Montreal Events

There's a new green venue on the Toronto meetings scene. Located at the 192-acre Exhibition Place, the Allstream Centre incorporates state-of-the-art technology into its historical, 160,000-square-foot facility.

Following its multimillion dollar makeover, Toronto's former Automotive Building is now the go-to destination for special events and banquets. Its popularity is no surprise, seeing as how the Toronto venue boasts the largest ballroom in the city, seating up to 3,000 guests. It also offers 20 meeting rooms, capable of accommodating 50 to 750 people.

The Allstream Centre is committed to keeping events green, targeting to be the first LEED silver certified conference building in Canada. Eco-friendly initiatives include the use of low VOC paints, carpets and adhesives; an innovative white reflective roof; and food service that includes locally grown food and a perishable food donation program.

The Toronto conference center's functionality has not taken away from its beauty, which is a mix of old and new. The original terrazzo lobby floors, iron stair railings and tulip-shaped Art Deco lighting fixtures have been restored to their original glory. Meanwhile, contemporary elements, such as the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design in the ballroom ceiling and 40-foot-high tavertine relief wall, keep things modern.

For Toronto meeting planners in need of even more meeting space, the Allstream Centre is adjacent to the popular Direct Energy Centre, which offers over one million square feet of space. Together, both buildings can comfortably house your next Toronto event.

View more information about the Allstream Centre on the Cvent Supplier Network

How much do you want to pay for your next meeting and event? That's what Dolce Hotels and Resorts wants to know, and, more importantly, it's what they're willing to agree to.

Dolce's new "Make Us an Offer...Anything Goes" promotion asks meeting planners to make an offer to host your next meeting at one of its participating properties—no reasonable offer will be refused! Good for any new meeting reserved by December 18, 2009, and used by May 31, 2010, your offer must include the preferred location(s), dates, facilities needed and desired budget. It must also be "reasonable based on industry standards for meetings at properties of similar size and quality as Dolce properties for the dates selected."

To make your offer from the United States and Canada, call 1-800-57-DOLCE. Or visit, Dolce Special Offers to learn more about how to submit your Request for Proposal (RFP) today!

Starwood Hotels & Resorts are getting in the holiday spirit by offering great rates, free nights and special packages to its guests at hotels across the United States, Canada and Latin America. For example, find New York hotel deals at The Westin New York at Times Square and the W New York-Union Square, both of which are offering a buy three nights, get the fourth night free offer.

Or, consider the exciting Chicago promotion at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. Here, for stays between November 6, 2009, and February 21, 2010, guests can enjoy a $100 gift cards for each night you stay; a Macy's VIP coupon book; a complimentary photo with the Macy's Santa on State Street (November 24-December 24); and reduced rates starting at $175 per night for reservations booked before November 6. The Chicago luxury hotel is also offering a complimentary shuttle to and from the Macy's on State Street and Water Tower Place for stays Friday through Sunday from November 27 to December 20. Guests can book online or call 866-716-8103 and ask for hotel promo code MAP to enjoy this Chicago hotel deal.

Visit Starwood Promos to learn more about offers at properties across the globe and learn more about specific terms and conditions.

For an upcoming event, one of Cvent's clients was targeting her marketing to government officials in Canada as well as to a select group of professionals, and her registration fees were fairly expensive. She also wanted to keep her training sessions fairly small, so she wasn’t expecting that much of a profit margin from registrations alone.

She wanted to find a way to cover some of her costs from the event from sponsorships, not an easy thing to do, especially during the current economic climate. But with Cvent, it was possible to market to her sponsors by posting their logos on her event invitations, reminders, and registration pages. She was also able to set up a strategic registration question so her registrants would have to indicate whether or not they were interested in learning more about the event sponsor. 

As a result, she was able to obtain a sponsorship that helped cover the majority of costs for her event. In the end, her first event made her use of Cvent's event management software more than worthwhile.

Labor Day is just around the corner, so it's time for everyone to squeeze in one last getaway. Based on more than 30,000 hotel room booking requests made through its Name Your Own Price hotel service, Priceline has released its 7th annual top 50 destinations for Labor Day.

