Draft:GainingEdge
Submission declined on 12 January 2026 by DoubleGrazing (talk). This draft reads like an advertisement. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a platform for promotion or marketing. Drafts that are exclusively promotional may be deleted without notice.
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Comment: Please remove all inline external links from the body text, these are not allowed; convert to inline citations instead, where relevant (see WP:REFB for advice). DoubleGrazing (talk) 08:39, 12 January 2026 (UTC)
GainingEdge is a global consulting firm specialising in the business events, meetings and tourism industry. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, the firm works with destinations, associations, convention and exhibition centres, and business events stakeholders across five continents. It is best known for its annual research publications, the Destination Competitive Index and Leveraging Intellectual Capital Report, produced through its GainingEdge Analysis & Research (GEAR) division.
History
GainingEdge was established in 2004 by Gary Grimmer, following his tenure at the Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau. Source: https://www.c-mw.net/working-on-the-edge/
The company initially focused on destination marketing and convention bureau advisory services, later expanding into convention centre consulting, association advisory, and in-market sales representation. Source: https://gainingedge.com/the-gainingedge-difference/
Over time, GainingEdge grew into a global network with offices in Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Belgrade, Paris, Copenhagen, and Vancouver. Source: https://gainingedge.com/
In 2024, CEO Jon Sivertson announced his departure, and in August 2025 Steen Jakobsen was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer. Source: https://www.the-iceberg.org/steen-jakobsen-appointed-new-ceo-of-gainingedge/
Services and business activities
GainingEdge provides strategic consulting across five main areas:
Destination & DMO/CVB Advisory: GainingEdge advises destinations and convention bureaus on strategy, marketing, and destination management planning for both business events and tourism sectors. Source: https://gainingedge.com/
Convention & Exhibition Centre Advisory: The company supports clients across the full life cycle of venue development, from feasibility and design review to pre-opening planning and operations. Source: https://www.the-iceberg.org/partner/gainingedge/
Association Advisory: Its team provides governance, membership, and business planning guidance for international associations, drawing on first-hand leadership experience in the sector. Source: https://traveldailynews.com/regional-news/chloe-menhinick-joins-gainingedge-as-partner-for-association-consulting/
Business Development, Sales & Marketing: GainingEdge represents destinations and venues in foreign markets, supports lead generation, and develops market expansion strategies. Source: https://meetingmediagroup.com/article/new-gainingedge-partnership-set-to-drive-us-convention-business/
GainingEdge Analysis & Research (GEAR): The firm’s research arm produces analytical tools such as the Destination Competitive Index and Leveraging Intellectual Capital Report, which benchmark the performance and intellectual capacity of global convention destinations. Source: https://kongres-magazine.eu/2022/02/gainingedges-destination-competitive-index-offers-advanced-tools-for-business-recovery/
Research and publications
GainingEdge’s GEAR division publishes annual benchmarking studies that analyse the global meetings and convention landscape. The Destination Competitive Index compares international destinations on criteria such as infrastructure, accessibility, and intellectual capital, while the Leveraging Intellectual Capital Report evaluates cities based on the engagement of local experts within international associations. Source: https://meetingmediagroup.com/article/gainingedge-competitive-index-presents-trends-for-destination-marketing/
The firm’s fifth edition of the Destination Competitive Index was released in 2023 and covered by multiple trade media outlets. Source: https://meetingmediagroup.com/article/gainingedge-unveils-5th-edition-of-its-convention-destination-index-report/
Industry projects and leadership
GainingEdge has served as a consultant for several large-scale global initiatives. It has conducted the Futures Study, a recurring research project surveying more than 500 destination marketing organisations (DMOs) across 50 countries to identify trends and strategies in the business events sector.
The company has managed the BestCities Global Alliance since 2009, a network of convention bureaux from Berlin, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dublin, Dubai, Guadalajara, Houston, Madrid, Melbourne, Singapore, Tokyo, Vancouver, and Washington DC.
In 2022, GainingEdge contributed to the establishment of the first global certification programme for international business events suppliers, launched in partnership with industry bodies, including ICCA.
The firm has also been involved in developing tools such as the Legacy Strategic Pathway to help destinations and associations plan and measure the long-term impacts of hosting international congresses.
Industry affiliations
GainingEdge and its leadership team are active within several global industry associations. Founder and Executive Chairman Gary Grimmer was inducted into the Destinations International Hall of Fame in 2014. CEO Steen Jakobsen received ICCA’s Moises Shuster Award for contributions to the international meetings industry. The company has also supported the formation of the African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE) and is an Associate Member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI). It maintains affiliations with ICCA, Destinations International (DI), The Iceberg, and the Australian Business Events Association (ABEA).
Offices and locations
Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, GainingEdge operates regional offices in Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Belgrade, Paris, Copenhagen, and Vancouver. Source: https://gainingedge.com/
External links
Official website: https://gainingedge.com
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