Vienna’s international congress market soared to new heights in 2024, with medical meetings emerging as a dominant force behind the city’s record-breaking performance.
Of the 6,619 congresses and corporate meetings hosted in the Austrian capital last year, 781 were international congresses—a seven per cent year-on-year increase—contributing an outsized share to Vienna’s visitor economy and confirming the city’s status as a global meeting destination.
Though they represented just 12 per cent of all meetings, international congresses accounted for 39 per cent of all participants (260,000), two-thirds of all overnight stays (1.34m), and a striking 73 per cent of the total induced economic impact—amounting to €956m. The sector also generated the majority of tax revenues, with €267m flowing to various government levels.
Human medicine led the way in the congress field, responsible for 43 per cent of all overnight stays generated by congresses in 2024. This outpaced all other sectors, including formal sciences (12%), humanities and politics (9% each), and technology (8%).
“Vienna
is a diplomatic hub and a leader in medical congresses. These figures go to
show just how important Vienna’s international orientation remains. As a
medium-sized city in a small country, we need an international mindset, have to
nurture our role on the diplomatic stage, and expand connectivity within global
transport networks,” said
Vienna Tourist Board CEO Norbert Kettner.
Vienna’s position as a global center for medical congresses is underpinned by close collaboration between the Vienna Convention Bureau and institutions like the Medical University of Vienna. The city is already preparing to host the European Society for Sexual Medicine’s congress and the Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics in 2025, along with the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in 2026.
The year also saw Vienna host 50 major congresses with over 1,000 participants each, underscoring the city’s appeal for large-scale international gatherings.
Much of this success is credited to the Vienna Meeting Fund, an initiative launched during the pandemic to help the city remain competitive and support sustainable, off-peak tourism. Administered by the Vienna Tourist Board and Convention Bureau, the fund supports international, multi-day events held outside peak months and with a sustainability certification such as Green Meeting or ÖkoEvent.
Over 1,200 applications have been submitted since the fund’s inception in May 2021, with more than 800 meetings approved through to December 2028. Almost €9m of the €12m fund has already been allocated, with €3m still available.
Congress
organisers are increasingly aiming to make a positive impact on the city and
its residents that goes beyond purely economic benefits. In 2025, the Vienna
Tourist Board, working closely with organisers, will implement a number of
legacy projects.
Ahead of the European Renal Association’s annual congress
(June 4-7, 2025), students at three schools in Vienna will have the opportunity
to learn about kidney health, including a creative competition with prizes.
During the congress itself, people can also have a free kidney check at the
Austria Center Vienna. The European Space Agency’s Living Planet Symposium
(June 23-27, 2025) will create a hands-on science experience through a
traveling exhibition, interactive stations, and live music at Karlsplatz. Two-thirds (69%) of Viennese residents already recognize meetings
as an important factor for the city.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