Here are the top 10 destinations Americans will be traveling to this weekend:

1. New York City, Times Square/Theater District
2. New York City, Chelsea Area
3. Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity South
4. Seattle, Downtown/Pike Place
5. New York City, Empire State Building Area
6. San Francisco, Union Square West/Nob Hill
7. New York City, Midtown East
8. Chicago, Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park Area
9. Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity North
10. Boston, Copley Square/Theater District

Quite a few New York City destinations made the list, which is good news for the struggling hotel market there. Brian Ek, Priceline's Travel Ekspert, also notes a few key changes from last year's list. International destinations are back on the list (starting with Vancouver at number 11, Montreal at 16, Paris at 17, etc.) as are many beach destinations.

On the heels of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which required stricter documentation for entry into the United States by land or sea, comes tighter rules on the Canadian border. Mexican and Czech citizens entering Canada are required to have a visa.

"The visa requirement I am announcing will give us a greater ability to manage the flow of people into Canada and verify bona fides," said Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney in a statement. "The visa process will allow us to assess who is coming to Canada as a legitimate visitor and who might be trying to use the refugee system to jump the immigration queue.

"It is not fair for those who have been waiting patiently to come to Canada, sometimes for years, when others succeed in bypassing our immigration system," he said.

The new requirements apply to these two countries because of the high number of refugee claims. Mexico refugee claims have almost tripled since 2005 and have skyrocketed from five to 3,000 claims for Czech citizens since Canada dropped Czech visa requirements in 2007.

Not surprisingly, the requirements weren't taken lightly by Czech and Mexican authorities. Czech Premier Jan Fischer said in a press conference that he regretted Canada's decision and hopes to continue talks to re-establish non-visa travel.

The tourism industry also stands to suffer from Canada's decision, critics say.

"This couldn't have come at a worse time, at the very height of the tourism season," New Democratic Party (NDP) tourism critic Bruce Hyer told CBC News. "More than 200,000 Mexican tourists visited Canada last year, but now many planning to visit Canada will have to cancel their bookings."

Do you see visa requirements affecting your attendees to events in Toronto and across Canada? Would it affect your meeting destination selection?

Cvent will be attending ASAE’s Annual Meeting and Exposition, held Saturday, August 15, through Tuesday, August 18, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada. Held annually, ASAE’s show is expected to see over 3,500 association professionals from various industries. Last year’s conference in San Diego saw over 3,700 attendees and roughly 500 exhibitors from all over the globe.

A major focus of the conference is the expo, which features almost 400 exhibitors representing a mix of the top destinations and hotels as well as in-demand products and services. Cvent will be at booth 1915 during the expo, which is held Sunday through Tuesday. 

Additionally, on Sunday, August 16, Cvent executives will be hosting a private dinner at the well-known Canyon Creek Chophouse. If you would like to come to the dinner, please click here to RSVP. If you would like to set up a private meeting during this tradeshow, please email Reggie Aggarwal, Cvent founder and CEO, at raggarwal@cvent.com. For more information on Cvent, please visit www.cvent.com.

We look forward to seeing you there!

One of the Best Hotels in the world according to Travel + Leisure and one the best family resorts in the United States and Canada according to T + L Family, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, is a sight to see. Opened in 1887, the hotel was a popular summer retreat for vacationers coming from Chicago, Erie, Montreal and Detroit. Undergoing expansions, renovations and new owners since then, the hotel has retained its historic charm and architecture while adding modern comforts and amenities.

This Michigan hotel's 385 guest rooms are all designed in a unique style—no two rooms are alike. Four tennis courts, a 500,000-gallon swimming pool, and The Jewel, the on-site golf course with 18 scenic holes, keep guests entertained.

The hotel also has a number of popular shops, including the Colony Shop, a women's resort clothing store, and Carleton's Tea Store, specializing in out-of-the-ordinary foods. A number of restaurants and bars are on the grounds, while the Main Dining Room serves breakfast, dinner and a famed lunch buffet daily.

One of the most popular activities at this quaint getaway is just kicking back on the hotel's Front Porch, the world's largest at 660 feet. Because motorized vehicles are not allowed on Mackinac Island, horse and carriages and bicycles are both fun activities and the only way to get around.

The Grand Hotel hosts many meetings and conferences throughout the year. The Woodfill Conference Center offers two stories of state-of-the-art space, including the 3,145-square-foot Brighton Pavilion and 529-square-foot Gerald R. Ford Conference Room. Other meeting rooms, such as the Cottage Restaurant, Garden Terrace, and Pontiac Room, can accommodate groups from 40 to 1,500 people. Even the grand Front Porch, divisible into east and west sections, can be rented for receptions and functions.

