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HomePlace Brand Experts Around the World

Place Brand Experts Around the World

Get to know professionals around the world dedicated to making cities, regions and countries attractive as places to visit, live and invest.

Latest interviews

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By focus area:

The profiles of those dedicated to the development and management of places are very diverse, which is reflected in our interviews. Those include:

Country Branders

City Branders

Destination Branders

Economic Developers

Public Diplomacy

Placemakers

Academics

Consultants

Looking for an advisor or someone to lead a workshop or speak at your event? Visit our lists of recommended consultants and speakers - or contact us.

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ABOUT TPBO

At The Place Brand Observer (TPBO) we are passionate about the identity, image and reputation of cities, regions and countries, their uniqueness, attractiveness, soft power and brand value.

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Inga Hlín Pálsdóttir

Inga Hlín Pálsdóttir on Destination Branding and the Promotion of Iceland. Read the interview

Todd Babiak

Todd Babiak on Meaningful Place Branding Through Storytelling. Read the interview

Chris Fair

Chris Fair on the Branding and Marketing of Cities and Destinations. Read the interview

Bill Baker

Portland, United States

Bill Baker on Destination Branding for Small Cities. Read the interview

John Cooper

Yakima, United States

John Cooper of Yakima Valley Tourism on Destination Marketing Strategies. Read the interview

Nicolas Papadopoulos

Ottawa, Canada

Nicolas Papadopoulos on Country Image Research and Nation Branding Trends. Read the interview

Günter Soydanbay

Montreal, Canada

Günter Soydanbay on How to Succeed in City Branding, with Lessons from Turkey. Read the interview

Frank Cutitta

Boston, United States

Frank Cutitta on City Branding and How to Build Smart and Resilient Cities. Read the interview

Fernando Prado

Boston, United States

Fernando Prado on Place Brands and the Reputation of Cities and Countries. Read the interview

Hume Johnson

Providence, United States

Hume Johnson on Brand Jamaica and Nation Branding in the Americas. Read the interview

Statia Elliot

Guelph, Canada

Statia Elliot on the Evolution of Destination Marketing and DMOs. Read the interview

David Ferreira

Mississauga, Canada

David Ferreira on How Mississauga in Canada Approaches City Branding. Read the interview

Richard Florida

Toronto, Canada

Richard Florida on Creative Cities and Economic Development. Read the interview

Jeannette Hanna

Toronto, Canada

Jeannette Hanna of Trajectory Consulting on Creating Authentic Place Brands. Read the interview

Lauren Millier

Toronto, Canada

Lauren Millier on Economic Development and Urban Planning. Read the interview

Nick Cull

Los Angeles, United States

Nick Cull, Professor of Public Diplomacy at USC Annenberg. Read the interview

Nadia Kaneva

Denver, United States

Nadia Kaneva on Nation Branding Research and Approaches. Read the interview

Peter Frosch

Saint Paul, United States

Peter Frosch of Greater MSP on Regional Economic Development Challenges, Strategies and Trends. Read the interview

Philip Kotler

Evanston, United States

Philip Kotler on Place Marketing, Branding and Why We Need to Rethink Capitalism. Read the interview

Bill Geist

Madison, United States

Bill Geist on the Future of Destination Marketing and the Next Generation of DMOs. Read the interview

Michael Edwards

Chicago, United States

Michael Edwards on How the Loop Alliance Supports Placemaking and Economic Development in Downtown Chicago. Read the interview

Michael Gehrisch

Chicago, United States

Michael Gehrisch on Destination Marketing Trends, Strategies and Challenges. Read the interview

Ron Kitchens

Kalamazoo, United States

Ron Kitchens of Southwest Michigan First on Economic Development and Place Branding. Read the interview

Andy Levine

New York, United States

Andy Levine on the Keys to Success in Place Marketing and Economic Development. Read the interview

David Gertner

New York, United States

David Gertner, Pace University, on Strategic Place Marketing. Read the interview

Gene DePrez

New York Metropolitan Area, USA

Gene DePrez on Economic Development, Place Branding and Competitive City Regions. Read the interview

Gordon Innes

New York, United States

Gordon Innes on City Branding, Placemaking and Economic Development. Read the interview

Gonzalo Brujó

New York, United States

Gonzalo Brujó on Place Branding Strategies and Factors Determining Brand Strength. Read the interview

