CONSULTANCY GainingEdge has released the fifth edition of its International Convention Destination Competitive Index Report with a focus on three global regions and a positive results for Singapore and Taipei.
Singapore – followed by Tokyo – comes first as the most competitive destination in the Asia Pacific region, and also claims the top spot globally, surpassing Paris for the first time. Paris maintains its position as the most competitive convention destination in Europe, followed closely by Barcelona and London. The inclusion of Dubai stands out for its strong performance in the 2020-2022 three-year period. New York remains the most competitive destination in the United States, securing the third position globally after Singapore and Paris.
Hong Kong ranks fourth in the Asia-Pacific competitiveness index one place below Beijing and above Shanghai with Kuala Lumpur and Seoul taking the sixth and seventh spots respectively followed by Bangkok and Bali.
ASIA-PACIFIC RESULTS
In a departure from previous years, Singapore has emerged as the most competitive destination globally, surpassing Paris with a competitive index of 769.6 points.
Tokyo and Beijing switched positions, securing second and third places, with scores of 704.8 and 637.0, respectively.
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, and Seoul each improved by one place, while Bangkok experienced a slight decline, now ranking eighth.
The competitive scores among these cities are relatively close, forming a shared competitive set.
Melbourne and Sydney maintained their consistent presence on the list.
Taipei achieved outstanding results in 2022, surpassing the competitiveness of its destination product.
Cities to Watch
The report identifies six cities as exemplary in showcasing what can be achieved through different combinations of product and a focus on the international meeting market. These cities include:
1. Singapore: Surpassing Paris, it claims the top spot globally and excels in both the competitiveness of its destination product and the number of international association meetings hosted.
2. Vienna: Hosting an impressive total of 208 international conventions in the last three years, Vienna reaffirms its position as the world’s most successful convention destination.
3. Brussels: Hosting 156 in-person international conventions over the past three years, Brussels demonstrates its prowess as an international hub for association business.
4. Taipei: Hosting 55 in-person international association meetings and 88 international conventions over the last three years, Taipei surpasses the competitive position of its destination product.
5. Panama City: Hosting 31 in-person international association meetings in 2022 and 36 over the two-year pandemic period, Panama City positions itself as the 11th most successful destination in the North & Latin America region.
6. Reykjavík: Achieving sa record result for Iceland by hosting 55 international congresses in 2022, Reykjavík surpasses pre-pandemic performance.
The featured destinations were selected based on their performance from January 2020 to December 2022, with a focus on in-person association meetings due to their significant impact on destinations. GainingEdge says the number of meetings held is referenced from the International Congress and Convention (ICCA)’s database of association meetings 2020-2022.
To restore comparability with the pre-pandemic period, virtual, cancelled, and postponed meetings were excluded from the analysis, the consultancy says. The decision to focus exclusively on in-person meetings reflects the significant disruptions caused by global challenges, particularly the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to varying responses, geopolitical issues, and disruptions in supply chains and the economic environment.
“Through this report and based on this methodology, we can evaluate destinations, establish their competitiveness in relation to primary competitors, and compare these to the destinations’ potential business levels. We can help destinations to identify their competitive set, understand their competitive position and set optimal business goals.”
– Milos Milovanovic, head of GainingEdge Analysis & Research
This year’s edition shifts its regional focus by listing:
- Top 30 EMEA destinations (Europe, Middle East, Africa);
- Top 15 APAC destinations (Asia-Pacific and Oceania);
- Top 15 American destinations (North and Latin America).
Short and longer versions of the report are available. Download a copy of the abbreviated version of the Competitive Index 2022-2023 here. Download a copy of the Competitive Index 2022-2023 full report here.