View more information about the Grand Hotel on the Cvent Supplier Network

One look at Toronto's meeting stats and you'll know that Canada's largest city offers plenty of things to do and see. But of the more than 300 unique venues and thousands of restaurants, Harbourfront Centre is one of the city's most popular attractions, with about 12 million visitors each year. Its 2009 summer arts festivals are expected to see about two million guests alone.

Occupying 10 acres of Toronto's waterfront, Harbourfront Centre is a hub of performing arts venues, restaurants, shops and galleries. Guests can purchase premium craft pieces at BOUNTY or visit its Craft Studio to watch as local artisans at work. Take a stroll in the Toronto Music Garden, designed to reflect Bach's First Suites for Unaccompanied Cello. Or, catch one of the over 4,000 Toronto events held every year at Harbourfront Centre, which span music, dance, film, and visual and literary arts.

Harbourfront Centre offers a wide range of venues for rent, accommodating Toronto meetings and conferences of 50 to 450 people. Small conferences, corporate events, lectures and presentations, film screenings, and professional performing arts presentations are welcome. Unfortunately, it cannot accommodate social events such as weddings or birthdays.

Meeting planners know that sometimes it takes a little something extra to convince event attendees to register "Yes" for conferences and conventions. Your event agenda may be solid, full of educational seminars and networking opportunities, but what about activities outside the boardroom? An opportunity to visit a world-class museum exhibition, catch the latest Broadway play, or dine at the hottest new restaurant may be just what attendees need as an incentive.

Check out some of the current and upcoming Toronto events. In addition to being great activity suggestions for your meeting registrants and their guests, many of them are held at popular Toronto event venues, making it easy for planners to bring the fun right to their attendees!

• The Royal Ontario Museum, the largest museum in Canada, is hosting several once-in-a-lifetime exhibitions including Out of the Vaults: Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead (until October 18); Light & Stone: Gems from the Collection of Michael Scott (until November 15, 2009); and Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World (until January 3, 2010). Toronto event planners can host private functions  for 10 to 2,000 people against the backdrop of these priceless collections.

• One of the top luxury hotels in Toronto, The Drake Hotel is also a great Toronto venue for dining and relaxation for both hotel guests and visitors. From October 27 to December 31, 2009, The Drake's signature Lounge, redesigned in 2007, is the place to see and be seen for Cocktail Hour, held Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 PM. Specials include $5 draft beer, $4 mixed drinks and appetizers such as fried shrimp and pork belly sliders for $5 to $7. After your event attendees enjoy a few drinks, invite them to a evening dinner at the hotel's Room 222, which offers full audio-visual amenities, custom teak wood ceilings and walls, and Toronto private dining space day and night.

• A celebration of Canada's most beloved sport, the Hockey Hall of Fame is one of the most popular attractions in Toronto. On November 8, it will certainly be the place to go, serving as host to the Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic. Part of the hall's Induction Weekend, which pays tribute to its newest inductees, this game matches the Canada Legends versus the World Legends in a battle of all-stars. Held at the Air Canada Centre, tickets start at C$26.

Since the June 1 implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, border traffic between the United States and Canada has dropped, including that of traveling event attendees, reports The Buffalo News. The WHTI requires your U.S. or Canadian event attendees to present a passport or other approved document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the United States by land or sea.

"The economic impact is very significant along the border," Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said. "If you look at the Niagara Peninsula, the Shaw Festival and the wineries are suffering...We are seeing conferences being canceled in Canada because of concerns that people won’t be able to go to the conference."

To address the decrease in traffic, business leaders are advocating better education and more promotion about quick-entry programs such as NEXUS, which offers a quick-entry card to frequent border crossers. Trusted shipper programs could also ease transportation of products between borders.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said that the initiative is not to blame for a decrease in border traffic.

"The implementation of WHTI has thus far been a success, with no significant impact on daily traveler volume or wait times at ports of entry," Department spokesman Matthew Chandler said.

What do you think: Does the new initiative make travel to events in Toronto and other Canadian destinations more difficult for your attendees? Would you cancel your events in Canada or select another meeting destination because of it?

With over 400 hotels and a host of unique event venues, the city of Toronto is a popular meeting destination. One of the most famous and well-known Toronto events is the Toronto International Film Festival. Every September, downtown Toronto venues become screening rooms for between 300 to 400 films, attracting an audience of over 300,000 people.

