Latest news with #ICCA
Skift
5 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Top Destinations for Association Meetings
Vienna returns to top of ICCA's city rankings, while the U.S. once again tops the country rankings. But that's only one side to ICCA's newly released report and data on international association meetings in 2024. Association meetings, with their extended planning cycles are crucial targets for destination marketing organizations worldwide. They are also a key way convention bureaus track their success. Last week at IMEX Frankfurt, ICCA released its ranking of the countries and cities holding the most international meetings in 2024. According to ICCA's latest report based on 2024 data, the U.S. continues to top the country ranking, a position it has held since at least 1995. Several Western European countries, along with Japan and Canada, also make up the top 10. A notable shift saw France drop from fourth to sixth, likely due to capacity issues as Paris hosted the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Vienna returned to the top of the ICCA city rankings, a position it also held two years prior, with Lisbon a close second, separated by just one meeting. Singapore dropped to third from second. Paris experienced the largest decline, falling from first to sixth, likely due to hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics. Prague dropped one spot, while Seoul rose three places and Rome two. Bangkok and Athens entered the top 10, replacing Madrid (11th) and Dublin (20th). 2024 ICCA Rankings for Countries 1. U.S. (709) 2. Italy (635) 3. Spain (536) 4. Germany (491) +1 5. United Kingdom (481) +1 6. France (432) -2 7. Japan (428) 8. Netherlands (295) 9. Portugal (290) 10. Canada (252) 2024 ICCA Rankings 2024 for Cities 1. Vienna, Austria (154) +3 2. Lisbon, Portugal (153) +2 3. Singapore (144) -1 4. Barcelona, Spain (142) +1 5. Prague, Czech Republic (131) +1 6. Paris, France (124) -5 7. Seoul, Republic of Korea (124) +3 8. Bangkok, Thailand (115) +8 9. Rome, Italy (114) -2 10. Athens, Greece (111) +5 A Bumpy Post-Pandemic Recovery Continues The International Congress and Convention Association's (ICCA) latest report sees the number of international association meetings reaching 11,099 in 2024, an increase of 9% from 2023. A positive step, but still significantly below 2019's peak of 13,269 meetings, suggesting over 2,000 meetings have been lost. The 2024 figures are similar to the total number of meetings counted in 2012, which stood at 11,150. The 17.8% shortfall is significant. Even taking an average of meetings between 2016 and 2019 of 12,752.5, the shortfall stands at 13.9%. The economic impact of these meetings is substantial, generating $11.6 billion in immediate economic impact according to ICCA's estimates. Attendee spending has risen 24% since 2015, going from $2,518 to $3,127, although it actually decreased from $3,832 in 2022 and $3,146 in 2023. While this is clearly positive, this increase is slightly lower than global inflation, which rose 25% during the same period. Looking at where the economic impact comes from, large meetings (1,000+ attendees) represent just 8% of total meetings but account for $6.9 billion (59.4%) of the impact. Mid-sized meetings (150-999 attendees) make up 53% of all meetings and contribute $5.5 billion (47.4%), while smaller meetings (50-149 attendees) represent 39% of meetings but only $884 million (7.6%) of the total impact. Limited Focus of Data Understanding ICCA's methodology is crucial for interpreting these rankings. The data only includes meetings organized by associations with over 50 participants that rotate between at least three countries. This methodology, while consistent since ICCA's founding, excludes significant meeting segments. For instance, many U.S. associations rotate between East Coast, Midwest and West Coast destinations without crossing international borders, and so these often large meetings are not taken into account. Similarly, non-rotating association meetings are also not included, meaning massive events like CES, are also omitted. Top performing city, Vienna, exemplifies this limited view that the rankings offer. While ICCA attributes 154 rotating international association meetings with 101,886 participants to Vienna in 2024, Vienna's own statistics count 781 international congresses with 260,000 participants. The Union of International Associations (UIA) offers an alternative perspective. It counts meetings of any size, with or without a regular cadence and regardless of whether they rotate at all. It also takes into consideration meetings driven by intergovernmental organizations as well as associations. Their most recent ranking based on 2023 data, — the 2024 rankings will be released shortly — ranked Belgium first with 708 meetings, followed by the U.S. (633) and Japan (488). Brussels led cities with 620 meetings, followed by Vienna (298) and Tokyo (226). Alternative Rankings ICCA itself shares alternative rankings in its report. One ranking considers the immediate