ICCA Rankings for 2022: Paris is the third most popular global destination for hosting conventions and congresses

At the IMEX23 in Frankfurt, ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) published its annual ranking of congress-hosting cities.

In 2022, Paris was the third most popular European and global destination, just after Vienna and Lisbon – according to ICCA, it hosted 134 congresses. A return to the podium, where it has been well established for more than ten years.

Corinne Menegaux, Managing Director of Paris je t’aime – Tourist Office said: “First and foremost, Paris is committed to hosting congresses that are in line with its image of a responsible and innovative city. By meeting professionals' new requirements and facilitating the whole event process for them, we are bolstering the appeal of Paris as a destination, while at the same time ensuring a positive heritage for it. These are the values to which we subscribe alongside all professionals in Paris with our Congress hosting charter”.

At the same time, every year Paris je t’aime – Convention Bureau conducts its own study into the appeal of congresses in Paris. Its aim is to better understand the scale and impact of hosting congresses in the capital.

In its study, in 2022 Paris je t’aime listed:

• 714 congresses, as opposed to 331 in 2021 and 1084 in 2019
• 741,713 attendees, 24% of whom were from abroad, up from 14% in 2021, and down from 32% in 2019. In addition to these physical attendees, a further 44,278 attended congresses virtually.
• 46% of these congresses were international ones, as opposed to 36% in 2021 and 53% in 2019
• 32% of them took place in hybrid format.

In 2022, the economic benefits of congresses held in Paris and its surrounding region were worth an estimated €1.23 billion, as opposed to €724 million in 2021 and €1.47 billion in 2019.