The ICCA rankings cover meetings organised by international associations which take place on a regular basis and which rotate between a minimum of three countries. The data represents a “snapshot” of qualifying events in the International Congress and Convention Association database as sampled on April 14, 2008.
ICCA’s association database is designed as a sales and marketing resource for its members to target future international association meetings, which is why it does not include one-off events or those which do not move between locations.
This year the ICCA data researchers have identified more than 6500 events which took place in 2007, a rise of approximately 800 over 2006. Partly this reflects the strength of the market, and partly this is thanks to a record number of ICCA members sending their calendar information to help identify new events.
As has been the case since 2004, the USA and Germany are the number one and two countries respectively measured by the number of international meetings organised in 2007. Spain, fifth in 2006, climbs two places to third in 2007, at the cost of The United Kingdom and France, which both dropped one place in the ranking to respectively fourth and fifth. Italy remains sixth, and Japan, which was twelfth in 2006, is seventh in 2007.
Brazil, which was the first Latin American country ever to make the top 10 in 2006, is consolidating its position by taking eighth place in 2007. Austria and Canada complete the top 10 at respectively ninth and tenth place. Belgium and Finland are both newcomers in the top 20.
As in 2005 and 2006, Vienna tops the charts as the most popular city; its first place has even become stronger compared to previous years. Berlin jumps four places to number two and Singapore remains third. Paris and Barcelona are fourth and fifth and Budapest remains sixth, but is now sharing sixth place with Lisbon.
Beijing is a newcomer in the top 10 and climbs from thirteenth place in 2006 to eighth in 2007, followed by Amsterdam, which climbs three places to ninth. Madrid, nineteenth in 2006, completes the top 10.
Taipei is a remarkable newcomer in the top 20 as it took fortieth place in 2006
Table: ICCA country and city rankings measured by the number of meetings organised in 2007
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