The International Place Branding Association Conference (IPBA 2017) in Swansea, Wales

From December 5th to 7th 2017 the city of Swansea, Wales was the venue for the Second Conference of the International Place Branding Association (IPBA) organised at the Swansea Marriott Hotel and the Swansea University Bay Campus.

Swansea as a location seems an interesting subject of research on its own. Bilingual with a confused identity, Welsh, but with an English influence as some might say. Derived from the official Wales brand, the leading slogan of the conference was “This is Wales”. Throughout the conference days many small details recalled this phrase. Reading the conference folder written in both official languages of Wales, Welsh and English, or listening to the opening speeches which included a Welsh greeting left no doubts about this special place for the attendees. This feeling was strengthened at the 1st day of the conference, when the delegates travelled to the newly built Swansea University Bay campus for the official introduction of the conference. Within the...