Crises, transformation and geopolitics are fundamentally changing the rules of the game for locations. Traditional economic development is reaching its limits with its instruments. How do business development agencies need to position themselves in order to remain capable of acting, relevant and effective? In this article, expert Frank Balkenhol provides solutions and background information.

Isabell Köster reports on the Triple CEO Circle 2025 in Hamburg and reflects on the presentations and discussions. Two and a half days of intensive discussions and impulses around the question: How can city makers use strategic communication, networks and alliances to bring about change?

Children and young people are not onlookers to urban development, but creative makers of the city and its future. Find out more about the opportunities and formats of child and youth participation. Also interviewed: Lena Stelling, expert in political education and managing director of PLING Kollektiv.

Tom Hartung explains the phenomenon of cognitive dissonance as a challenge in people's decision-making - and presents a solution: nudging. City makers can use this method from behavioral psychology to motivate citizens to participate.

Laura Ebeling shows why destination management (DM) is the joint task of place marketing and destination marketing - and gives five concrete recommendations for action for integrated destination management.

Julia Staron is an expert on the night-time economy and a neighborhood manager in Hamburg. In this article, she takes a look at the opportunities and challenges of the night-time economy - and uses examples to show how cities can avoid conflicts and mediate between stakeholder groups

City marketing costs money. But the days of endless public funding are over. Thorsten Kausch shows how a new understanding of the role of city marketing organisations and strategic alliances can secure funding.

How does urban development work when budgets are empty? Are cooperations such as BIDs a solution for the city of the future? Neighborhood manager and strategy expert Julia Staron gives a clear answer to these questions - and reports on two best practices from Hamburg: the Neuer Wall BID and the Reeperbahn+ BID.

What role do brands play in shaping public spaces? A growing one, says Sophie May, and shows the potential of brand urbanism using an example from Vienna. The trend is bringing a breath of fresh air to urban development.