After a triumphant start on Friday, Vivid Sydney will keep the harbour city’s iconic waterfront in the spotlight until 17 June with a spectacular nightly light show and a guestlist that includes appearances by Gallic pop two-piece Air and director Oliver Stone. The event has proved a boon for Sydney's winter economy since its inauguration in 2009 and it’s an initiative that many cities would do well to learn from, not least because it attracts millions of people every year despite taking place in the off-season. Photogenic and commanding international media coverage, the event’s success rests on an expansive programming outlook that pulls in a diverse audience. It’s what keeps the city’s hotels packed, the restaurants bustling and those inbound flights – especially from China – full, even as the beaches cool off.

Electric scooters are increasingly wheeled out by green-minded cities looking to clean up their transport mix with bike-sharing schemes and charging points. These battery-powered bikes are a common sight in Asian cities and now the concept is highly charged for international expansion. Taiwanese market leader Gogoro will be expanding its scooter-sharing presence in Europe this summer when it rolls out its zippy two-wheelers on the streets of Paris. “We receive requests from cities all around the world everyday,” says vice-president of communications Jason Gordon. Gogoro’s first European foray was in Berlin last summer when it teamed up with Bosch subsidiary Coup. Can the Taiwanese upstart unseat the iconic Vespa? Attendees at this year’s Monocle Quality of Life Conference can decide for themselves on a sustainable scoot around the German capital.