The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has published its ranking of global congress destinations for 2024: Vienna takes first place worldwide, ahead of Lisbon and Singapore. The city last reached first place in 2022; in 2023, Vienna was ranked fourth.
With 154 congresses, Vienna holds the top spot in the newly published ICCA ranking of internationally held congress events in 2024. The city has climbed back to the top from fourth place the previous year. Lisbon (153 congresses) and Singapore (144) rank second and third, respectively, followed by Barcelona (142), Prague (131), Paris (124), Seoul (124), Bangkok (115), Rome (114) and Athens (111).
The ICCA also provides insights into national-level performance: With 233 congresses, Austria ranks 16th globally. The list of countries, however, is led by the United States (709), Italy (635) and Spain (536). According to ICCA’s counting method, two-thirds (66 percent) of all congresses held in Austria took place in Vienna.
In total, Vienna hosted 6,619 congresses and corporate meetings last year, exceeding the previous record from 2023 by 3 percent. The approximately 670,000 participants in 2024 generated 1.9 million overnight stays, representing a 26 percent increase. Their average stay of three nights (2.98) was significantly higher than the average Vienna guest at 2.3 nights. The value added by meetings in Vienna amounted to €1.32 billion (approximately $1.49 billion), benefiting all of Austria with €365 million in taxes and 23,500 year-round jobs.
Anita Paic, head of the Vienna Convention Bureau, said: “This once again highlights the excellent cooperation of all players in Vienna’s meetings industry—from congress centers and the hospitality sector to agencies and joint legacy projects. Not to forget our clients, whom we were able to attract to Vienna, and their continued trust in the meeting destination Vienna.”
For more information, visit www.meeting.vienna.info.
Related Stories
Research: Phoenix Leads in Top 25 Meeting Markets
Ecuador Emerges as Key MICE Destination in Latin America