\n<\/p>\n
Among all the sessions at Davos this year: the AI hype, the sustainability panels, the corporate pledges, one conversation stood out as most transformative for our industry.<\/p>\n
Not because it dominated social media feeds, but because it addresses something fundamental that will enable destinations to create exceptional delegate experiences and stronger local economies.<\/p>\n
The topic? The 24-hour economy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n And this is much bigger than nightlife strategy, it\u2019s about how cities function as complete ecosystems.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sessions, titled \u201cThriving 24\/7: Unlocking the 24-Hour Economy,\u201d were hosted by AB InBev and brought together exactly the right mix of expertise:<\/p>\n \u2022 Mirik Milan \u2013 former Night Mayor of Amsterdam and VibeLab founder (who pioneered the global night mayor movement now in 100+ cities) \u2022 Andreas Schaal \u2013 OECD Director for Global Relations \u2022 Alice Charles \u2013 Arup\u2019s Leader for Global Strategic Partnerships and Cities \u2022 Bruno Henriques \u2013 CEO of iFood Pago \u2022 Paul Clemmons \u2013 Deloitte\u2019s YesCities Lead \u2022 Georgia McDonnell-Adams \u2013 Board Member and Treasurer of the Nighttime Foundation \u2022 Andreina Seijas \u2013 Night Tank founder and academic lead of WEF\u2019s 24-hour Economies initiative \u2022 Lorin Parys \u2013 Chairman of the Belgian Brewers Federation \u2022 John Blood \u2013 AB InBev\u2019s Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs<\/p>\n Moderated by Saiful Salihudin, who leads the World Economic Forum\u2019s Urban Transformation work.<\/p>\n The panel brought together people with real data, real city transformation experience, and proven economic impact. Their expertise reveals practical pathways forward, creating genuine opportunities for destinations.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what I observed that opens new thinking about destinations and events:<\/p>\n Flanders\u2019 president opened the first panel by highlighting that the region attracted 25,885 investment projects last year, and explicitly linked this to their 24\/7 infrastructure. Ports, logistics hubs, and venues operating beyond 9-to-5 are economic assets for talent attraction.<\/p>\n Investment decisions\u2014the kind that determine where companies put their headquarters and where associations hold their conferences are increasingly based on how a region functions around the clock.<\/p>\n When venues and destinations can articulate how they support events and delegates around the clock (not just during conference hours), they create strong competitive advantages.<\/p>\n Berlin\u2019s night-time economy contributes $26 billion from expats alone and thriving nightlife is cited as a key reason people choose to move there.<\/p>\n Mirik Milan shared data showing vibrant night-time culture is essential for cities as small as 50,000-100,000 residents for talent attraction and retention.<\/p>\n For destinations pitching conferences, association meetings, or corporate events, your night-time offering is infrastructure that matters to delegates. Gen Z attendees, the loneliest but most connected generation, are seeking authentic live experiences beyond hotel bars.<\/p>\n The panels outlined a four-step cycle that destinations can deliberately design:<\/p>\n Step 1:<\/strong> People go out at night (with culture at the core)<\/p>\n Step 2:<\/strong> This creates demand for night-time services. London\u2019s night tube transformed the city\u2019s event economy. Before the night tube, events had to end early or organizers paid premium rates for private transport. After? The entire event landscape expanded with new possibilities.<\/p>\n Step 3:<\/strong> More infrastructure = more jobs and opportunities<\/p>\n Step 4:<\/strong> Workers with disposable income spend it at night, completing and accelerating the cycle<\/p>\n This is happening in real time. The question is how you can shape it for your destination or events.<\/p>\n Lorin Parys from Belgium\u2019s Pro League shared something that completely changed the conversation: they proved with data that football match nights are statistically safer than regular weekend nights.<\/p>\n By working with police, stewards, residents, and transport authorities, they demonstrated that structured night-time events create measurable value. That data-driven approach shifted the entire conversation from risk management to value creation.<\/p>\n Event agencies can apply this thinking to festivals, trade shows, or congresses, demonstrating economic and social value with real numbers rather than just permit applications.<\/p>\n In Bristol, 41% of workers work night-time hours. Only one-third is entertainment, the rest is healthcare, logistics, call centers.