarding tourism, we collectively identified the need for more education, better data, and a deeper understanding of the new generation of city center users.
There is much we can learn from one another across North America and abroad. The international delegates who visited projects in Stockholm and Uppsala in Sweden, and several who continued to Brussels witnessed tremendous efforts being made toward building resilient cities in every sense of the word. Through discussion and experiencing cutting-edge work, attendees learned how saving energy, meeting the needs of all parts of society, and limiting the impact on our environment can be the focus of innovative, economically successful projects. The summit reinforced, for me, that IDA member organizations are the future for cities. They provide daily users exceptional value at virtually no cost to the user by fostering partnerships and collaborations with many civic actors. Our industry enhances city roles and should not be seen as a threat.
Place management organizations across the world are fundamental to the success of cities and have been doing this work for decades. They are the storytellers that foster pride in the city. They educate, inform, and build trust among policy makers, partners, and stakeholders. In the end, attendees at this year’s summit agreed to continue with virtual gatherings each quarter. They seek to establish a global declaration outlining the importance of place management and place leadership as a key driver for addressing the challenges facing our communities. I’m confident that throughout the year ahead, we will establish a more connected international network of professionals, sharing key insights and solutions as we lead up to the 2025 Summit, now scheduled for last week of March in Cape Town South Africa.
Last, I want to acknowledge and thank Chris Beynon, Vice President and Chief Development Officer at MIG for his expert facilitation and for producing the wall graphic summary of the multiday event. Through Chris’s work and the contributions of all attendees, the full IDA membership can look forward as a new global declaration emerges in the months ahead so collectively we all can better communicate the value place management delivers each day.
