Vienna’s leading role as an international meeting destination is a central element of the city’s 2030 Economic and Innovation Strategy and Visitor Economy Strategy. Beyond direct economic and networking effects, meetings offer a prime opportunity to put the city’s economic, scientific and social strengths – as well as specific industries – in the spotlight. 

Congresses and corporate events are important drivers of local value creation and fuel the city’s global reach, making them a crucial part of Vienna’s tourism economy. They’re also a key reason why Vienna is so well-embedded in international transport networks and plays such a pivotal role as a cosmopolitan center and hub of international diplomacy. Congress participants are particularly big spenders, too: while the average daily visitor outlay comes in at EUR 280 (2022 figure), meeting attendees spend nearly double that, at EUR 550 per day (2022 figure).

For years now, Vienna has consistently placed among the world’s top meeting destinations in the international rankings.[1] The task now is to build on that momentum and strong performance, treating it as a call to continue to channel efforts into positioning Vienna as a location for meetings, business, and science with full force. 
 

[1] International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and Union of International Associations (UIA)

© WienTourismus/David Payr

The Vienna Convention Bureau has taken on the mission of promoting sustainable practices in the industry and actively backs initiatives related to green meetings, corporate social responsibility and legacy.

Legacy means ensuring that meetings in Vienna have the widest possible local impact. These events are no longer simply about sharing information with in-person or online participants. Many organizers pursue a mission that peaks with their annual get-together. They are looking for ways to bring the event’s academic and social purpose to life – not just for attendees but for a broader public, the economy, and the scientific community, too. In addition, the goal is also to engage with these groups sustainably and over the long term, enabling them to benefit from business events or even become part of them.

As a destination, offering specific legacy options gives Vienna a critical competitive edge over other potential host cities. And organizers develop ties to the city – including emotionally – that help to extend legacy projects.

Recent examples: the annual congress of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) took place in Vienna in 2023. As part of the event, its members also held talks on liver health in schools and even offered free liver screenings for residents. In September 2024, more than 20,000 leading global experts on respiratory diseases came to Vienna for the European Respiratory Society (ERS) annual congress. The ERS and the European Lung Foundation (ELF) ran various activities during the congress to raise public awareness of lung health and promote early detection and prevention. As part of the two organizations’ joint Healthy Lungs for Life campaign, Viennese residents were given access to free lung function tests over the course of two days. Representatives from the ERS and ELF also visited three schools in Vienna to help educate students on lung health. A legacy project with the European Renal Association (ERA) is lined up for 2025.

© sLkphoto-Sebastian Kreuzberger

The Vienna Tourist Board and the Vienna Convention Bureau are driving the legacy theme forward, as part of their efforts to position Vienna internationally as an outstanding meeting destination. “Leaving something behind” for the local community and other groups – beyond pure economic gain – is a stated goal and a shared objective for event organizers and Vienna’s Visitor Economy.

The aim is to broaden the city’s offerings, while factoring in local needs and the organizer’s mission. In addition to the successful health and education initiatives, various other legacy projects introducing a number of new thematic focuses will reinforce Vienna’s global profile in this area. The Vienna Tourist Board is also working to deepen connections between organizers and local stakeholders with a view to unlocking further synergies and launching new projects.

By the end of 2025, the Vienna Tourist Board’s Vienna Convention Bureau will team up with local institutions to create a Legacy Toolbox – a pool of local contacts and partners. We will proactively pitch the topic of legacy to individual organizers and provide guidance – provided that their aims align with the destination’s goals, add strategic value and otherwise match the city’s interests.

The success of legacy efforts for the Meeting Destination Vienna brand will depend on whether planned projects can actually deliver clear, positive impacts for the city and its people. What matters most is that organizers and local stakeholders alike are able to see the value in these efforts and view them as successful.

• Medical congress puts liver health in the spotlight

• 2024 ERS Congress: close to 20,000 attendees raised awareness of lung health in Vienna