economic impact of the meetings held in a city over 2024. ICCA calculates this impact based on an average registration rate for the city, which is then used as a multiplier to calculate the total direct spend. It estimates registration rate represents on average 22% of the immediate economic impact per attendee. Looking at the big earners, Barcelona is clearly the winner, attracting around $360 million in direct spend, significantly more than London ($289 million) in second place and Singapore ($290 million) in third. City Ranking by Immediate Economic Impact Barcelona, Spain ($360 million) London, UK ($298 million) Singapore, Singapore ($290 million) Madrid, Spain ($288 million) Vienna, Austria ($247 million) Milan, Italy ($237 million) Amsterdam, Netherlands ($230 million) Bangkok, Thailand ($221 million) Copenhagen, Denmark ($209 million) Rome, Italy ($200 million) Destinations Ranked by Size of Meeting A different view of the ICCA rankings emerges when focusing on the size of meetings. For gatherings exceeding 1,000 delegates, Korea rises to fourth (from 12th overall), and Australia climbs to ninth (from 17th). Conversely, Germany drops to seventh (from fourth overall). In this large-meeting category, Lisbon leads among cities, followed by Barcelona and Singapore. Vienna, the top-ranked city overall, falls to fourth, tied with Seoul and Milan (which ranks 14th overall). Notably, Cape Town (seventh) and Melbourne (joint eighth) perform significantly better in this ranking of large meetings compared to their overall positions (35th and 31st respectively). Analyzing only mid-sized or small meetings does not produce substantial shifts from the complete ranking. However, Athens, Madrid, and Tokyo see an improvement in the mid-sized category, while Brussels and Stockholm rank higher when considering only smaller meetings. Country Ranking for large meetings (1000+) 1. U.S. (71) 2. Italy (57) 3. Spain (57) 4. Republic of Korea (37) 5. United Kingdom (34) 6. France (34) 7. Germany (32) 8. Portugal (31) 9. Australia (27) 10. Netherlands (24) City Ranking for large meetings (1000+) 1. Lisbon (22) 2. Barcelona (21) 3. Singapore (19) 4. Vienna (18) 4. Seoul (18) 4. Milan (18) - 14th overall 7. Cape Town (15) - 35th overall 8. Paris (14) 8. Bangkok (14) 8. Rome (14) 8. Melbourne (14) - 31st overall Country Ranking for Mid-Sized Meetings (150–999 attendees) 1. U.S. (397) 2. Italy (298) 3. Spain (287) 4. United Kingdom (239) 5. Germany (222) 6. France (220) 7. Japan (220) 8. Portugal (156) 9. Netherlands (150) 10. China-P.R. (141) City Ranking for Mid-Sized Meetings (150–999 attendees) 1. Lisbon (79) 2. Singapore (79) 3. Barcelona (76) 4. Athens (73) - 10th overall 5. Seoul (68) 5. Bangkok (68) 7. Vienna (67) 8. Paris (60) 8. Rome (60) 10. Madrid (58) - 11th overall 10. Tokyo (58) - 16th overall
Cision Canada
5 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Business Tourism: Montréal once again crowned North America's number one destination Français
MONTRÉAL, May 29, 2025 /CNW/ - For the ninth consecutive year, Montréal has been crowned the best destination in North America for hosting international association events, according to the prestigious annual rankings of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), which classified more than 11,000 international gatherings held around the world in 2024. Thanks to its expertise and sustained commitment to innovation and excellence in business tourism, Montréal once again outranked major North American metropolises like Toronto, Washington, DC, Vancouver and Chicago. The city also maintained its second position in the Americas, behind Buenos Aires, and preserved its enviable position in the global Top 30 (28th in the world), surpassing cities like Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai and Munich. This renewed leadership is the fruit of an effective collaboration between the Palais des congrès de Montréal and Tourisme Montréal, and the exceptional synergy of the sector's key players—hotels, restaurants, universities and event partners. Together, these dynamic forces have contributed to positioning and maintaining Montréal as a first-rate destination for major international gatherings. Among the key events in 2024 was the 3rd Joint Congress on Evolutionary Biology, with 2,138 participants, the One Young World Summit 2024, which drew 1,900 young leaders from around the world, and the 32nd Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB), with its 1,600 delegates. In all, 70 international events were held in Montréal, enabling it to maintain first place on the podium in 2024. Above all, these events were wonderful opportunities to share knowledge and build collaborations with experts the world over: a precious contribution to Montréal research in key sectors such as life sciences, health and information technologies. This ninth triumph for Montréal in the ICCA rankings is not simply a record of achievement, it's a tangible reflection of Montréal's dynamic business tourism and its capacity to attract large-scale