Jeremy Tamanini

New York, United States

Jeremy Tamanini on the Green Economy, Sustainability and Country Reputation. Read the interview

Fred Dixon

New York, United States

Fred Dixon on New York City Branding and Reputation Management. Read the interview

Vadim Volos

New York, United States

Vadim Volos on Country Brands, National Image and Tracking Reputation. Read the interview

Steven Pedigo

New York, United States

Steven Pedigo on City Branding, Economic Development and Urban Sustainability. Read the interview

Jeff Finkle

Washington, United States

Jeff Finkle on Economic Development Practices in the USA. Read the interview

Carlos Delgado

Washington, United States

Carlos Delgado about Equitable Economic Development in U.S. Cities. Read the interview

Ed Burghard

Loveland, United States

CEd Burghard on Brand USA and Strengthening Brand America. Read the interview

Joshua Miller

United States

Joshua Miller of the U.S. State Department on Research-Driven Diplomacy. Read the interview

Efe Sevin

Georgia, United States

Efe Sevin on Exurban Place Branding Opportunities, Brand America and the American Dream. Read the interview

Sean Randolph

Sacramento, United States

Sean Randolph on Economic Development Challenges and Successes of the Silicon Valley Bay Area. Read the interview

John Strelecky

Windermere, United States

John Strelecky on How Finding Your True Purpose as City or Destination Will Lead to Success. Read the interview

Todd Mayfield

Wellington, United States

Todd Mayfield on Branded Wayfinding for Destinations. Read the interview

Ronald Theodore

Grenada

Ronald Theodore on Destination Grenada and Investment Attraction Strategies. Read the interview

Caio Esteves

São Paulo, Brazil

Caio Esteves on Place Branding in Brazil and Latin America. Read the interview

José Pablo Arango Calle

Bogotá, Colombia

José Pablo Arango Calle on Country Branding and the Reputation of Colombia. Read the interview

Diane Edwards

Kingston, Jamaica

Diane Edwards on Brand Jamaica, Country Branding and Investment Attraction Strategies. Read the interview

Mara Seminario

Miraflores, Peru

Mara Seminario on Country Branding, Destination Marketing and Brand Peru. Read the interview

Isabella Falco

San Isidro, Peruu

Isabella Falco on the Success Strategy Behind Brand Peru Country Branding. Read the interview

Adriana Campelo

Salvador, Brazil

Adriana Campelo on Heritage and Co-Creational Place Branding. Read the interview

Myriam Gómez

Lo Barnechea, Chile

Myriam Gómez of Marca Chile on Country Branding Strategies. Read the interview

Gustavo Koniszczer

Comuna 14, Argentina

Gustavo Koniszczer on Country Branding in Latin America. Read the interview

Larissa Perdomo

Montevideo, Uruguay

Larissa Perdomo on Brand Uruguay and Country Branding. Read the interview

Benjamín Liberoff

Montevideo, Uruguay

Benjamín Liberoff on How Uruguay is Evolving as a Tourist Destination. Read the interview

Mike Fabricius

Cape Town, South Africa

Mike Fabricius on Africa, Destination Marketing and Place Brand Management. Read the interview

Mariette du Toit-Helmbold

Stellenbosch, South Africa

Mariette du Toit-Helmbold on Destination Marketing Strategies, Travel Trends and Brand South Africa. Read the interview

Thebe Ikalafeng

Johannesburg, South Africa

Thebe Ikalafeng on the Branding and Reputation of Africa. Read the interview

Joao Ministro

Loulé, Portugal

Joao Ministro on Algarve Regional Development, Branding and Sustainability. Read the interview

Joao Freire

Lisbon, Portugal

Joao Freire on Place Branding Practices in Portugal and the Middle East. Read the interview

Gildo Seisdedos

Madrid, Spain

Gildo Seisdedos, Professor at IE Business School in Madrid, Spain. Read the interview

Jose Filipe Torres

Madrid, Spain

Jose Filipe Torres on the Branding and Digital Reputation of Countries, Regions and Cities. Read the interview

Gonzalo Vilar

Madrid, Spain

Gonzalo Vilar on Country Brands, Place Branding and Digital Demand. Read the interview

