Empowering Places | Nov. 2024
Welcome to the monthly Empowering Places newsletter, crafted by Resonance and read by more than 15,000 placemaking professionals like you.
Your’e not imagining things: this has been a November to remember. Despite the geo-political firehoses (so many firehoses), we float on. This time of year also means the latest release of Resonance’s?World’s Best Cities rankings and report .?
This one is extra-special because it’s our 10th anniversary edition! We’re proud of how World’s Best Cities has ascended to become one of the most trusted, cited and recognized global benchmarks of perception and performance for urban economies.?See how your favorite cities stack up going into 2025.
THOUGHT READER
These are the World’s Best Cities in 2025
For the 10th year in a row, Resonance is excited to announce our latest?World’s Best Cities rankings and report .?
Our goal in producing these reports has always been to create the most comprehensive and holistic approach available for measuring and benchmarking the competitiveness of cities when it comes to attracting talent, visitors and businesses.?
The 2025 World’s Best Cities report is our most ambitious yet, powered by a new partnership with global research firm Ipsos, that incorporates perception-based data for the first time.
Our Best Cities rankings are lauded as one of the world’s most thorough and trusted, with Bloomberg calling it, “The most comprehensive study of its kind; it identifies cities that are most desirable for locals, visitors, and businesspeople alike, rather than simply looking at livability or tourism appeal.”
So why are our rankings cited by global media outlets and urban leaders across the country? Our unique methodology, which analyzes a wide range of factors that have demonstrated moderate-to-strong correlations with attracting prime age population (age 25 – 44), visitor expenditure, and/or business formation.
The result is an important, timely analysis of the urban regions that are leading the planet in attracting talent, visitors and/or businesses.
If you’d like to learn more about the rankings and how we use these insights to empower cities to realize their full potential,?we’d love to chat .?
Meanwhile, here are the Top 10 World’s Best Cities in 2025.
1. London, UK
2. New York, USA
3. Paris, France
4. Tokyo, Japan
5. Singapore
6. Rome, Italy
7. Madrid, Spain
8. Barcelona, Spain
9. Berlin, Germany
10. Sydney, Australia?
NEXT RESONANCE WEBINAR: DEC. 10
Want to dive deeper into the insights and lessons from our latest World’s Best Cities report? Register for our free Resonance webinar to discover the key forces that will drive migration, visitation and business formation in 2025.
DATE:?Tue., Dec. 10
TIME:?1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT
RESONANCE CLIENT NEWS
CityDNA gathers European CEOs in Monaco this January
Resonance is proud to help our client,?City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) , organize their 18th Annual CEO Meeting 2025 in Monaco this January 27 – 28. This transformative event empowers European DMO leaders to tackle challenges like sustainability, digital transformation, and shifting visitor behaviors. Featuring global insights from visionaries like Monaco Secretary of Attractiveness, Development and Digital Transformation Frederic Genta and innovative strategies from serial entrepreneur and strategic advisor Sam Beni, the meeting fosters collaboration, ideation, and future-proofing solutions for the tourism industry’s evolving demands.
PLACE STUDY
How an Indigenous-led mixed-use district breathed new life into an ancestral village site
Statl?w? District, a 45-acre mixed-use community on Vancouver’s verdant North Shore, is a vibrant model of contemporary living, working, and gathering on the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s ancestral lands.
Resonance facilitated envisioning sessions to craft a development storyline honoring the Nation’s heritage and future ambitions. We collaborated with language experts to name the destination "Statl?w?," meaning creek or little river in H?n?q??min??m?, and worked with First Nations artist Ocean Hyland to design a logo symbolizing transformation.
The district features thoughtfully integrated commercial spaces, homes, cultural events, and recreation in a walkable, people-first design. The storyline guides the masterplan, with branding and marketing collateral now underway to celebrate the land’s legacy and natural beauty.
Interested in a brand identity for your community, city or region??Let's chat ?about your plans and how Resonance can help.
SENSES OF PLACE?
What’s inspiring our craft this month?
?? READ?
New York Nico’s?Guide to NYC, offers a raw, locals-only perspective on the city, spotlighting 100 iconic spots and the vibrant characters behind them. From the best slice to the last kosher deli in the Bronx, Nico’s picks reflect NYC’s diversity and spirit, celebrating beloved places and personalities shaping the city. With vivid photos and stories, this guide captures the soul of a city in transition, proving that local experts like Nico are the ultimate guides to uncovering the true essence of a place. A must-read for visitors and natives alike who want to experience New York’s authentic heartbeat.?Get it now.
?? WATCH?
“A Real Pain,”?the new comedy-drama directed by Jesse Eisenberg, who also stars alongside Kieran Culkin (of “Succession” fame), follows American Jewish cousins David and Benji as they journey to Poland to explore their late grandmother's Holocaust horror. Their contrasting personalities—David's reserved nature and Benji's free-spirited demeanor—sharpen their immersive experiences among Poland's historic sites and their confrontation of generational trauma. The film serves as a heartfelt tribute to Poland’s own recent anguish, emphasizing the importance of connecting with one's roots in the places they grow deep to fully grasp family history.?Now playing.
?? LISTEN??
While the?Be Tasmanian Podcast ?was created in 2021, we were reminded of its significance at the latest City Nation Place Global event, as the destination held court on the conference and awards stages. Hosted by Brand Tasmania CEO Todd Babiak, this six-episode series trace his and the Brand Tasmania team’s journey in capturing and defining the identity of a place like no other on earth, with plenty of amazing local help along the way. We think it perfectly encapsulates the unique and invigorating place branding craft, and listen to it often.?Have a listen now.?
?????Thanks for reading! If you have any questions about helping your city or community realize its full potential, just reply to this email or?connect with us anytime . We'd love to chat.