The perfect blend

The Austrian capital’s unique mix of tradition and innovation, coupled with its compact size, have helped to make it one of the world’s most popular meeting destinations.

The numbers speak for themselves: since 2003, Vienna has made ICCA’s top three 17 times, including 11 turns in the top spot. Its dominance of the meetings scene - in 2023, meetings in Vienna generated nearly 1.6m overnight stays, over 9 per cent of the city's total – means the bustling convention bureau and accompanying events industry know what it takes to stay at the top.

Vienna’s frankly breathtaking venues help to place it head and shoulders above the competition, with its incredibly rich cultural history reflected in the stunning hotels and palaces available to host your events. And its culture and environment, along with factors like stability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure, have helped to make it the most liveable city in the world for the third time in a row, according to the Economist.

That’s not all: it has great direct rail links from most major European cities and there are 515 direct flights from 195 cities around the world every day; Hainan Airlines recently launched a new route from Chengdu. Plus an extension of its underground rail network to create the first fully automatic underground in Austria from 2026 will make it even easier to get around.

“Vienna’s central location in Europe, outstanding connectivity, and rich cultural heritage create an inspiring backdrop for UK professionals to connect, collaborate, and advance their fields, ensuring impactful outcomes for events of all sizes,” says Anita Paic, who became the first female director of the Vienna Convention Bureau in March.

“The city’s world-class infrastructure, dynamic tech ecosystem, and expertise in life sciences and education make it a prime choice for association conferences and congresses as well as corporate meetings.”

What they say

The London-based International Artist Managers' Association has returned to Vienna three times over the past 20 years "and it is always the most successful destination", explains chief executive Atholl Swainston-Harrison. The Wiener Konzerthaus was its most recent conference venue, with a party held at the Musikverein, famous for its acoustics and considered one of the finest concert halls in the world.

"Vienna is a major classical music capital in the world and the world wants to come to Vienna for this reason. The New Year’s Day television broadcast from the Musikverein is legendary and the programme of the Konzerthaus is world-renowned. This makes it attractive for our delegates and we love the fact that the Viennese are proud of their city too," says Atholl.

Particular highlights? "The fair pricing and efficient and friendly service that one encounters in Vienna. Importantly, the hotels are of a reliably high standard and it is an incredibly walkable city with so many important city highlights within a short walking distance."