We invite scholars and practitioners to submit abstracts and cases for inclusion in the conference programme; doctoral candidates to submit posters to the doctoral colloquium; and scholars, researchers, practitioners, students and artists to submit Place Branding-inspired artistic work for presentation at a special session called the ‘IPBA Art Gallery’.
Topics
Advance the theoretical understanding of the field incorporating cross-disciplinary knowledge.
Use multiple, comparative case studies that reflect on cross-case conclusions.
Advance the clarification of major concepts (e.g. place marketing vs. place branding vs. place promotion vs. diplomacy).
Explore and analyse the differences between major application fields (e.g. tourism vs. resident attachment vs. investment attraction) and/or major place scales (cities vs. regions vs. nations).
Critically examine the use and potential of digital technologies and social and mainstream media in place branding.
Elaborate on the role of identity, history and heritage in the branding of places.
Examine the role of creativity and innovation in place branding strategies.
Analyse the significance of stakeholder engagement for effective place branding and methods to facilitate it.
Detail a potential future research agenda for place branding.
Branding local food and culture; geographical indications; gastronomy in destination branding; culinary and cultural diplomacy.
Country of origin effects; destination branding; soft power; branding for talent attraction and investment promotion.
Place branding with Chinese characteristics and the brand implications of the One Belt One Road initiative.
Place branding and cross border areas.
Place branding and the arts: discussing creativity and converging artistic and social vision(s) by listening to the plurality of voices during the times of crisis.

For artwork, submissions may include explorations or interpretations of historical and current place branding themes. All works submitted must be original and inspired by the contributors’ research, practice or wider engagement with place branding, place marketing and related issues. The main aim is to allow members of the community to express their ideas, concerns, ambitions reflections, questions or conclusions around place brands in ways outside the constraints of usual scientific and academic formats. In this way, we might be able to further inspire each other’s future explorations and direct our research to new avenues. As Albert Einstein said “Creativity is contagious; pass it on!” Artwork submissions are welcome in any of the following formats: poems and lyrics; songs and music; films and videos; collage; photographic essays; drawings and paintings; sculptures and mixed media.
PUBLICATIONS PLAN

Format:
- Word limit (excluding cover page, references, tables, figures) for abstracts is 250 to 500 words; for full papers/cases it is 4,000 to 5,000 words.
- Provide up to 5 keywords
- Standard structure for all submissions (i.e. also for abstracts): title, aims, main approach, key arguments/findings, conclusions and references.
- Times New Roman (font 11) should be used with single spacing, 2.5 cm margins and Harvard style references.
Queries are welcome and can be directed to the Conference Secretary Georgia Lalou at info@placemarketingbranding.gr.
Please read and follow these instructions very carefully. Failure to do so may result in immediate desk rejection by the programme committee. Specific guidelines for all types of submissions are given here

PARTICIPATION IN THE DOCTORAL COLLOQUIUM
PhD students are invited to submit abstracts for poster or paper presentation during the Doctoral Colloquium. All submissions for the Doctoral Colloquium will be reviewed based on abstract and all students should prepare posters and PowerPoints for presentation. In various formats, during the colloquium, all students will get a chance to present and discuss their work with a panel of experienced place branding researchers and their peers. Subsequently, all posters will be on display during the main conference. In addition, PhD students can also submit their full papers (usually with their supervisors) for presentation at the main conference if they wish.