Jordi de San Eugenio Vela

Vic, Spain

Jordi de San Eugenio Vela on Barcelona, City Branding and Public Diplomacy in Catalonia, Spain. Read the interview

Jaume Marin

Girona, Spain

Jaume Marín on the Destination Branding of Costa Brava and Pyrenees, Catalonia. Read the interview

Juan Carlos Bbellos

Barcelona, Spain

Juan Carlos Belloso on City Branding and the Case of Barcelona. Read the interview

Jordi Xifra

Barcelona, Spain

Jordi Xifra on Place Reputation, Public Diplomacy and Catalonia. Read the interview

Guy Bigwood

Barcelona, Spain

Guy Bigwood on MICE, Place Marketing and Sustainability. Read the interview

José Fernández-Cavia

Barcelona, Spain

José Fernández-Cavia on Digital Media, Place Brand and Destination Branding. Read the interview

Mateu Hernández Maluquer

Barcelona, Spain

Mateu Hernández Maluquer of Barcelona Global on City Brand Challenges and Talent Attraction Strategies. Read the interview

Christophe Alaux

Marseille, France

Christophe Alaux on Place Marketing in France. Read the interview

Cecilia Pasquinelli

Napoli, Italy

Cecilia Pasquinelli on Urban Competitiveness and the Cultural Economy. Read the interview

Maria Cristina Paganoni

Milan, Italy

Maria Cristina Paganoni on City Branding and New Media. Read the interview

Massimo Giovanardi

Bologna, Italy

Massimo Giovanardi on Destination Marketing, Country-of-Origin and Tourism Overcrowding. Read the interview

Nicolas Bideau

Bern, Switzerland

Nicolas Bideau on Brand Switzerland, Nation Branding and Culinary Diplomacy. Read the interview

Oliver Zöllner

Stuttgart, Germany

Oliver Zöllner of Stuttgart Media University on Place Branding in Germany. Read the interview

Robert Govers

Antwerp, Belgium

Robert Govers on Place Branding Theory and Practice. Read the interview

Marc Thébault

Caen, France

Marc Thébault on Place Marketing in France: City Branding Practices, Challenges and Trends. Read the interview

Xavier Theret

Nantes, France

Xavier Theret on Territorial Marketing and How Nantes Has Become Known as Creative and Innovative City. Read the interview

Sonya Hanna

Gwynedd, United Kingdom

Sonya Hanna on Strategic Place Brand Management. Read the interview

Annette Pritchard

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Annette Pritchard on Tourism, Media Representations of Places and Destination Branding. Read the interview

Nigel Morgan

Surrey, United Kingdom

Nigel Morgan on Destination Brands, Brexit, Wales and Sporting Events. Read the interview

Clare Dewhirst

Plaxtol, United Kingdom

Clare Dewhirst on Changes in Place Branding Discourse and Practice. Read the interview

Andy Pike

Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom

Andy Pike on Place Brands and Regional Development. Read the interview

Tom Buncle

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Tom Buncle of Yellow Railroad on How to Succeed in Destination Branding. Read the interview

Keith Dinnie

Dundee City, United Kingdom

Keith Dinnie, Place Branding Scholar and Advisor. Read the interview

Martin Boisen

Utrecht, Netherlands

Martin Boisen on City Branding, Marketing and Place Management. Read the interview

Albert Salman

Leiden, Netherlands

Albert Salman on Green Destinations and Sustainable Tourism Leadership. Read the interview

Gwen Zuring

Tilburg, Netherlands

Gwen Zuring on Brabant Regional Branding and Place Brand Management Strategies. Read the interview

Raquel Goulart Sztejnberg

Netherlands

Raquel Goulart Sztejnberg on Destination Branding and Place Brands in Brazil. Read the interview

Guido van Garderen

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Guido van Garderen on the Grand Challenges of Branding and the Ultimate Course on Brand Strategy. Read the interview

Frans van der Avert

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Frans van der Avert on Amsterdam City Marketing and Destination Branding. Read the interview

Gert-Jan Hospers

Enschede, Netherlands

Gert-Jan Hospers on Urban and Regional Development and Place Marketing. Read the interview

Conny Moonen

Limburg, Netherlands

Conny Moonen of Connect Limburg on Cross-Border Regional Branding in Europe. Read the interview

