GainingEdge fifth International Convention Destination report

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

GainingEdge, the foremost consulting firm in the business events and meeting industry, is delighted to announce the release of the fifth edition of the International Convention Destination Competitive Index Report. This groundbreaking report, now in its fifth year, offers a comprehensive analysis of meeting destinations worldwide, shedding light on their competitiveness, strengths, and areas in need of improvement.

Emphasis on Three Major Global Regions
In this year’s edition, our focus turns to three major global regions: the Top 30 EMEA destinations (Europe, Middle East, Africa), the Top 15 APAC destinations (Asia-Pacific and Oceania), and the Top 15 American destinations (North and Latin America). The featured destinations have been carefully selected based on their performance from January 2020 to December 2022, with a specific emphasis on in-person association meetings, given their significant impact on destinations. The number of meetings held is derived from the International Congress and Convention (ICCA) database of association meetings from 2020 to 2022.

Exclusion of Virtual and Postponed Meetings for Fair Comparison
To ensure comparability with the pre-pandemic period, we have excluded virtual, canceled, and postponed meetings from our analysis. This decision reflects the considerable disruptions caused by global challenges, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to diverse responses, geopolitical issues, and disruptions in supply chains and the economic landscape.

Top Cities
Singapore emerges as the top competitive destination in the Asia Pacific region and also secures the global top position, surpassing Paris for the first time. Paris maintains its standing as the most competitive convention destination in Europe, closely followed by Barcelona and London. Notably, Dubai’s inclusion is remarkable for its impressive performance during the 2020-2022 period. New York remains the United States’ most competitive destination, securing the third spot globally after Singapore and Paris.

Cities Worthy of Attention
Our report identifies six cities as outstanding examples of what can be accomplished through various product offerings and a focus on the international meeting market. These cities are:

1. Singapore: Surpassing Paris, Singapore claims the top global spot and excels in both the competitiveness of its destination product and the number of international association meetings hosted.
2. Vienna: Hosting an impressive total of 208 international conventions in the last three years, Vienna reaffirms its position as the world’s most successful convention destination.
3. Brussels: With 156 in-person international conventions over the past three years, Brussels demonstrates its prowess as an international hub for association business.
4. Taipei: With a remarkable record of hosting 55 in-person international association gatherings and 88 international conventions in the past three years, Taipei clearly outshines its competitors in the realm of destination offerings.
5. Panama City: Hosting 31 in-person international association meetings in 2022 and 36 over the two-year pandemic period, Panama City positions itself as the 11th most successful destination in the North & Latin America region.
6. Reykjavík: Achieving its highest-ever achievement by hosting 55 international congresses in 2022, Reykjavík showcases extraordinary accomplishments that exceed its pre-pandemic performance.

Milos Milovanovic, Head of GainingEdge Analysis & Research (GEAR), comments, “Through this report and based on this methodology, we can evaluate destinations, establish their competitiveness in relation to primary competitors, and compare these to the destinations’ potential business levels. We can help destinations identify their competitive set, understand their competitive position, and establish optimal business goals.”

« Back to Page