CWT M&E, the global meetings and events division of CWT, today unveiled its ranking of the top 10 cities for meetings and events.
Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
London holds on to the coveted number one spot.
The top 10 cities for meetings and events in EMEA (versus 2019):
- London, UK (1)
- Frankfurt, Germany (10)
- Paris, France (9)
- Berlin, Germany (4)
- Barcelona, Spain (3)
- Milan, Italy (-)
- Cologne, Germany (8)
- Stockholm, Sweden (7)
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (-)
- Vienna, Austria (6)
Brexit and a change in government notwithstanding, London remains the number one destination for meetings and events in EMEA in 2020. Frankfurt and Paris jumped from the bottom of last year’s top 10 list to #2 and #3 next year. Germany is the only country in EMEA with multiple cities making the list, including Berlin and Cologne. The lone Italian city of Milan makes an appearance in the 2020 list, along with Amsterdam, after failing to make the cut last year.
“London and the UK continue to be strong for meetings and events,” said Ian Cummings, Vice President, EMEA, CWT Meetings and Events. “The uncertainty over Brexit—and the resulting devaluation of the pound—has made the UK an even more attractive destination.”
Apart from London, Manchester also made a shorter list of destinations on the rise in the region, buoyed by major developments, including a new 20,000-capacity arena.
Other up-and-coming cities in 2020 include Porto in Portugal, Seville in Spain, the Italian city of Rome and the French city of Nice. These destinations typically offer better values than the top-tier cities, along with an increasing number of competitive hotels and venues that can host meetings and events of varying sizes.
Nowhere is sustainability having more of an impact on business than in Europe. It’s encoded into law—as in France with its société à mission, a new corporate structure for companies with a social and environmental mission beyond profits, that is expected to influence suppliers they work with. It’s in investments in electric cars by European car manufacturers—creating opportunities for new product launches. It’s in working towards becoming the world’s first carbon neutral city as the Danish capital of Copenhagen is doing—with 70% of its hotel rooms now holding official eco-certification. Sustainability is a key driver for M&E in EMEA in 2020 and beyond.
Asia Pacific
Shanghai holds on to the coveted number one spot.
The top 10 cities for meetings and events in APAC (versus 2019):
- Shanghai, China (1)
- Beijing, China (3)
- Singapore (2)
- Bangkok, Thailand (4)
- Sydney, Australia (5)
- Tokyo, Japan (6)
- Hong Kong, China (7)
- Mumbai, India (9)
- Melbourne, Australia (8)
- Chengdu, China (10)
The top 10 list in APAC has proven sticky, with the exact same cities featured in both the 2020 and 2019 lists—with most hardly budging from last year’s rankings and with no new entrant in sight. China, once again, netted the most entries, including Beijing and Chengdu, and continues to drive M&E activity in the region.
As in North America, the increasingly acrimonious trade war between the world’s two largest economies is threatening to derail this growth, and is stoking fears of potentially triggering a recession.
“It is hard to underestimate the impact of the US-China trade tit-for-tat,” said Sam Lay, Senior Director, Asia Pacific, CWT Meetings & Events. “Companies across the region, including those in the meetings and events industry, are wary of the deteriorating situation and its negative effect on business.”
Closer to home, the three-month old protests rocking the streets of Hong Kong are also being closely watched by the business community. A number of countries have issued safety advisories urging travelers to exercise caution, and some businesses are taking a wait-and-see approach with their meetings and events scheduled in the near to mid-term. However, sentiment remains positive for Hong Kong as a key international business destination in 2020.
The region itself continues to be a top draw for incentive travel, as attendees look for unique, life-changing experiences in the varied and distinct cultures of Asia Pacific. Demand is going beyond the well-known regional hubs and into second and third-tier cities.
Among the region’s destinations on the rise are Hanoi in Vietnam, Dalian and Macau in China, Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, and Perth, Australia. These destinations typically offer better values than the top-tier cities, along with an increasing number of competitive hotels and venues that can host meetings and events of varying sizes.
North America
New York claims the number one spot.
The top 10 cities for meetings and events in North America (versus 2019):
- New York (2)
- San Francisco (8)
- Chicago (9)
- Atlanta (-)
- Toronto (-)
- San Diego (-)
- Seattle (7)
- Orlando (3)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (6)
- Las Vegas (1)
The Big Apple snatched the number one spot from Las Vegas, which tumbled to #10. San Francisco and Chicago, on the other hand, climbed six spots to claim the #2 and #3 ranking in 2020. After missing the cut in 2019, Atlanta, Toronto, and San Diego round up the top six destinations for meetings and events next year.
While demand for meetings and events continues to rise in North America, the pace of growth has fallen, tempered by political headwinds.
“Political events have a direct impact more than ever on companies’ quarterly and annual outlooks,” said Tony Wagner, Vice President, Americas and South Pacific regions, CWT Meetings & Events. “Some industry segments are pulling back and are being a bit more cautious.”
Fears of a looming economic slump, driven in part by the deepening trade war between the world’s two largest economies, the US and China, are also impacting booking times. Large events previously booking at least six months in advance are now seeing shorter windows of three months, hobbled by the geopolitical and global economic uncertainty.
Close at the heels of 2020’s top 10 North American cities are five destinations that are expected to make waves next year, including last year’s Super Bowl host, Minneapolis, as well as Indianapolis, Austin, Houston, and Portland. These destinations typically offer better values than the top-tier cities, along with an increasing number of competitive facilities that can host meetings and events of varying sizes.
Latin America
Sao Paulo retains the prized top spot.
The top 10 cities for meetings and events in Latin America (versus 2019):
- Sao Paulo, Brazil (1)
- Bogota, Colombia (3)
- Lima, Peru (6)
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (4)
- Mexico City, Mexico (2)
- Curitiba, Brazil (9)
- Medellin, Colombia (10)
- Belo Horizonte, Brazil (-)
- Buenos Aires, Argentina (-)
- Cartagena, Colombia (-)
Apart from Sao Paulo, the 2020 rankings show Brazil’s other top city hold on to its 2019 spot—Rio de Janeiro at #4. Additionally, Brazil snagged two more places—Curitiba, which went up three spots to #6, and Belo Horizonte, a new entry for the country.
Multiple cities in Colombia also made our 2020 list, including Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena. Mexico City, last year’s #2, slipped a few places to #5. Since missing last year’s list, the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires made an appearance for 2020 at #9.
“The wait-and-see attitude that came with the 2018 presidential elections in Latin America’s two biggest economies, Brazil and Mexico, have given way to expectations of explosive growth in 2020-21,” said Gustavo Elbaum, Senior Director, Latin America, CWT Meetings and Events. “The uncertainty has shifted to the region’s third largest economy, Argentina, which is facing its own presidential elections this year amid a deteriorating economy.”
The ebb and flow of political and economic uncertainties in the region are impacting business decisions, leading to lead times that average only around 30-45 days.
A key trend in Latin America in 2020 is moving away from smaller, shorter meetings towards larger conventions as companies consolidate events regionally to achieve cost and logistics efficiencies. This allows more investments to flow into improving the content and extending convention days for maximum impact.
CWT’s 2020 Meetings and Events Future Trends Report also names the destinations to watch in the region. They include: Guadalajara and Puebla in Mexico, Campinas and Porto Alegre in Brazil, and Quito in Ecuador. These destinations typically offer better values than the top-tier cities, along with an increasing number of competitive facilities that can host meetings and events of varying sizes.