<\/p>\n This reveals opportunities for how we design cities and events. We\u2019ve been designing for the day shift, but nearly half the workforce operates on a different schedule.<\/p>\n Venues could serve night-shift workers. Events could consider this demographic in programming and timing. These are untapped opportunities waiting to be explored.<\/p>\n Alice Charles from Arup connected housing development directly to night-time economy: vacant space above shops and derelict buildings represent housing stock that, when activated (like Melbourne\u2019s Postcode 3000 project), creates the residential density that powers vibrant night-time economies.<\/p>\n This opens conversations between DMOs and urban planners\u2014collaboration that benefits everyone.<\/p>\n Melbourne keeps appearing in these conversations because city architect Rob Adams (40-year tenure) demonstrated how thinking about time as infrastructure can solve multiple challenges simultaneously:<\/p>\n \u2013 Students living in the city center created the critical mass needed for vibrancy The result? A thriving night-time economy that attracts talent, hosts world-class events, and demonstrates that this integrated approach works at scale.<\/p>\n Melbourne solved housing, transport, safety, and economic development challenges simultaneously by thinking differently about urban time.<\/p>\n Amsterdam reduced alcohol-related violence by 20% and nuisance reports by 30% through structured stakeholder collaboration, not through increased policing or restrictions, but through better coordination.<\/p>\n Leading DMOs are building night mayors, integrated transport systems, and safety frameworks into their destination stories. This is differentiation based on genuine infrastructure and delegate experience.<\/p>\n Forward-thinking agencies pitching multi-day congresses can now articulate how their events activate the local economy across the full 24-hour cycle. <\/p>\n Opportunities to explore:\u00a0<\/p>\n 1. Who benefits from your event beyond typical business hours?\u00a0 Andreas Schaal from the OECD mentioned tax-free night shift compensation as a policy acknowledging night workers\u2019 value.<\/p>\n Cities implementing policies supporting night workers attract more service sector talent, which directly enhances event quality. Better compensation and working conditions mean better trained staff and superior delegate experiences.<\/p>\n The infrastructure decisions cities are making right now (transit schedules, venue licensing, housing development) will shape which destinations excel in the next event cycle.<\/p>\n Start conversations with your destination partners about their night-time strategy, not just their nightlife, but their infrastructure.<\/p>\n Questions worth asking: <\/p>\n 1. Identify who benefits from your event beyond typical business hoursThe Davos Panel That Redefined 24-Hour Economy Strategy<\/h2>\n
Why the 24-Hour Economy Matters for MICE Destinations<\/h2>\n
1.How 24-Hour Infrastructure Expands Your Venue\u2019s Competitive Advantage<\/h3>\n
2. Night-Time Economy Infrastructure Drives Destination Talent Retention<\/h3>\n
3. How Destinations Can Activate the 24-Hour Economy Cycle<\/h3>\n
Three Data Points That Prove Night-Time Economy Impact<\/h2>\n
How Night-Time Event Data Changed the Conversation<\/h3>\n
Why 41% of Urban Workers Depend on Night-Time Economy<\/h3>\n
How Housing Development Powers 24-Hour City Vibrancy<\/h3>\n
The Melbourne 24-Hour City Blueprint: What Destinations Can Learn<\/h2>\n
\u2013 The \u201c20-minute city\u201d with constant transit connecting suburbs
\u2013 \u201cPassive surveillance\u201d design: lighting and layout that creates safety through visibility
\u2013 \u201cTraveling in a woman\u2019s shoes\u201d research with the transport authority to ensure accessibility for women, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities<\/p>\nThree Night-Time Economy Trends Transforming Destinations in 2026<\/h2>\n
1. How Leading MICE Destinations Use Night-Time Governance as Differentiation<\/h3>\n
2. Event Agencies Building \u201c24-Hour Impact\u201d Into Proposals<\/h3>\n
2. Where do night-shift workers connect with delegate activity?\u00a0
3. How does your event contribute to the city\u2019s resilience and around-the-clock functionality?\u00a0
4. What transport and safety considerations enhance delegate experiences during evening programming?<\/p>\n3. Policy Innovations That Strengthen Night-Time Economy Infrastructure<\/h3>\n
Why Smart Destinations Are Investing in 24-Hour Infrastructure Now<\/h2>\n
The Competitive Advantage of 24-Hour Economy Destinations<\/h2>\n
2. Where do night-shift workers connect with delegate activity?
3. Consider how your event contributes to the city\u2019s resilience and around-the-clock functionality
4. What transport and safety considerations enhance delegate experiences during evening programming?<\/p>\n