The Hague reports growth of 48% in international congresses

The Hague Convention Bureau (part of The Hague & Partners) has reported winning 92 international congresses in 2019, a 48% increase compared to 2018. The international congresses won across The Hague in 2019 achieved an estimated economic impact of €48.79m for the city, the Bureau said. Provisional numbers from the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC) show that The Hague achieved nearly 213,000 congress days in 2019, an increase of 9% compared to the previous year. Bas Schot, Head of The Hague Convention Bureau, commented: “These figures are a testament to the collaborative approach we are seeing across the venues, hotels and suppliers throughout The Hague.” “The Bureau’s involvement in the number of congresses taking place in the city is increasing,” says Marco Esser, Director of The Hague & Partners. “In 2019 we were involved in 76% of all congresses that took place in the city. That is a considerable growth compared to only 40% involvement in 2018.” Peace and justice, legal and finance, cyber security, renewable energy, IT & tech, life science, and the impact economy are key sectors for The Hague, accounting for over 91% of all acquired conferences in 2019. “People are increasingly looking for less busy destinations, where there is still a lot to see and do and The Hague offers that. The Hague is a royal city, a city by the sea and a city of peace and justice,” Bas Schot added. The Hague & Partners is an umbrella organisation, including The Hague Marketing Bureau, The Hague Convention Bureau and The Hague Business Agency.