Latest news with #ICCA
Zawya
15 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Dubai Business Events drives continued growth with bid wins, strong participation in H1
Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city's official convention bureau, has continued to accelerate the growth of Dubai's business events ecosystem and support the city's tourism growth in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, securing 249 successful bids in the first six months of 2025 to host events through 2025 till 2029, including major congresses and high-profile incentive programmes. This achievement marks a 29 percent increase in bid submissions compared to the same period last year, with a total of 391 bids submitted year-to-date and a conversion rate of 64 percent, up from 58 percent in H1 2024. These confirmed wins are expected to bring 127,087 delegates, a 35percent year-on-year increase in delegate numbers, further enhancing Dubai's global standing as a hub for international business events and the emirate's knowledge economy. DBE's active engagement in the international market contributed to its strong performance, with teams conducting five sales missions across Asia (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, India) as well as Europe (France and Belgium) and North America, engaging over 50 stakeholders and partners as well as representing Dubai in key strategic industry trade shows such as IMEX Frankfurt during H1 2025. Dubai's global stature as a preferred business events destination was further underlined by new accolades in 2025. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranked Dubai number one globally for highest attendee number per association meeting and the city retained its number one spot in the Middle East and Africa for total number of association meetings hosted. Notable wins during the first half of the year include the 2029 edition of Sibos, which is expected to attract 12,000 delegates, the 2027 1st Conjoint Meeting of the Cervical Spine Research Society - Asia Pacific and Europe with 800 delegates, and the 2026 edition of the World Congress on Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ISUOG), which will bring 2,000 delegates. Other association events include the 2026 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat International Conference with 1,500 delegates and the 2026 International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA) with 1,000 delegates. In the corporate and incentive space, Dubai secured the 2026 Africa Energy Forum with 2,000 delegates, the Herbalife Multiple Market Incentive with 2,400 delegates, and the Planisware Incentive with 1,300 delegates. Returning events include Token2049 in 2026 with 15,000 delegates. Google will also call Dubai its home for two of its flagship conferences in 2026 and 2028, with 4,000 delegates each year. These achievements were further supported by DBE's Al Safeer Programme, which contributed to 51 ambassador-led bids during the period, winning 32 to date. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said, 'Dubai's achievement during the first half of 2025 is a testament to the city's commitment to excellence, innovation, and collaboration in business events." He added that the diversity and extent of events booked this year confirm Dubai's infrastructure of international standards, accessibility, and market insight.
Skift
7 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Montréal Attracts Top Meetings With Worldly Charm and Local Warmth
Montréal is poised to maintain its position as a top destination for international conferences as the city leverages its support services to ease travel concerns, while welcoming visitors to enjoy its unique French culture like a local. Meeting planners have long been known for their can-do spirit — a resilience that the industry needs now more than ever. According to MPI's latest Meetings Outlook, the percentage of event professionals expecting negative business conditions surged from 10 percent to 57 percent in just one quarter. Respondents cited mounting pressure from rising costs, shrinking budgets, and growing concerns about international travel. In this climate of uncertainty, it's not just about offering exciting travel experiences — it's also about reassuring attendees that their journey will be smooth and stress-free. For planners seeking to balance the excitement of travel with convenience and affordability, nearby destinations with a proven ability to deliver fresh, memorable experiences are key. Montréal — ranked the number one international association meetings destination in North America by both ICCA and the UIA for nearly a decade — is stepping up to help planners navigate today's challenges and exceed attendee expectations. Above all, the city wants to reaffirm one simple message: visitors are always welcome. 'Montréal has always been known for opening its arms to the world, and I can say with confidence that this will never change,' said Mylène Gagnon, Vice-President of Sales and Convention Services at Tourisme Montréal. 'For American meeting planners especially, we want to emphasize that Montréal remains one of the safest, most accessible, and most welcoming destinations you're ever likely to experience.' photo caption: Mural Sans titre by - Produced by Festival MURAL 2023. Photo credit: EN Credit © Mural Sans titre by - Photo by Sylvie Li - Tourisme Montréal Ensuring Seamless Travel for International Events Planning the logistics of an international event is never simple — but choosing the right destination can make it significantly easier. In Montréal, Business Events Montréal offers a range of support services, including access to a certified convention services manager specializing in streamlining cross-border events. 