Portugal once again secured a position in the Top 10 of the ICCA ranking for countries and cities hosting global events in 2022. Lisbon claimed the second spot, while other Portuguese cities also made appearances in the ranking.
In 2022, there were over 10,500 events and congresses held globally, as reported by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). The analysis revealed that 85% of these events took place in person, amounting to 9,042 gatherings. Senthil Gopinath, the CEO of the association, noted during a press conference at IMEX 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany, that this indicates “an attempt to return to normality.”
Portugal secured the 7th position, hosting a total of 294 face-to-face events and conferences throughout 2022. The countries leading ahead of Portugal were the USA (690 events/conferences), Spain (528), Italy (522), Germany (484), France (472), and the United Kingdom (449), respectively. The remaining spots in the Top 10 were filled by the Netherlands (253), Belgium (234), and Canada (233). El Salvador, Monaco, and Oman closed the ranking with five events each held in 2022.
In terms of cities, Lisbon ranked 2nd, trailing behind Vienna, Austria. While Vienna hosted 162 events/congresses, Lisbon was the chosen city for 144 events/congresses in 2022. The Top 10 cities in the ICCA ranking also included Paris (134), Barcelona (133), Prague (129), Madrid (128), Berlin (113), Athens (109), Brussels (108), and London (106).
Other Portuguese cities featured in the city ranking as well. Porto secured the 27th position with 54 events/conferences, Cascais stood at 129th place with 16 events/congresses, Braga at 153rd with 13 events/conferences, Coimbra at 164th with 12 events/congresses, Aveiro at 173rd with 11 events/congresses, Vilamoura/Algarve at 256th with 7 events/conferences, Guimarães at 292nd with 6 events/congresses, and Funchal/Madeira at 326th with 5 events/congresses organized in 2022.
Within the European ranking, with the USA excluded, Portugal climbed to the 6th position with a total of 294 events and congresses held in the country.