This celebration of Oscar-worthy films is the premier film festival in North America, and it rivals others held throughout the globe including that of Cannes. The 34th Toronto International Film Festival will be held this year from September 10-19, and as always, the most prestigious Toronto hotels in the downtown Yorkville neighborhood will fill up with Hollywood glitterati, film industry greats and more.

Check out some of the most popular hotels used by festival attendees, and consider taking advantage of these screen-worthy Toronto accommodations when booking your next event in the city:
 
Windsor Arms Hotel

The birthplace of the film festival, the Windsor Arms Hotel was renovated in 1995 with custom, 1920s French-style mahogany furnishings, cozy fireplaces and limestone bathrooms. In 1999, the hotel opened with 28 unique suites ranging in size from about 45 to 140 square meters (500 to 1,500 square feet), conference rooms, and a spa.

This famed Toronto hotel features a variety of meeting rooms and also offers its Courtyard Cafe and Tea Room for business lunches or dinners. Evoking the spirit of the late romantic era with its warm textures and crisp linens, the cafe is an ideal Toronto party venue for up to 200 guests.

Sutton Place Hotel

With 230 guest rooms, 53 suites and more than 10 event venues from which to choose, Sutton Place Hotel is a top Toronto wedding venue and special event facility. Stop 33, the hotel's rooftop ballroom, affords stunning views of the city and space for up to 160 people. Additionally, 10 meeting rooms and three ballrooms lend themselves to Toronto meetings of 10 to 270 people.

Meeting planners in need of a Toronto hotel deal can find one at Sutton Place. For bookings made at the hotel in July and August, planners can take advantage of meeting packages of $80 per person with no conditions, i.e. no attrition fees.

Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville

This AAA Four Diamond hotel finds itself ideally situated in the heard of Toronto's Yorkville neighborhood, within walking distance of top Toronto attractions such as the Royal Ontario Museum, Air Canada Centre and Bloor Yorkville shopping district. Its 222 guest rooms are stocked with business traveler-friendly features, such as 42-inch LCD screen televisions, swivel desks and ergonomic chairs.

The hotel's 13 meeting rooms offer 1,115 square meters (12,000 square feet) of meeting space. The largest of its Toronto meeting rooms is the Forest Hill Ballroom, offering a maximum space of over 480 square meters (5,200 square feet) and a seating capacity of up to 400 guests.

With over 20 museums, more than 10 art galleries, and a host of gardens, parks, and outdoor markets, there are plenty of things to do in Toronto. Lucky for meeting planners, many of these attractions double as great Toronto meeting venues.

Take, for example, the Toronto Zoo. Canada's premier zoo and one of the largest in the world, it welcomes about 1.3 million visitors per year who come to see its award-winning Gorilla Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef, among other exhibits. In August 2009, the zoo is sure to draw even more attention when it opens is much-anticipated 10-acre Tundra Trek Exhibit, full of snow geese, polar bears, reindeer, Arctic wolves and more.

Planners can find Toronto meeting space at the zoo's three picnic sites, two of which have covered shelters. Its picnic sites can accommodate groups as small as 250 people to as large as 600 guests.

In addition to being a great Toronto meeting venue, the Toronto Zoo is a great place for group outings. Planners can organize breakfasts or exclusive evening events with the sharks at Stingray Bay. Here, attendees will enjoy catered meals and private sessions at the exhibits with educational keeper talks.

View more information about the Toronto Zoo on the Cvent Supplier Network

I've been blogging recently about the concept of banquetology and how using serving small plates at your catered events cuts down on both food & beverage spend and event waste. Tapas are a great way to put the principles of banquetology in action.

When I visited to Spain a few years ago, I was told that the first tapas were used to cover diner's drinks between sips in order to keep insects out. In fact, the word "tapar" in Spanish means "to cover."

Today in Spain, tapas are a way of life, so much so that to say you're going out for some tapas and drinks has its own phrase, "ir de tapas." But these small portions have also expanded beyond their Spanish roots and are now commonplace at bars and restaurants in North America as well.