'Our team also collaborates closely with turnkey partners like ConsultExpo, a trusted and experienced customs broker that guides planners and exhibitors through a clear, step-by-step process to ensure smooth entry of goods into Montréal,' said Gagnon. The recent ISPOR conference — the leading global event for health economics and outcomes research — held in Montréal highlighted just how smoothly the city handles international events. When asked about customs challenges, the event organizer reported no issues at all. In fact, what stood out most was how easy the travel experience was. 'Although we're a truly global association, many of our staff and members are based on the U.S. East Coast. The ability to arrive in a city that feels distinctly international, yet is just a one or two-hour flight away, is fantastic,' said Paul Wong, Director of Global Events at ISPOR, the Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research. With Montréal's award-winning international airport providing year-round direct flights to nearly 150 locations worldwide, the city is a convenient destination for many international attendees. After landing, it's only a 12-mile (20 km) drive to downtown. Delivering French Flair Within North America Even when a smooth travel experience is assured, attendees should be rewarded for their efforts with a destination that offers unique cultural and experiential value. With its French culture and rich heritage, Montréal allows visitors to feel all the thrills of distant travel without leaving North America. Old Montréal, the city's historic district in the heart of downtown, features centuries-old architecture and cobblestone streets leading to the shores of the St. Lawrence River. Highlights include the Neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Basilica and its immersive AURA Experience and the expansive Marché Bonsecours, a Renaissance Revival stone building that was the city's main agricultural marketplace for over a century. It now features sidewalk cafés, artisanal shops, art exhibitions, and numerous reception halls, including an impressive ballroom. photo caption: Place d'Armes. photo credit: Credit FR © Daph & Nico - Tourisme Montréal A UNESCO City of Design, Montréal offers a wide selection of exceptional event spaces spanning multiple eras of architecture. Standout options include Le 9e, restored in 2024 and modeled after the glamorous dining room on the Île-de-France transatlantic ocean liner. '[Le 9e] is one of the crown jewels of Montréal's art deco architectural legacy,' said Gagnon. In addition to boasting enviable architecture, Montréal embraces the French spirit of joie de vivre. Its wealth of cultural festivals ranges from the world-famous Montréal Jazz Festival to L'International des Feux Loto-Québec, the world's largest international fireworks competition. Fine Dining and Montréal's Distinct Terroir Another key way to attract attendees is through fine dining. According to Hilton's 2025 Trends Report, nearly one in five travelers treats food as a deciding factor when choosing destinations. From poutine to haute cuisine, Montréal offers a selection of culinary experiences to tempt even the most discerning gourmand. In addition to the city's 55 Bib Gourmand nods, three Montréal restaurants were awarded stars in the inaugural Québec MICHELIN Guide. They include Europea, along with local favorites Mastard and Sabayon. All three establishments reflect a deep appreciation for the unique terroir of la Belle Province, with ingredients sourced from Québec's rich agricultural offerings and artisanal food products ''from the field to the fork.' Originating in French wine cultivation, the concept of terroir stems from the belief that all foods and beverages develop a distinct character derived from the territory in which they are grown and produced, with everything from soil composition to surrounding flora and fauna influencing flavor. Beyond its French roots, Montréal is also a multicultural city representing over 120 ethnocultural groups. This diversity has given rise to a plethora of restaurants specializing in a variety of international cuisines. Perhaps most famously, the city is home to some of the world's best bagels, with two of the most popular shops being St. Viateur and Fairmount Bagel in the heart of Montréal's Orthodox Jewish community. Innovation, Affordability, and Carbon-Neutral Convening photo caption: Palais des congrès de Montréal - Taxi Bonjour. photo credit: EN Credit © Daph & Nico - Tourisme Montréal. Of course, business events are ultimately about business, and in today's economic climate, the ideal destination needs to combine state-of-the-art amenities with affordability. Montréal delivers on both fronts. It is one of Canada's most affordable cities, and with the favorable exchange rate, U.S. organizers can look forward to cost savings of almost 40 percent. Montréal is also well-known as a hub of creativity and commercial ingenuity, and its many cutting-edge venues help to sustain this innovative entrepreneurial spirit. The Palais des Congrès de Montréal, for example, was one of the first North American convention centers to become carbon neutral. Business Event Montréal is doing its own part to push the needle forward with its participation in Impact AIQ, an AI-powered project designed to measure the social impact of business events. 'Impact AIQ is embedded directly into event design and will help us with the analysis and strategic planning of business events,' said Mylène Gagnon. 'It's a Montréal-led project with the ambition of inspiring transformation across the events industry.' For more information about Business Events Montréal, visit This content was created collaboratively by Business Events Montréal (Tourisme Montréal) and Skift's branded content studio, SkiftX.