international events. An ecosystem whose strategic vision and collective creativity showcase our metropolis on the international scene. Quotes "Montréal's ranking as the top destination in North America for nine years in a row is the fruit of a strategic collaboration between the Palais des congrès, Tourisme Montréal, and leading researchers in Montréal, whose expertise and commitment make all the difference. By choosing our metropolis, international associations are not simply selecting a place, they're allying with an ecosystem that enriches their event and amplifies their participants' experience." – Emmanuelle Legault, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal "Each year, our teams work hard to process hundreds of files, organize site inspections and confirm thousands of overnight stays. Business tourism constitutes a major lever for the metropolis, both economically and in terms of promoting academic excellence and research. The ICCA's multiple recognitions are an honour, and I commend the exceptional work of our teams, who contribute tirelessly to making Montréal shine on the international stage." – Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal About the Palais des congrès de Montréal A creative solutions centre and a showcase for the city's spirit and expertise, the Palais des congrès de Montréal has been promoting and hosting large-scale events since 1983. Generating significant economic, social and intellectual benefits, it encourages innovation and acts as a force for progress for both Montréal and Québec. The Palais is firmly committed to sustainability and takes numerous innovative, concrete steps to make it a central component of its business development. With one of the highest customer satisfaction rates in the world, the Palais actively contributes to the international reputation of Montréal, the top host city for international events in America for eight years in a row. About Tourisme Montréal Tourisme Montréal is a 100-year-old private, non-profit organization that works to position Montréal as an international-calibre leisure and business travel destination. To this end, the organization is piloting innovative hospitality strategies with a two-fold objective: ensuring that visitors enjoy a memorable experience and maximizing tourism economic spin-offs in a sustainable way with long-term impacts for the city. Uniting nearly 1,000 businesses and organizations working directly or indirectly in tourism, Tourisme Montréal plays a leading role in the management and development of Montréal's tourism business, and makes recommendations on issues surrounding the city's economic, urban and cultural development. For more information, go to SOURCE Palais des congrès de Montréal
Travel Daily News
6 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
ICCA and IFES announce strategic partnership
IFES and ICCA announce a two-year strategic partnership to advance global collaboration, innovation, education, and sustainability in the business events industry. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – The International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES) announce a new two-year strategic partnership with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at IMEX Frankfurt this month. Bringing together two globally influential communities, the partnership connects IFES – representing leading providers of exhibition and event services, including design, AV, and technical production – with ICCA, whose network spans the breadth of the international association meetings sector. Together, these organisations operate in over 100 countries and represent thousands of professionals dedicated to delivering quality, driving innovation, and championing sustainability across the business events ecosystem. ICCA's CEO, Dr. Senthil Gopinath, stated: 'This partnership with IFES reflects ICCA's dedication to uniting all facets of the global events industry. Together, we're not only expanding our reach, we're also creating new opportunities for learning, innovation, and sustainable growth that will benefit our entire community.' A cornerstone of this alliance is a shared focus on education and professional development, fostering collaboration between the two organisations and spotlighting innovation, sustainability, and emerging trends. ICCA and IFES will also exchange select research and educational resources to further enrich their respective communities. Jörg Zeissig, President of IFES, stated: 'Partnering with ICCA enables us to expand our global reach and takes a significant step forward in our mission to foster global collaboration across the various businesses within the exhibitions and events industry. By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to create innovative educational opportunities and advocate for sustainable practices that benefit our members worldwide.' IFES looks forward to working with ICCA to shape the future of business events through shared knowledge, stronger partnerships, and a commitment to progress.
