The 2010 International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) country and city rankings have been announced.
Compared to the previous year, the top 10 country players remain barely disturbed in their places. USA, Germany and Spain remain in first, second and third place, respectively.
Austria has had the most dramatic fall from 10th in the 2009 rankings to 14th with 212 meetings (236 in 2009). The UK has bumped up a place replacing Italy in fourth place. Italy is now in sixth place with 350 qualifying meetings with Brazil falling from sixth to ninth place.
Switzerland has joined the top 10 rankings with 244 meetings, up 61 per cent on 2005 figures. At European level, Switzerland comes in sixth, behind Germany, Spain, the UK, France and Italy.
In the city rankings, Sydney has jumped 17 places and is now ranked number 10 out of 364 business meeting destinations in the 2010 results.
London moved up two places to 14th and is targeting the top 10 within five years now that it has the new Excel London ICC facility on stream.
Copenhagen dropped nine places to 15th, hosting 92 meetings in 2010 compared to 103 in 2009, while Stockholm fell from seventh to 17th, hosting 89 meetings.
The rankings are based on qualifying association conferences that rotate around the world.
The association conventions reviewed by ICCA must have at least 50 attendees, be regular events and take place alternately in at least three different countries.
Founded in 1963, ICCA is based in Amsterdam and has been collecting data on association events worldwide since 1972.
Country rankings:
1 USA
2 Germany
3 Spain
4 United Kingdom
5 France
6 Italy
7 Japan
8 China-P.R.
9 Brazil
10 Switzerland
11 Australia
12 Canada
13 Netherlands
14 Austria
15 Portugal
16 Sweden
17 Republic of Korea
18 Argentina
19 Belgium
20 Turkey
City rankings:
1 Vienna
2 Barcelona
3 Paris
4 Berlin
5 Singapore
6 Madrid
7 Istanbul
8 Lisbon
9 Amsterdam
10 Sydney
11 Taipei
12 Beijing
13 Buenos Aires
14 London
15 Copenhagen
16 Seoul
17 Stockholm
18 Budapest
19 Prague
20 Hong Kong
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