SkiftX Partner Content

Hotels can now create their own brand-specific digital assistants with IBM's new Watson Assistant because they can white label the artificial intelligence platform. Hotel operators also keep their own data, versus giving it away to a company like Amazon, which IBM says provides a new level of brand intimacy and trust.

The intense focus on smart city design and development today needs to be explored through the lens of neighborhoods to make the theme more approachable for mainstream conversation and community engagement.

This conference planner sums it up best: “So many times an organization comes into a city, invades it for a few days, and then leaves. For us, we relied on the universities, pulling their knowledge and access to people, to create what we hope is a long-lasting conversation about the future of cities between us and the people of Glasgow.”

Many heavily visited cities have a whole host of issues to collectively address based on the challenges of overtourism and the opportunities provided by new connectivity platforms. Here's a deep-dive masterclass on how Vancouver is tackling the future.

The mayor and economic development leaders in Washington, D.C. are using SXSW as a platform to promote how the city supports female and minority entrepreneurs, more so than most U.S. cities.

Travel Portland's convention sales team is promoting the idea that "individuals attract individuals" to show conference planners how the city celebrates a diverse spectrum of local makers with a unique and creative point of view.

Nashville's rise as a trendy convention destination illustrates why city branding should focus on the individual stories and spirit of the local community and indie entrepreneurs to help differentiate the urban visitor experience.

The "HollandCity" vision capitalizes on the close proximity of Holland's largest urban centers, much like New York City's boroughs, to provide conference organizers with a more holistic overview of the country's major industry clusters.

More midsize cities like Calgary are promoting their local industry expertise to attract conferences in high-priority sectors, supported by the surging growth of advanced industries outside the world's gateway cities.

Think today’s mobile-powered travel services are impressive? The coming revolution in mobile predicted by many industry experts will make the current experience seem quaint.