Elevating the State of Cities Summit with a Dedicated, Dynamic Website

The State of Cities Summit is a flagship event celebrating innovation, collaboration, and leadership among urban centers across Canada. 

Previously, the event’s online presence was confined to a section within a larger website, limiting its ability to fully showcase its unique identity, scale, and offerings. Recognizing the need for a more dynamic and impactful online presence, Convergine was brought in to design and develop a standalone website powered by Craft CMS.The result is a modern, engaging platform that dramatically enhances the Summit’s digital footprint, offering greater content presentation flexibility, marketing power, and administrative convenience.

• Limited Flexibility in the Existing Setup.
  The event’s presence as a subsection of a larger site restricted its ability to present content dynamically or stand out as a unique initiative.
• Content Management Complexity.
  The older system lacked robust tools for multi-role editing, making it cumbersome for event organizers to manage content efficiently. 
• Mobile Experience.
  The event’s online section wasn’t optimized for mobile users, hindering accessibility and engagement.
• Marketing Limitations.
  The restricted site structure provided few options for creative marketing strategies to drive registration and engagement.

To meet these challenges, we built a custom website for the State of Cities Summit using Craft CMS—a robust and highly flexible content management system. Craft CMS was selected for its ability to empower event organizers with advanced editing tools, scalability, and multi-role content management capabilities.

• Migration to a Standalone Website

By moving the event to a dedicated website, we created a platform where the State of Cities Summit could fully own its identity and tailor the online experience to its unique audience.

• Dynamic Content Presentation

Craft CMS’s modular approach allowed us to create highly customizable content blocks. Organizers can now easily update event schedules, speaker bios, and multimedia content without technical expertise.

• Multi-Role Editing and User Permissions

Craft CMS supports advanced user role management, enabling different stakeholders—such as marketing teams, content editors, and event managers—to collaborate seamlessly while maintaining clear control over content.

• Enhanced Mobile Experience

Special attention was given to mobile responsiveness, ensuring that all users—whether browsing schedules or registering for the event—enjoy a seamless experience across devices.

• Marketing Power

With the flexibility of Craft CMS, the new site offers better integration with marketing tools, advanced analytics, and dynamic landing pages for targeted campaigns.

• Flexibility and Control.
  Craft CMS’s modular architecture allows event organizers to build pages that meet their specific needs, from highlighting keynote speakers to showcasing partner organizations.
   
• User-Friendly Interface
  The CMS offers an intuitive editing experience, enabling content managers to update information quickly and confidently.
   
• Dynamic Content Presentation.
  Craft CMS’s modular approach allowed us to create highly customizable content blocks. Organizers can now easily update event schedules, speaker bios, and multimedia content without technical expertise.
   
• Multi-Role Capabilities.
  With defined roles and permissions, multiple team members can collaborate without the risk of accidental content overwrites or errors.
   
• Scalability.
  The CMS is equipped to grow alongside the Summit, making it easy to add new features or expand content as the event evolves.
   
• Enhanced Performance.
  Craft CMS’s lightweight framework ensures the website loads quickly, even with rich media content, improving user experience and engagement.

• Greater Content Presentation Flexibility.
  The new site allows for creative and dynamic content layouts, ensuring the Summit’s programming and messaging are presented in the most engaging way possible.
   
• Increased Marketing Reach.
  A standalone site with enhanced SEO, marketing integrations, and dedicated analytics tools has significantly boosted the event’s online visibility and promotional opportunities.
   
• Improved User Experience.
  The mobile-friendly design ensures attendees and partners can access event details, register, and engage with content effortlessly on any device.
   
• Streamlined Content Management.
  Event organizers now have the tools and flexibility to manage the site effectively, reducing dependency on technical support.