On the eve of IMEX Frankfurt, as the industry prepares for one of its busiest weeks, the CityDNA CVB Café has become a trusted space for destination professionals to take part in open, peer-to-peer exchange.
Taking place on May 18, 2026 at Hotel nhow, this edition builds on a format that consistently draws professionals from across Europe for honest conversations grounded in shared challenges.
Previous editions have shown that, regardless of size or structure, CVBs are navigating similar transformations. There’s a clear shift from service delivery to more strategic roles. Increasingly CVBs are acting as ecosystem connectors—aligning local stakeholders, supporting priority sectors, and driving long-term impact rather than short-term wins.
At the same time, pressures are mounting. Funding models are becoming less predictable, while expectations continue to rise. Many destinations are operating with limited resources, forcing teams to prioritize, specialize and demonstrate value more clearly than ever. In parallel, legacy and impact are no longer abstract ambitions; they’re being defined, measured and embedded into destination strategies.
What sets the CVB Café apart is not just the relevance of these topics, but the way they’re addressed. The format is deliberately informal and participant-driven. There is no stage, no hierarchy and no fixed agenda. Instead, discussions are shaped collectively, allowing participants to explore issues such as funding, sustainability, AI and organizational change in a candid and practical way.
This dynamic is underpinned by something less tangible, but essential: trust. Within the CityDNA community, professionals operate in a space of “coopetition”, where sharing knowledge does not weaken competitive positioning, but strengthens the collective capacity of destinations to evolve. This is what brings participants back, edition after edition.
The strength of the CVB Café lies in its ability to create a space for honest dialogue—where professionals can openly address what is not working, learn from peers facing similar constraints, and leave with practical ideas they can apply in their own destinations.
The impact of this approach has already extended beyond the Café itself. It directly inspired the launch of the first CityDNA CVB Expert Meeting in Graz in January 2026, a more structured and in-depth format designed to support peer learning at a strategic level.
In a week defined by scale and visibility, the CVB Café offers something different: a moment of alignment, reflection and collective intelligence before the conversations expand onto the global stage.
For those looking to move beyond observation and actively contribute to shaping the future of the sector, the CVB Café offers a rare opportunity for open, peer-driven exchange. With limited capacity and a registration deadline of May 11, CVB professionals are encouraged to secure their place and take part in the conversation.
CityDNA CVB Café
Booth A130
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