Sebastian Zenker

Frederiksberg, Denmark

Sebastian Zenker on Place Marketing and City Branding in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. Read the interview

Louise Juhl

København, Denmark

Louise Juhl of Copenhagen Capacity on Talent Attraction Strategies, the Role of Empathy and Collaboration. Read the interview

Hjörtur Smárason

København, Denmark

Hjörtur Smárason on Place Branding, Brand Africa and Future Cities. Read the interview

Nikolaj Lubanski

København, Denmark

Nikolaj Lubanski of Copenhagen Capacity on Talent Attraction: Strategies, Trends and Challenges. Read the interview

Tobias Grut

København, Denmark

Tobias Grut on The Nordics Region Branding Challenges and Benefits. Read the interview

Peter Pirck

Hamburg, Germany

Peter Pirck on City Branding Practices and Trends in Germany. Read the interview

James Pamment

Skåne län, Sweden

James Pamment on Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy. Read the interview

Andrea Lucarelli

Lund, Sweden

Andrea Lucarelli on the Politics of Place Branding, Research Trends and the Role of Social Media. Read the interview

Lisa Andersson

Lund, Sweden

Talent Attraction: How the International Citizen Hub Lund Helps to Attract Talent to Southern Sweden. Read the interview

Jesper Falkheimer

Lund, Sweden

Jesper Falkheimer on Place Branding, Media and Strategic Communication. Read the interview

Petra Trimborn

Hamburg, Germany

Petra Trimborn on Destination Branding and Sustainability in Germany. Read the interview

Thorsten Kausch

Hamburg, Germany

Thorsten Kausch on Hamburg, MICE and the Future of City Marketing. Read the interview

Björn P. Jacobsen

Stralsund, Germany

Björn P. Jacobsen on Inter-Regional and Cross-Border Place Branding in Europe. Read the interview

Christof Biggeleben

Berlin, Germany

Christof Biggeleben about City Branding, History and Berlin. Read the interview

Magdalena Florek

Poznań, Poland

Magdalena Florek on City Branding and Destination Marketing in Poland. Read the interview

Marta Herezniak

Łódź, Poland

Marta Hereźniak on Place Brand Effectiveness Measurement and How to Involve Stakeholders. Read the interview

Adam Mikolajczyk

Warszawa, Poland

Adam Mikolajczyk of Best Place Institute on Meaningful City Branding. Read the interview

Helena Nordström

Huskvarna, Sweden

Helena Nordström on Place Branding in Sweden and Characteristics of Successful Place Brands. Read the interview

Marcus Andersson

Stockholms län, Sweden

Marcus Andersson on Talent Attraction and Place Attractiveness. Read the interview

Julian Stubbs

Stockholms,, Sweden

Julian Stubbs on City Branding of Liverpool, Stockholm, Place Marketing Challenges and Trends. Read the interview

Doug Lansky

Stockholms län, Sweden

Doug Lansky on Competitive and Sustainable Destinations. Read the interview

Annika Rembe

Stockholms län, Sweden

Annika Rembe on Sweden, Country Reputation and Public Diplomacy. Read the interview

Michael Persson Gripkow

Stockholms län, Sweden

Michael Persson Gripkow of Visit Sweden on Country Brands and Destination Marketing in the Digital Era. Read the interview

Pärtel-Peeter Pere

Stockholms län, Sweden

Pärtel-Peeter Pere on Branding in the Nordics, Nation Brands and Talent Attraction Strategies. Read the interview

Olle Zetterberg

Stockholms län, Sweden

Olle Zetterberg on Stockholm Business Region Marketing and Branding. Read the interview

Anna Gissler

Stockholms län, Sweden

Anna Gissler on How Stockholm Business Region Leads in Talent Attraction. Read the interview

Erling Fossen

Oslo Metropolitan Area, Norway

Erling Fossen on Oslo, Building City Brand Reputation and Sustainable Urban Development. Read the interview

Øyvind Såtvedt

Oslo kommune, Norway

Øyvind Såtvedt on Brand Development and Management of the Oslo Region. Read the interview

Mia Kemppaala

Helena Renström

Helena Renström on How to Use City Branding for Investment Attraction. Read the interview

Mia Kemppaala

Oulu, Finland

Mia Kemppaala, Founder of Polar Bear Pitching in Oulu, Finland. Read the interview

