CityDNA
From data to action
THE CITY DESTINATIONS ALLIANCE( CITYDNA)’ S TREND ROOM EXPLORES THE REAL IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CITY DESTINATIONS
A s the climate crisis
accelerates, few sectors feel its effects as directly as tourism and business events. Rising temperatures, shifting travel patterns, and mounting regulatory pressures are already reshaping how and where people meet. Against this backdrop, City Destinations Alliance( CityDNA) is helping European cities turn uncertainty into opportunity through foresight, collaboration, and shared intelligence.
The alliance’ s latest publication, the Trend Room White Paper Climate Change and the Future of Tourism, takes a steady look at how climate change could transform the urban visitor economy by 2035 and how city destinations can adapt. Presented at the CityDNA Autumn Conference in Tórshavn in October, the White Paper is part of the association’ s ongoing effort to equip destinations with the tools to anticipate disruption and drive systemic change.
Developed by the CityDNA Trend Room Knowledge Group in collaboration with the European Tourism Futures Institute( ETFI), this is the third in a series of foresightdriven reports, following editions on the metaverse( 2023) and the traveller of tomorrow( 2024). Using a scenarioplanning approach, the study explores four plausible futures – Northbound by Design, Selective Comforts, Smart Segments, and Managed Flow – each illustrating different ways cities may respond to the combined pressures of climate impact and technological innovation.
Rather than forecasting a single outcome, the White Paper encourages Destination Management Organisations( DMOs) and convention bureaux to explore multiple pathways, integrating foresight into long-term planning and strategic investments. The research is grounded in a collaborative scenario workshop led by Carolin Giarra and Dr Stefan Hartman of ETFI, bringing together insights from 19 European city DMOs.
“ The White Paper helps destinations connect climate foresight with strategic action,” says Claire Mertens, chair of the CityDNA Trend Room Knowledge Group and director of economy and tourism at City of Antwerp.“ Cities that organise events also need to think ahead about how they will deal with the impact of climate change and make sure that they are resilient to environmental change, inclusive in access, and data-smart in how they manage visitor flows.”
Beyond future scenarios, the publication outlines actionable strategies for today’ s decision-makers: conducting destination-level climate risk assessments, developing adaptive infrastructure, aligning tourism with broader city resilience policies, and promoting low-carbon event practices.“ The meetings industry, just like the wider tourism sector, has a crucial role to play in leading urban adaptation,” adds Sabine Schwanz, vice-president of City Destinations Alliance.
“ By combining academic rigour with practitioner insight, Trend Room helps members translate complex global trends into practical, placebased strategies”
“ By integrating climate foresight into destination planning, we can ensure that events not only minimise their impact but actively contribute to more liveable, sustainable cities.”
For CityDNA, the Trend Room represents more than research, it’ s a platform for collaborative learning among Europe’ s city destinations. By combining academic rigour with practitioner insight, it helps members translate complex global trends into practical, place-based strategies.
As climate change increasingly defines the operating context for tourism and events, foresight becomes a competitive advantage. CityDNA’ s message is both visionary and pragmatic: the future will not wait. Preparing for 2035 starts now, through data, dialogue, and decisive action. n
ISSUE 139 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 23