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.
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.
The topic? The 24-hour economy.
And this is much bigger than nightlife strategy, it’s about how cities function as complete ecosystems.
The Davos Panel That Redefined 24-Hour Economy Strategy
The sessions, titled “Thriving 24/7: Unlocking the 24-Hour Economy,” were hosted by AB InBev and brought together exactly the right mix of expertise:
• Mirik Milan – former Night Mayor of Amsterdam and VibeLab founder (who pioneered the global night mayor movement now in 100+ cities) • Andreas Schaal – OECD Director for Global Relations • Alice Charles – Arup’s Leader for Global Strategic Partnerships and Cities • Bruno Henriques – CEO of iFood Pago • Paul Clemmons – Deloitte’s YesCities Lead • Georgia McDonnell-Adams – Board Member and Treasurer of the Nighttime Foundation • Andreina Seijas – Night Tank founder and academic lead of WEF’s 24-hour Economies initiative • Lorin Parys – Chairman of the Belgian Brewers Federation • John Blood – AB InBev’s Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs
Moderated by Saiful Salihudin, who leads the World Economic Forum’s Urban Transformation work.
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.
Why the 24-Hour Economy Matters for MICE Destinations
Here’s what I observed that opens new thinking about destinations and events:
1.How 24-Hour Infrastructure Expands Your Venue’s Competitive Advantage
Flanders’ 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.
Investment decisions—the 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.
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.
2. Night-Time Economy Infrastructure Drives Destination Talent Retention
Berlin’s night-time economy contributes $26 billion from expats alone and thriving nightlife is cited as a key reason people choose to move there.
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.
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.
3. How Destinations Can Activate the 24-Hour Economy Cycle
The panels outlined a four-step cycle that destinations can deliberately design:
Step 1: People go out at night (with culture at the core)
Step 2: This creates demand for night-time services. London’s night tube transformed the city’s 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.
Step 3: More infrastructure = more jobs and opportunities
Step 4: Workers with disposable income spend it at night, completing and accelerating the cycle
This is happening in real time. The question is how you can shape it for your destination or events.
Three Data Points That Prove Night-Time Economy Impact
How Night-Time Event Data Changed the Conversation
Lorin Parys from Belgium’s Pro League shared something that completely changed the conversation: they proved with data that football match nights are statistically safer than regular weekend nights.
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.
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.
Why 41% of Urban Workers Depend on Night-Time Economy
In Bristol, 41% of workers work night-time hours. Only one-third is entertainment, the rest is healthcare, logistics, call centers.
This reveals opportunities for how we design cities and events. We’ve been designing for the day shift, but nearly half the workforce operates on a different schedule.
Venues could serve night-shift workers. Events could consider this demographic in programming and timing. These are untapped opportunities waiting to be explored.
How Housing Development Powers 24-Hour City Vibrancy
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’s Postcode 3000 project), creates the residential density that powers vibrant night-time economies.
This opens conversations between DMOs and urban planners—collaboration that benefits everyone.
The Melbourne 24-Hour City Blueprint: What Destinations Can Learn
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:
– Students living in the city center created the critical mass needed for vibrancy
– The “20-minute city” with constant transit connecting suburbs
– “Passive surveillance” design: lighting and layout that creates safety through visibility
– “Traveling in a woman’s shoes” research with the transport authority to ensure accessibility for women, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities
The result? A thriving night-time economy that attracts talent, hosts world-class events, and demonstrates that this integrated approach works at scale.
Melbourne solved housing, transport, safety, and economic development challenges simultaneously by thinking differently about urban time.
Three Night-Time Economy Trends Transforming Destinations in 2026
1. How Leading MICE Destinations Use Night-Time Governance as Differentiation
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.
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.
2. Event Agencies Building “24-Hour Impact” Into Proposals
Forward-thinking agencies pitching multi-day congresses can now articulate how their events activate the local economy across the full 24-hour cycle.
Opportunities to explore:
1. Who benefits from your event beyond typical business hours?
2. Where do night-shift workers connect with delegate activity?
3. How does your event contribute to the city’s resilience and around-the-clock functionality?
4. What transport and safety considerations enhance delegate experiences during evening programming?
3. Policy Innovations That Strengthen Night-Time Economy Infrastructure
Andreas Schaal from the OECD mentioned tax-free night shift compensation as a policy acknowledging night workers’ value.
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.
Why Smart Destinations Are Investing in 24-Hour Infrastructure Now
The infrastructure decisions cities are making right now (transit schedules, venue licensing, housing development) will shape which destinations excel in the next event cycle.
The Competitive Advantage of 24-Hour Economy Destinations
Start conversations with your destination partners about their night-time strategy, not just their nightlife, but their infrastructure.
Questions worth asking:
1. Identify who benefits from your event beyond typical business hours
2. Where do night-shift workers connect with delegate activity?
3. Consider how your event contributes to the city’s resilience and around-the-clock functionality
4. What transport and safety considerations enhance delegate experiences during evening programming?
And if you’re a DMO reading this: the World Economic Forum just launched a knowledge repository and community platform on 24-hour cities. There’s a growing network of practitioners sharing what works. This is a chance to learn from cities already seeing results.
Cities that develop integrated 24-hour economies will build:
• Stronger talent attraction
• More resilient local economies
• Safer, better-designed streets
• More inclusive urban environments
• Better conditions for hosting successful events
The destinations and agencies that explore this now will create experiences and value that others are still discovering.
This is your invitation to be part of that conversation.
What’s your take? Are you seeing innovative night-time approaches in your destination? I’d love to hear what you’re observing on the ground. Drop a comment below or reach out directly.
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