Tourism Breaking News
21-05-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Dubai participates at IMEX 2025 highlights the city's position as a premier destination for international business events
Post Views: 77 Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city's official convention bureau and part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism successfully participated at IMEX Frankfurt joined by key stakeholders. At IMEX, a delegation of 30 stakeholders from across the sector has joined DBE in showcasing Dubai's credentials as a premier global hub for business events. The delegation includes leading hotels, venues, DMCs, airlines and other service providers including Emirates, Expo City Dubai, and Dubai World Trade Centre, together highlighting Dubai's ability to deliver dynamic world-class events at the intersection of innovation, knowledge-sharing and sustainable growth. This comes as Dubai continues to earn global recognition, this week being confirmed as #1 globally for highest attendee number per association meeting in 2024, and once again ranking #1 in the Middle East for the total number of association meetings hosted during the period, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Cvent has this week also confirmed that Dubai maintained its #1 position among the Top 25 Meeting Destinations in the Middle East and Africa. The accolades further demonstrate the city's ability to both host prolific events and facilitate event growth for associations, allowing them to tap into the market and increase global access to members. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: 'As we engage with the global industry at IMEX Frankfurt, we are reinforcing Dubai's position as a strategic destination for impactful business events. Our consistent top rankings from ICCA and Cvent, and growing pipeline of major international events, are the result of a focused and collaborative approach with our stakeholders, as we work collectively to reinforce the emirate's position as a premier global hub for the MICE industry. Business events are integral to our tourism strategy and are increasingly driving progress across key sectors. They are playing a vital role in advancing the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33 – to position Dubai as one of the world's most innovative, inclusive and future-ready cities, as guided and championed by the visionary leadership of the UAE.' Dubai's participation aligns with this year's IMEX theme – Impact 2.0: Activating the Future – emphasising the global events community's responsibility to address major global and community challenges while driving positive change through events, partnerships and initiatives. In line with this vision, Dubai continues to attract business events that not only grow visitation but also support innovation and deeper engagement across its economic sectors. This directly contributes to the D33 economic agenda, which aims to place Dubai among the top three global cities for business and leisure. Dubai's momentum was further underscored by a record 437 successful bids secured in 2024 to host international conferences, congresses and incentive programmes, a 20% year-on-year increase. These events are set to attract over 210,000 delegates to Dubai in the coming years, significantly contributing to the city's business and tourism ecosystem. Among the high-profile events won: Amway ESAN 2025, the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums 2025, the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research 2026, the World Congress on Medical Informatics 2027, ISAPS Olympiad World Congress 2027, Forever Living Products Global Rally 2026, the Scientific Assembly and Associated Events of the Committee on Space Research 2028 and The International Conference on Computer Vision 2029. Dubai continues to see strong growth in tourism aligned with its MICE strategy. In 2024, the city welcomed a record 18.72 million international overnight visitors, a 9% year-on-year increase. That momentum has continued into 2025, with 5.31 million international visitors arriving between January and March, marking a 3% increase compared to Q1 2024. Business events have been a key contributor to this sustained growth, generating economic impact across sectors and further strengthening Dubai's global brand. Further enhancing the city's capacity to meet rising demand in the events space, a key development includes an expansion plan for the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. As part of broader urban development initiatives including the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion, the project is a strategic investment aimed at reinforcing Dubai's position as a global platform for major conferences and exhibitions, enabling the city to host larger and more complex events that deliver long-term value that meets increasing demand and attendance. IMEX remains a cornerstone of DBE's global engagement strategy, providing an essential platform to connect with international associations and networks. Dubai continues to use such platforms to strengthen global partnerships and attract events that support its economic, social and sustainability priorities.
