Legacy

Each congress can not only generate short-term economic benefits for the destination, but also initiate long-term changes in society and the industry. 

The term “Legacy” describes the long-term added value that events such as congresses and trade fairs create for all stakeholders involved. It’s about more than just economic factors such as hotel occupancy and sales – the sustainable impact on the destination, the local stakeholders and society as a whole is the main focus.

Table of Contents

    The value added by Legacy

    1. For event organisers

    • Increase in the long-term importance of the events.
    • Organisers can position themselves as responsible and sustainable, which increases the attractiveness for sponsors and participants.
    • Communication of successes and their positive impact
    • Acquisition of new target groups and members through cross-industry collaborations.
    • Development of new funding sources and strategic partnerships.

    2. For the congress destination and the local stakeholders

    • Increase in the visibility of Basel as a meeting and congress city and the visibility of the relevant stakeholders.
    • Partnerships with local educational institutions and non-profit organisations contribute sustainably to social development.
    • Tourism organisation/Convention Bureau Basel can increase the importance within the destination.

    3. For society

    • Congresses can sustainably influence different interest groups in society through knowledge sharing, social projects and education.
    • Use of the event as a platform to overcome local challenges.

    How does my event leave a lasting impression?

    • In a first step, it is important to deal with the following two questions and analyse them precisely:  

      • What do I want to achieve with my event?
      • What are the aims of our organisation?

    • In the next step, it is important to engage with the aims of the destination and to ask oneself the following questions:

      • How can my/our aims be reconciled with the aims of the destinations?
      • How can the aim be implemented at the destination?
      • Who can support me with this?

      Depending on the aims, different interest groups can participate at local level: 
      Basel Convention Bureau of Basel Tourism, urban and cantonal institutions, universities and research institutions, local PCOs (Congrex Switzerland), commerce

      Approaches for collaborations:

      • Financial support: Provision of funding for local projects.
      • Integrative collaboration: Involvement of local associations and institutions in congress planning or implementation.

    • Once the key questions are clarified, the conception phase of the Legacy Initiative begins:

      • Initial project ideas are gathered in creative brainstorming sessions and an open exchange. 
      • The focus is always on the previously defined Legacy aims. 
      • Legacy projects already successfully implemented at the destination serve as a valuable source of inspiration.

    • Finally, it is important to systematically evaluate the targeted aims as well as the achieved results and to derive valuable insights from the gained experience for future projects.

    Best practices/inspirations

    • ESOC: Panel discussion with the question: Does Switzerland need a patient organisation?  
    • Information stand in the city centre – “Public Awareness Day” 
    • IAPCO – Urban Gardening project 

    Contact Basel Convention Bureau

    We are happy to support you in your work with local organisations that are active in and for Basel.

    Susanne Pfefferle

    Manager Associations 

    +41 61 268 68 61

    Ramona Debus

    Manager Associations (maternity leave) 

    +41 61 268 68 60