Across the United States and Canada, you'll find several restaurants that can accommodate your needs for group dining space and a catered meal comprised of these perfect-sized dishes. Here are a few of the standouts:

Solera

Located in downtown Minneapolis, Solera has been hailed as one of the world's top 10 new restaurants by Food & Wine magazine. Fried calamari with hot pepper and tomato aioli, deviled eggs with blue crab and cumin, and goat cheese fritters with sherry-braised figs and fennel are among the tantalizing tapas on Solera's seasonally-updated menu.

This Minneapolis restaurant offers numerous spaces for private events of 10 to 1,200 people. The rooftop, complete with a built-in sound system and movie screen, can accommodate up to 100 people.

LEE

This Toronto restaurant boasts superior service and an eclectic range of tapas-style dishes. The duck confit roll with spiced nuts, oven-dried pineapple and goat cheese and the four satay skewer of chicken, shrimp, pork and beef are favorites on the menu, which is complemented by about 50 versatile wine options.

LEE offers private group dining in Toronto for up to 84 guests. Its patio can accommodate up to 36 guests.

Mercat a la Planxa

The Chicago restaurant Mercat a la Planxa transports diners from the hustle of Michigan Avenue to the laidback life of Barcelona. Traditional tapas such as garlic shrimp, shellfish croquettes and a Spanish omelet with spinach, potatoes and saffron aioli are among the many tempting options on Mercat's extensive menu. White and red sangria and various specialty cocktails and wines round out the authentic experience.

Mercat's airy indoor terrace, La Veranda, is available for private functions of up to 16 people. La Veranda is equipped with audio-visual equipment and flat-screen televisions.

Global Cynergies, LLC (GC) has selected the Cvent Supplier Network as its partner for global venue search and electronic RFP distribution of leads to suppliers. The Supplier Network will be used by the worldwide network of Account Executives at Global Cynergies, which provides site selection and sourcing services for local, regional, and global meetings. 

According to Pat Durocher, Global Cynergies’ CEO and Founder, "After in-depth research and testing, Global Cynergies found the Cvent Supplier Network to be the most adaptable, user-friendly and global application. Cvent is the only eRFP tool that continuously updates the functionality within the application and the information in the Cvent Supplier Network database to successfully support a global organization like ours. Our Associates have also found Cvent’s client support staff to be absolutely fantastic to work with."

Roger Stauffer, Director, Sales Support and Procurement added, "The suppliers and hotels we work with have embraced the Cvent Supplier Network with open arms. There is no cost for suppliers to be listed on the Cvent Supplier Network and no cost for them to receive and respond to RFPs. The widespread supplier adoption of the Cvent Supplier Network and its user-friendly yet feature-packed design impressed our Global Cynergies Associates. They have selected the Cvent Supplier Network as their exclusive site selection and eRFP tool."

Currently, Cvent’s 14,000 meeting and event planners rely on the Cvent Supplier Network to book sleeping rooms and meeting space at over 75,000 venues in Europe, Asia, Oceania, South America, Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.
 
Cvent Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chuck Ghoorah said, "We are pleased to partner with Global Cynergies and facilitate stronger relationships between Global Cynergies Associates and hotels outside of the United States. Our organizations are committed to providing the global meeting industry with the most cost-effective site selection solutions and exceptional support to streamline the worldwide site selection process."

Read more about the Global Cynergies-Cvent partnership.

In a recent post, I blogged about how to be prepared in case of an event emergency. Among the many things you can do should the unthinkable occur at your conference or convention, one of the most important things is to be well-informed on how to summon proper emergency medical care.

An easy task, right? Sure, as long as you're aware of the fact that contact information for emergency services varies from country to country. Here, in the United States, everyone knows 911 equals emergency. But if you decide to host an event in London, for example, be sure to dial 999 or 112.

As a reference, I've compiled this high-level overview of how to get in touch with emergency medical services (EMS) in each global region. In all cases, make sure to talk to your venue contact prior to the event. He or she can best assist you when you're hosting meetings in unfamiliar territory.

North America

First deployed in 1959, in Winnipeg, Canada, 911 is the emergency number used throughout the majority of North America.

European Union

EU countries adopted 112 as the standard emergency number in 1991. However, a few countries have yet to implement the number. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, 999 work in parallel to 112.

Middle East/Asia

Emergency numbers in Asia vary from country to country. China's medical emergency number is 120, Japan's is 119, and Singapore's is 995. Make sure to check the specifics of the destination in which you are hosting an event.

Australia

000, or triple-zero, is the primary number for emergencies in Australia, though GSM mobile phones should dial 112 in order to be reconnected to triple-zero operators.

