Cvent, a market-leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, has released its annual list of the Top Meeting Destinations for meetings and events in Europe.
For the fifth consecutive year, London retained its number one ranking as the most popular destination for business meetings and events. Three other U.K. cities were also featured in the Top 25 ranking: Birmingham (up five spots to 15th), Manchester (up two spots to 20th) and Edinburgh, which is new to the list at number 22.
With the addition of Edinburgh this year, the U.K. and Germany are now tied with the most destinations featured on the list with four cities each. In Germany, Berlin continues to grow in popularity, moving up one spot to number two this year, and Hamburg is now number 21 – moving up two places from last year.
The lists were compiled based on meeting and event booking activity through Cvent’s venue sourcing sites, including the Cvent Supplier Network, through which more than $16 billion in business was sourced in 2018.
Tracy Halliwell, Director of Conventions & Major Events at London Convention Bureau said: “We’re delighted to retain our top ranking for the fifth year in a row, offering further proof that London is a leading global destination for meeting and business events. London is a truly dynamic city with a range of new venues, hotels and experiences opening all the time to suit a range of tastes and event concepts. London remains an open, diverse city and we look forward to welcoming more meetings and events from all over the world.”
The top 25 cities in Europe for 2019 are:
1. London, England
2. Berlin, Germany
3. Barcelona, Spain
4. Paris, France
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
6. Madrid, Spain
7. Frankfurt, Germany
8. Rome, Italy
9. Prague, Czech Republic
10. Munich, Germany
11. Dublin, Ireland
12. Lisbon, Portugal
13. Vienna, Austria
14. Brussels, Belgium
15. Birmingham, England
16. Budapest, Hungary
17. Milan, Italy
18. Athens, Greece
19. Copenhagen, Denmark
20. Manchester, England
21. Hamburg, Germany
22. Edinburgh, Scotland
23. Istanbul, Turkey
24. Warsaw, Poland
25. Stockholm, Sweden
Other highlights of the research include
- Eastern European cities are gaining significant momentum. Prague has moved back into the Top 10, moving up three places from last year, whilst Istanbul has broken into the Top 25. Budapest is now number 16 (up two places from last year), whilst Warsaw has also made it in to the Top 25 for the first time at number 24.
- Although outside the Top 25, other U.K. cities making marked strides in the rankings include Leeds, Liverpool, and Reading. Outside of the U.K., Monaco jumped significantly year-over-year.
“Business events add $1.5 trillion to the global GDP and the cities featured on this year’s list have invested significant time, energy, and resources into building premier locations that accommodate the unique requirements of the business traveller,” said Chris McAndrews, vice president of marketing for Cvent Hospitality Cloud. “There are some notable shifts in this year’s Top 25 Meeting Destinations in Europe – including the rise of additional regional cities in the U.K. This reflects an ongoing trend in the U.K., where some of the largest cities have undergone significant transformation in recent years to help them attract more MICE business. With its history of driving innovation, rich research hubs, and ease of accessibility, the U.K. continues to position itself as a leading destination to conduct business.”