Korea Herald
09-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Thailand makes "New High" in Convention Destination Ranking
Bangkok makes big leap to world's 7th spot, 13 Thai cities make entry in ranking table BANGKOK, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Thailand becomes the top convention destination of the ASEAN region, according to ICCA Country & City Rankings for 2024 Report. A "New High" is achieved when Bangkok exhibits its best performance, ascending to the world's 7 th spot as a city destination for international conventions, a big leap from the 15 th place in 2023, while a total of 13 Thai cities make entry to the ranking table, the highest number the country has ever achieved. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) announced the release of ICCA's latest GlobeWatch Business Analytics – Country & City Rankings for 2024 at IMEX Frankfurt 2025 in Germany. The comprehensive report analyses data from over 11,000 conferences held globally in 2024, highlighting Asia's prominent status as the second most popular region for international meetings, following Europe. According to the report, Thailand hosted a total of 158 international conventions, an increase from 143 in 2023. The number resulted in Thailand moving from the world's 26 th spot in 2023 to the 25 th place in 2024, clinching the 5 th place in Asia Pacific and claiming the number one spot in the ASEAN or Southeast Asian region. The best ever performance is Bangkok. Hosting a total of 115 international conventions, the Thai capital rises to the world's 7 th spot as a city destination, a remarkable increase from the 15 th place in 2023. In Asia Pacific, Bangkok is ranked 3 rd and 2 nd in the ASEAN region. The leading position of Bangkok is reiterated when Cvent also announced in IMEX Frankfurt 2025 its list of 2025 Top Meeting Destinations. For Asia Pacific region, Bangkok is ranked 2 nd after Singapore. The result is based on more than $18B of global sourcing and request-for-proposal (RFP) activity through Cvent's sourcing platforms in 2024, including a record-breaking $16.5B through the Cvent Supplier Network, one of the world's largest venue sourcing marketplaces. Another best ever performance of Thailand is that it is the first time that a high number of 13 Thai cities are listed in ICCA report. Apart from Bangkok, the 12 cities are Chiang Mai (12 conventions), Pattaya (10), Phuket (8), Chon Buri (3), Chiang Rai (2), Pathum Thani (2), Hua Hin (1), Khon Kaen (1), Samui (1), Nakhon Ratchasima (1), Nonthaburi (1) and Pattani (1). Mr. Puripan Bunnag, Senior Vice President and Acting President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), remarked that: "We are delighted with the overall performance of Thailand, especially Bangkok which made a noticeable rise in the ranking. In this respect, we feel grateful for international professional associations for their trust and confidence in Bangkok. It will further inspire the city and Thai MICE industry to deliver their best to maintain or upgrade their operating standards to meet the evolving needs of the market." TCEB is also proud of the total 13 cities listed in ICCA statistical table, representing the best performance of city diversification the country has ever achieved. It is a strong sign of Thailand's enhanced capacities for conferences. International associations and bodies can now maximize richer choices of locations in Thailand. Each city has their unique cultural setting, which can be crafted to deliver meaningful and memorable experiences for delegates. The establishment of TCEB regional offices in all key regions has now played a part in driving the cities in each region to tap into MICE market and inspiring them to have a position in the map of MICE industry. TCEB believes the result in the ICCA ranking table will be a substantial push factor for Thai cities to elevate themselves to another height, said Mr. Puripan. Thailand MICE – Meet the Magic About TCEB A LEADING AGENCY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAILAND'S MICE INDUSTRY Established in 2004, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB – the government agency under the supervision of the Prime Minister – has been assigned a role to promote, support and develop business events industry – corporate meetings, incentive trips, conventions, exhibitions, mega events and world festivals. Serving as a strategic partner, TCEB helps deliver creative ideas and solutions to bring success and fulfill the requirements of business events. The overarching goal is to drive Thailand to become a global MICE and mega events destination that can drive the country's strategic industries and national economy.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thailand makes "New High" in Convention Destination Ranking
Bangkok makes big leap to world's 7th spot, 13 Thai cities make entry in ranking table BANGKOK, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Thailand becomes the top convention destination of the ASEAN region, according to ICCA Country & City Rankings for 2024 Report. A "New High" is achieved when Bangkok exhibits its best performance, ascending to the world's 7th spot as a city destination for international conventions, a big leap from the 15th place in 2023, while a total of 13 Thai cities make entry to the ranking table, the highest number the country has ever achieved. