In the second annual brand ranking of major international cities, the Anholt City Brands Index (CBI) found that despite international disapproval over current U.S. foreign policy decisions, America’s top metropolises are still amongst the world’s most acclaimed mega-cities.
Three of the nation’s most notable cities – New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. – ranked in the global top 10, and a total of nine U.S. cities appeared in the top 15 percent of the rankings. All cities scored high as respected destinations for business, higher education and ease for visitors or recent transplants to fit in.
Developed by government advisor Simon Anholt and powered by global market intelligence solutions provider GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.), the CBI measured the brand of 60 cities around the world (visit www.citybrandsindex.com for the full list of cities). 15,255 global citizens in 20 countries were asked for their opinions in six categories: Presence (contribution to culture/science)
U.S. city rankings:
New York City 5th
Washington, D.C. 6th
San Francisco 7th
Los Angeles 15th
Boston 23rd
Las Vegas 24th
Seattle 25th
Chicago 27th
Atlanta 28th
Philadelphia 31st
Dallas 38th
New Orleans 39th
A nation’s brand is only as strong as the sum of its parts
“It is crucial for political and business leaders to understand the brand of their respective cities and see how they are viewed by potential visitors, investors, customers and future citizens around the world,” explains CBI report author Simon Anholt. “If the image doesn’t match up to the reality, they need to decide what to do in order to close the gap between the two, or risk a decline in the city’s overall brand image.”
Countries from Spain to Singapore are outspending the United States in tourism marketing and advertising. For example, Australia’s jewel city Sydney topped the CBI rankings, and Australia placed just underneath the U.S. on the most recent Anholt Nation Brands Index (NBI, www.nationbrandindex.com)
Key report findings: the executive summary report can be downloaded at http://www.citybrandsindex.com.
Top Ranking U.S. City – New York – Global Ranking #5
New York’s overall position was boosted by its place in the top 5 of the following categories:
Good place to do business (1st)
Diversity and variety of languages (fitting in) (1st)
Higher education (3rd)
On the other hand, “The City That Never Sleeps” was also seen as:
Polluted (51st)
Expensive to live in (59th)
Highest Climbing City – Washington, D.C. – Global Ranking #6
Constant media coverage of U.S. foreign policy decisions has placed Washington, D.C. in the international spotlight, elevating the capital city’s overall ranking eight places in this year’s CBI. The city’s contribution to world politics also account for its number four ranking for Presence. In addition, the nation’s capital placed in the top ten for the following:
Higher education (4th)
Standard of public amenities (schools, hospitals, public transport, etc.) (9th)
Easy to fit in with people and culture (7th)
Good place to do business (9th)
Most Beautiful City – San Francisco – Global Ranking # 7
The “City By the Bay” is the only U.S. city to rank in the top 10 for:
Scenic beauty (10th)
Climate (9th)
It was also ranked among the top 10 in:
Diversity and variety of languages (fitting in) (4th)
Higher education (8th)
Pulse (overall) (6th)
Potential (overall) (5th)
Anholt City Brands Index
The first edition of the Anholt City Brands Index (CBI) was launched in December 2005. For further information please contact GMI at info@gmi-mr.com or visit http://www.citybrandsindex.com.
Simon Anholt
Simon Anholt is recognized as the world’s leading authority on the branding of countries, regions and cities. Please visit http://www.earthspeak.com or email speak@earthspeak.com.
GMI
GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) is the only provider of comprehensive integrated solutions for global market intelligence. More information is available at http://www.gmi-
