Vienna has once again asserted its leadership in the international meetings industry, taking first place in the ICCA Congress Ranking 2024.
With 154 qualifying international congresses held last year, the Austrian capital outpaced Lisbon (153) and Singapore (144), returning to the summit after ranking fourth in 2023.
“Vienna has once again proven its leadership position in an extremely competitive environment,” remarked Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board. “Congress tourism is not only a pillar of our visitor economy but a catalyst for job creation, value generation, and price stability across the sector.”
Anita Paic, Head of the Vienna Convention Bureau, attributed the success to “the outstanding collaboration of all stakeholders – from venues and hotels to agencies and legacy partners.”
With over 250 international bids underway through 2038, Vienna continues to set its sights on long-term impact and innovation.
Vienna hosted a total of 6,619 congresses and corporate meetings in 2024, drawing approximately 670,000 participants and generating 1.9 million overnight stays – a 26% increase year-on-year.
At the national level, Austria ranks 16th globally, with 233 congresses—two-thirds of which took place in Vienna. The top three countries in the ICCA 2024 ranking are the USA (709), Italy (635), and Spain (536).