Central America/Caribbean

Many countries use 911 as an emergency number. However, be sure to verify; Guatemala (120), Jamaica (110) and Barbados (511) are among those that do not use 911.

South America

Once again, emergency numbers for medical services vary greatly. 911 is used by both Paraguay and Uruguay, but other countries have their own three-digit number.

Africa

In a few countries, including Sudan, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe, you can dial 999 to access medical emergency service. Most countries vary in the designated number.

The Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls/Fallsview has opened its 500-suite luxury tower in Niagara Falls, Canada. Located in the upscale Fallsview Boulevard area, just 500 yards away from the Falls, the Hilton now boasts the largest tower hotel Canada at 53 stories, affording spectacular views of the city below.

Located just 90 minutes from Toronto, the Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview offers well-appointed guest rooms designed in a classic style with wood furnishings and wrought iron fixtures. Its new tower includes the 50th-floor, 1,500-square-foot Presidential suite and Parlor suites, which are idea for large travel groups.

In addition to its new tower, the Hilton hotel also recently opened two new restaurants, a Romano's Macaroni Grill (the first in Ontario) and the Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse and Wine Bar. These restaurants join the Hilton's Watermark Restaurant, located on the 33rd floor.

Offering 12,000 square feet of conference facilities, the Hilton is well-suited to meetings and events thanks to on-site audio-visual services, high-speed wireless Internet in meeting rooms and an on-site business center. The Hilton is also attached to the popular Fallsview Casino Resort, which offers meeting space along with 3,000 slots and 100 table games.

View more information about Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls/Fallsview on the Cvent Supplier Network

Today, Cvent welcomed the 100th destination to its Destination Guide.  The Cvent Destination Guide is an informational resource for meeting and event planners designed to help planners simplify their site selection process by providing them with meeting specific details for worldwide meeting destinations.  Planners can view image galleries, read about things to do, identify the top area hotels, receive restaurant recommendations, map key area attractions and venues, learn about exclusive promotions and more. 

Based upon a recent focus group Cvent hosted, event planners consider an average of 3-5 destinations and spend up to one week researching potential meeting locations during their site selection process.  Approximately 80% of the focus group participants revealed that selecting the appropriate meeting destination is essential to the success of their programs.  More than 90% of the focus group participants felt that the information presented on the destination guide was valuable to event planners. The ability to easily compare multiple destinations, as well as the availability of meeting statistics and meeting facility details which are not easily found elsewhere were cited as the top reasons for utilizing resources like the Cvent Destination Guide.  Amongst other reasons was the capability to send requests for proposals (RFPs) and book venues directly.

The Cvent Destination Guide features profiles for worldwide meeting destinations across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.  The guide helps planners compare apples to apples in a clear and concise format so that they have all of the necessary information to make a destination recommendation to the final decision-maker.   Click here to explore the destination guide now.
 

The International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) has released its rankings of the world's most popular countries and cities for hosting international association meetings. The United States and Germany are the top two countries for international association meetings, and Paris and Vienna are the top two cities for these meetings.

The rankings are based on a survey of 7,475 events that took place in 2008. Qualifying events for the survey were those organized by international associations that took place on a regular basis and rotate between a minimum of three countries.

Here's the top 10 list of countries and their respective meeting totals:

1. United States (507 meetings)
2. Germany (402 meetings)
3. Spain (347 meetings)
4. France (334 meetings)
5. United Kingdom (322 meetings)
6. Italy (296 meetings)
7. Brazil (254 meetings)
8. Japan (247 meetings)
9. Canada (231 meetings)
10. Netherlands (227 meetings)

And the top 10 cities:

1. Paris (139 meetings)
2. Vienna (139 meetings)
3. Barcelona (136 meeting)
4. Singapore (118 meetings)
5. Berlin (100 meetings)
6. Budapest (95 meetings)
7. Amsterdam (89 meetings)
8. Stockholm (87 meetings)
9. Seoul (84 meetings)
10. Lisbon (83 meetings)

A number of cities also appeared for the first time in the top 20 this year. Among them, Athens, Buenos Aires and Tokyo.

When you're hosting an international meeting, don't forget to check out the Cvent Destination Guide to see meeting-specific profiles of over 100 destinations worldwide, including top 10 cities of Paris and Singapore—with plenty more to come!

View the complete country and city rankings at the ICCA website.