Top 20 MICE destinations

Hawaii :The International Conference and Convention Association (ICCA) recent publication of the top 20 destinations for MICE business has reaffirmed the old world order–that not one African city or country made it into the top 20 worldwide.

In fact, the top six countries appear to be cast in iron, led by the United States and followed by Germany and Spain. In the city ranking, Vienna took the top position followed by Paris and Barcelona, respectively.

African destination countries have been trying to market MICE events more aggressively in recent years but are often limited by the available conference facilities and more important, bed capacity in capital and key commercial cities. While South Africa has been persistently topping the African rankings and has invested heavily in facilities ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, other countries have been playing catch up with Kenya significantly for the East African region attracting ever more MICE business and hoping for yet more.

Significantly, the planning for a brand new international class conference centre is advancing, to be set at the Bamburi area of the Indian Ocean port and leisure city of Mombasa. Another country keen on increasing their MICE footprint is Rwanda, where new hotels and conference facilities are due to be commissioned. Among them a new Marriott Hotel and Conference Centre.

Globally, Africa, as is generally the case with tourism arrivals and global ranking therein, remains in the distant pack chasing a however fast growing market segment for such profitable and visibility creating events.

The new top 20 country rankings, according to the number of confirmed major meetings held, are:

USA – 759 meetings
Germany – 577
Spain – 463
UK – 434
France – 428
Italy – 363
Brazil – 304
China – 302
Netherlands – 291
Austria – 267
Canada 255
Switzerland – 240
Japan – 233
Portugal – 228
Republic of Korea – 207
Australia – 204
Sweden – 195
Argentina – 186
Belgium 179
Mexico – 175

The top 20 city rankings, again going by the number of meetings hosted in 2011, are:

Vienna – 181 meetings
Paris – 174
Barcelona – 150
Berlin – 147
Singapore – 142
Madrid – 130
London – 115
Amsterdam – 114
Istanbul – 113
Beijing – 111
Budapest – 108
Lisbon – 107
Seoul – 99
Copenhagen – 98
Prague – 98
Buenos Aires – 94
Brussels – 93
Stockholm – 93
Rome – 92
Taipei – 83  Source :etn