Ari-Veikko Anttiroiko

Tampere, Finland

Ari-Veikko Anttiroiko on City Branding as Strategic Management Tool for Local Governments. Read the interview

Teemu Moilanen

Helsinki, Finland

Teemu Moilanen on Finland, Nation Brands and City Branding. Read the interview

Gregory Pomerantsev

Minsk, Belarus

Gregory Pomerantsev on Aviation, Travel and Place Branding. Read the interview

Bernhard Klein

Wien, Austria

Bernhard Klein, City and Destination Branding Consultant. Read the interview

Ben Knapp

Vienna, Austria

Ben Knapp of Saffron Consultants on Placemaking and Place Branding. Read the interview

Andrej Kóňa

Bratislava IV, Slovakia

Andrej Kóňa on Destination Slovakia, Nation Brands and Country Reputation. Read the interview

Heather Skinner

Corfu, Greece

Heather Skinner on Responsible Tourism, Corfu and Place Branding. Read the interview

Manolis Psarros

Athina, Greece

Manolis Psarros of Toposophy on Destination Marketing Trends and Opportunities. Read the interview

Antonios Giannopoulos

Athens, Greece

Antonios Giannopoulos on Destination Branding, Tourism and Innovation. Read the interview

Stella Kladou

Beşiktaş, Turkey

Stella Kladou on How Culture Impacts City Branding. Read the interview

Begüm Tatari

İzmir, Turkey

Begüm Tatari on the Brand Positioning and Marketing Strategy of the City of Izmir in Turkey. Read the interview

Eli Avraham

Haifa, Israel

Eli Avraham on Place Image and Media Coverage of Cities and Countries. Read the interview

Eugene D. Jaffe

HaSharon, Israel

Eugene D. Jaffe on Israel, Country Image and the Country-of-Origin Effect. Read the interview

Hila Oren

Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Hila Oren on Placemaking, City Branding and the Reputation of Tel Aviv. Read the interview

Eytan Schwartz

Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Eytan Schwartz on Tel Aviv, City Branding and Talent Attraction. Read the interview

Irina Shafranskaya

Perm, Russia

Irina Shafranskaya on City Happiness and Place Branding in Russia. Read the interview

Aparna Sharma

New Delhi, India

Aparna Sharma on Nation Branding in India. Read the interview

Nancy Snow

Tokyo, Japan

Nancy Snow on Japan, Nation Brands and Public Diplomacy. Read the interview

Chunying Wen

Beijing Shi, China

Chunying Wen on Place Branding Research and City Branding in China. Read the interview

Don Dioko

Macau

Don Dioko on Macau, Tourism Marketing and Destination Branding in China. Read the interview

Edith Wong

Hong Kong, Central, Cotton Tree

Edith Wong of Invest Hong Kong on FDI and Talent Attraction Strategies. Read the interview

Marcus Osborne

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Marcus Osborne on Country Brands and Nation Branding in Asia. Read the interview

Anupam Yog

Singapore

Anupam Yog on the Branding of Nations and Destinations in Asia. Read the interview

Jonathan McClory

Singapore, Singapore

Buck Song Koh on Nation Branding and Brand Singapore. Read the interview

Jonathan McClory

Singapore, Singapore

Jonathan McClory on Soft Power, Nation Branding and Country Reputation in Asia. Read the interview

Andrew Hoyne

St Kilda, Australia

Andrew Hoyne on Placemaking and Branding Trends in Australia. Read the interview

Can Seng Ooi

Hobart, Australia

Can Seng Ooi on Place Branding, Culture and Sustainability. Read the interview

Rebecca Smith

Auckland, New Zealand

Rebecca Smith on the New Zealand Story, Country Branding and Destination Brands. Read the interview

Brian Richards

Auckland, New Zealand

Brian Richards on Place Branding Success Strategies and New Zealand. Read the interview

Kevin Bowler

Wellington, New Zealand

Kevin Bowler on New Zealand Destination Marketing Strategies and Challenges. Read the interview

Andrea Insch

Dunedin, New Zealand

Andrea Insch on Brand New Zealand and Nation Branding Strategies in Asia. Read the interview

Stefan Roesch

Dunedin, New Zealand

Stefan Roesch on Films, Destination Marketing and Tourism Opportunities. Read the interview