From Image to Brand

Today, city marketing has become a widely accepted phenomenon in contemporary urban development. The practice of city marketing has evolved in response to increased inter-city competition for elites, residents, tourists, investors, entrepreneurs and the like. The concept is based on the perception of a city as a commercial product which can be sold and bought as any other commodity. Cities employ marketing techniques in order to turn their urban image, historical past, cultural heritage, unique lifestyle and atmosphere into easily recognizable brands worldwide. This study focuses on the field of city marketing and city branding and explores in-depth pertinent policies and strategies pursued by the City of Vienna in this respect. The book should be especially useful for place marketing professionals, or anyone else interested in destination branding and current trends in urban development.