Analysis

Emerging Europe makes strong showing in nominations for City Nation Place Awards

Emerging Europe locations run increasingly more engaging promotional campaigns and are becoming more adept at creating brands. In recognition, cities like Tallinn, Szczecin and Warsaw, as well as regions like Poland’s Kujawsko-Pomorskie, and countries such as Estonia have been shortlisted for the City Nation Place (CNP) Awards.

“We are delighted to see the breadth and diversity of strategy represented by our finalists,” announced Clare Dewhirst, founder of the CNP Awards. “We were pleased to see an increased number of entries from cities and countries across emerging Europe – with Poland leading the way in terms of the numbers of entries. It’s particularly gratifying that so many have made it through to our list of finalists, featuring alongside such recognised global city brands as Barcelona, London, and Copenhagen,” she adds.

The full list of finalists includes almost forty projects and campaigns from across the world.

“It’s particularly pleasing to see how many towns, cities and nations around the world are recognising that place branding is about more than a logo and a slogan; and that a collaborative approach to place brand strategy can deliver real economic benefits,” Ms Dewhirst says.

In June 2018, Emerging Europe inaugurated the Emerging Europe Awards (EEA), which celebrate the outstanding efforts of those who consistently work towards the economic and social development of the region and contribute most to its growth. Some of the CNP Award nominees were also shortlisted or won EE Awards.

Invest Lithuania was named the National Investment Promotion Agency of the Year, while the city of Wrocław took home the award for City FDI Strategy of the Year, and Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana Tourism Campaign of the Year 2018. The New Bazaar in Tirana won Renewal Project of the Year.

According to the recent Nation Brand report, Slovenia is this year’s fastest-growing nation brand in the region, up 29 per cent to 82 billion US dollars. The report includes fourteen emerging Europe countries. With the exception of Latvia and Azerbaijan, all countries are growing in brand value above the world average of 12 per cent and have either improved or kept their ranking from 2017.

The winners of the 2018 City Nation Place Awards will be announced at the City Nation Place Global conference on November 8 in London.