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) announced the release of ICCA's latest GlobeWatch Business Analytics – Country & City Rankings for 2024 at IMEX Frankfurt 2025 in Germany. The comprehensive report analyses data from over 11,000 conferences held globally in 2024, highlighting Asia's prominent status as the second most popular region for international meetings, following Europe. According to the report, Thailand hosted a total of 158 international conventions, an increase from 143 in 2023. The number resulted in Thailand moving from the world's 26th spot in 2023 to the 25th place in 2024, clinching the 5th place in Asia Pacific and claiming the number one spot in the ASEAN or Southeast Asian region. The best ever performance is Bangkok. Hosting a total of 115 international conventions, the Thai capital rises to the world's 7th spot as a city destination, a remarkable increase from the 15th place in 2023. In Asia Pacific, Bangkok is ranked 3rd and 2nd in the ASEAN region. The leading position of Bangkok is reiterated when Cvent also announced in IMEX Frankfurt 2025 its list of 2025 Top Meeting Destinations. For Asia Pacific region, Bangkok is ranked 2nd after Singapore. The result is based on more than $18B of global sourcing and request-for-proposal (RFP) activity through Cvent's sourcing platforms in 2024, including a record-breaking $16.5B through the Cvent Supplier Network, one of the world's largest venue sourcing marketplaces. Another best ever performance of Thailand is that it is the first time that a high number of 13 Thai cities are listed in ICCA report. Apart from Bangkok, the 12 cities are Chiang Mai (12 conventions), Pattaya (10), Phuket (8), Chon Buri (3), Chiang Rai (2), Pathum Thani (2), Hua Hin (1), Khon Kaen (1), Samui (1), Nakhon Ratchasima (1), Nonthaburi (1) and Pattani (1). Mr. Puripan Bunnag, Senior Vice President and Acting President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), remarked that: "We are delighted with the overall performance of Thailand, especially Bangkok which made a noticeable rise in the ranking. In this respect, we feel grateful for international professional associations for their trust and confidence in Bangkok. It will further inspire the city and Thai MICE industry to deliver their best to maintain or upgrade their operating standards to meet the evolving needs of the market." TCEB is also proud of the total 13 cities listed in ICCA statistical table, representing the best performance of city diversification the country has ever achieved. It is a strong sign of Thailand's enhanced capacities for conferences. International associations and bodies can now maximize richer choices of locations in Thailand. Each city has their unique cultural setting, which can be crafted to deliver meaningful and memorable experiences for delegates. The establishment of TCEB regional offices in all key regions has now played a part in driving the cities in each region to tap into MICE market and inspiring them to have a position in the map of MICE industry. TCEB believes the result in the ICCA ranking table will be a substantial push factor for Thai cities to elevate themselves to another height, said Mr. Puripan. For more information, contact TCEB at: pr@ Thailand MICE – Meet the Magic About TCEB A LEADING AGENCY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAILAND'S MICE INDUSTRY Established in 2004, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB – the government agency under the supervision of the Prime Minister – has been assigned a role to promote, support and develop business events industry – corporate meetings, incentive trips, conventions, exhibitions, mega events and world festivals. Serving as a strategic partner, TCEB helps deliver creative ideas and solutions to bring success and fulfill the requirements of business events. The overarching goal is to drive Thailand to become a global MICE and mega events destination that can drive the country's strategic industries and national economy. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The South African
05-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Cape Town among the top global destinations for this kind of event
Cape Town continues to grow in popularity with visitors. Image via Pixabay. Home » Cape Town among the top global destinations for this kind of event Cape Town continues to grow in popularity with visitors. Image via Pixabay. Cape Town is growing in popularity with business travellers. In fact, a new report shows that the city is now one of the world's top destinations for international conventions. That's according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) GlobeWatch 2024 Business Analytics Report. The report provides insight into global association meetings, including the favourite destinations for such conferences. Cape Town has risen 15 spots in the ICCA GlobeWatch 2024 rankings for international association meetings. It now ranks 35th globally. The city also ranks in the top 10 globally for average attendance per event. 717 delegates attend the average event in the city. Cape Town hosted 58 international meetings in 2024, up from 42 in 2023. Smaller towns like Stellenbosch also hosted multiple events, reflecting a province-wide trend. South Africa as a whole remains the top country in Africa for international meetings. The country hosted 98 international meetings in both 2023 and 2024. The business events industry generated over R2 billion for the national economy in that period. The rise is attributed to strategic bidding, strong public-private partnerships, and increasing interest in the region as a hub for knowledge-sharing and innovation. Wesgro, the official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, welcomed the news. In a statement on Bizcommunity, CEO Wrenelle Stander said: 'This ranking shows that Cape Town and the Western Cape stand shoulder to shoulder with global conference hubs such as Dubai, Barcelona, and Melbourne. We are particularly pleased that smaller towns across the province are experiencing the benefits of business events.' Stander added that Wesgro secured 36 new conference bids for 2024/25, projecting an impact of R745 million and over 27 000 delegates through 2028. Cape Town's rise in the rankings was also celebrated by Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer. Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, also welcomed the news. The Mother City's popularity is by no means slowing down. Cape Town will host a plethora of conventions in the next few years, including: International Communication Association Congress (2026) World Congress on ADHD (2027) World Congress of Entomology (2028) Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
