Vienna conquers the congress summit: number 1 in the world with 154 events!

Vienna conquers the congress summit: number 1 in the world with 154 events!

Vienna has once again proven its position as a leading congress metropolis. The current ranking of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) for 2024 shows that the Austrian capital takes first place, with a total of 154 congresses held. Vienna thus relegated Lisbon and Singapore, which followed in second and third place, to the lower ranks, as 153 congresses took place in Lisbon and 144 in Singapore. Loud the standard This is a significant success that shows that Vienna is at the forefront of the international competition for congress events.

This excellent result is not only proof of Vienna's attractiveness as an event location, but also has significant economic impact for the city. Mayor Michael Ludwig emphasizes that congresses generate added value of around 1.3 billion euros and secure 23,500 year-round jobs. This highlights the central role that the convention industry plays in the city's visitor economy.

Strong competition and past placings

The current success comes after an eventful history. Vienna reached the top spot in 2022, but fell back to fourth place in 2023. The ranking also shows that other cities such as Barcelona (142 congresses), Prague (131), Paris (124), Seoul (124) and Bangkok (115) are also among the international competitors. A look at the total number of congresses in Austria shows that 66% of them took place in Vienna, further strengthening the city as a central hub for the congress industry.

Norbert Kettner, Director of Vienna Tourism, emphasizes that congresses are of great importance for the city's economic development. The 670,000 participants at the congresses in 2024 contributed significantly to 1.9 million overnight stays, with an average length of stay of 2.98 overnight stays. These numbers make it clear how important these events are not only for the city, but for the whole of Austria, which is ranked 16th in the world.

Collaboration as the key to success

The successful placement in the ICCA ranking is also attributed to the commitment of the Vienna conference industry. Anita Paic, head of the Vienna Convention Bureau, praises the close cooperation between various actors and institutions. The Vienna Convention Bureau plays a crucial role in this by acquiring congresses worldwide and is supported by both the City of Vienna and the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. These synergies contribute to strengthening Vienna as an international conference destination.

In summary, it can be said that Vienna is not only the congress capital of the world, but also plays a dynamic and economically important role in international congress events. The positive developments and the high number of events are promising signs for Vienna's future direction on the international stage Vienna.gv.at reported.