Zawya
21-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Dubai ranked first globally for attendance at association meetings, amid strong IMEX 2025 participation
Cvent: Dubai #1 meetings destination in Middle East and Africa Dubai's participation at IMEX 2025 highlights the city's position as a premier destination for international business events A diverse delegation of 30 stakeholders, led by Dubai Business Events, is convening in Frankfurt from 20 to 22 May to highlight Dubai's world-class MICE infrastructure and hosting capabilities Dubai, UAE – Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city's official convention bureau and part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, is once again spearheading Dubai's participation at IMEX Frankfurt (20–22 May), one of the most influential trade shows for the global business events industry, joined by key stakeholders. This comes as Dubai continues to earn global recognition, this week being confirmed as #1 globally for highest attendee number per association meeting in 2024, and once again ranking #1 in the Middle East for the total number of association meetings hosted during the period, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Cvent has this week also confirmed that Dubai maintained its #1 position among the Top 25 Meeting Destinations in the Middle East and Africa. The accolades further demonstrate the city's ability to both host prolific events and facilitate event growth for associations, allowing them to tap into the market and increase global access to members. At IMEX, a delegation of 30 stakeholders from across the sector has joined DBE in showcasing Dubai's credentials as a premier global hub for business events. The delegation includes leading hotels, venues, DMCs, airlines and other service providers including Emirates, Expo City Dubai, and Dubai World Trade Centre, together highlighting Dubai's ability to deliver dynamic world-class events at the intersection of innovation, knowledge-sharing and sustainable growth. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: 'As we engage with the global industry at IMEX Frankfurt, we are reinforcing Dubai's position as a strategic destination for impactful business events. Our consistent top rankings from ICCA and Cvent, and growing pipeline of major international events, are the result of a focused and collaborative approach with our stakeholders, as we work collectively to reinforce the emirate's position as a premier global hub for the MICE industry. Business events are integral to our tourism strategy and are increasingly driving progress across key sectors. They are playing a vital role in advancing the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33 - to position Dubai as one of the world's most innovative, inclusive and future-ready cities, as guided and championed by the visionary leadership of the UAE.' Dubai's participation aligns with this year's IMEX theme - Impact 2.0: Activating the Future - emphasising the global events community's responsibility to address major global and community challenges while driving positive change through events, partnerships and initiatives. In line with this vision, Dubai continues to attract business events that not only grow visitation but also support innovation and deeper engagement across its economic sectors. This directly contributes to the D33 economic agenda, which aims to place Dubai among the top three global cities for business and leisure. Dubai's momentum was further underscored by a record 437 successful bids secured in 2024 to host international conferences, congresses and incentive programmes, a 20% year-on-year increase. These events are set to attract over 210,000 delegates to Dubai in the coming years, significantly contributing to the city's business and tourism ecosystem. Among the high-profile events won: Amway ESAN 2025, the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums 2025, the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research 2026, the World Congress on Medical Informatics 2027, ISAPS Olympiad World Congress 2027, Forever Living Products Global Rally 2026, the Scientific Assembly and Associated Events of the Committee on Space Research 2028 and The International Conference on Computer Vision 2029. Dubai continues to see strong growth in tourism aligned with its MICE strategy. In 2024, the city welcomed a record 18.72 million international overnight visitors, a 9% year-on-year increase. That momentum has continued into 2025, with 5.31 million international visitors arriving between January and March, marking a 3% increase compared to Q1 2024. Business events have been a key contributor to this sustained growth, generating economic impact across sectors and further strengthening Dubai's global brand. Further enhancing the city's capacity to meet rising demand in the events space, a key development includes an expansion plan for the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. As part of broader urban development initiatives including the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion, the project is a strategic investment aimed at reinforcing Dubai's position as a global platform for major conferences and exhibitions, enabling the city to host larger and more complex events that deliver long-term value that meets increasing demand and attendance. IMEX remains a cornerstone of DBE's global engagement strategy, providing an essential platform to connect with international associations and networks. Dubai continues to use such platforms to strengthen global partnerships and attract events that support its economic, social and sustainability priorities. Visit to find out more about hosting business events in Dubai. About Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), is responsible for developing Dubai's retail, gastronomy, family entertainment and event sectors and supporting the positioning of Dubai as a world-class tourism destination and the best place to live, work and visit. About Dubai Business Events Dubai Business Events (DBE) – the Official Convention Bureau, aims to further develop and increase Dubai's share of the international business events market in order to grow economic development, jobs and knowledge creation in the emirate. DBE's main goal, as a division of DET, is to establish the Emirate as a premier business event destination by helping organizers of international meetings, incentives, congresses and exhibitions plan and manage every aspect of their event. As a member of Best Cities Global Alliance, DBE aims to deliver the world's best service experience for the meeting industry. For further information, please contact: mediarelations@ Iman Dawod – dbepr@
