Bologna ranks Top 50 in the world and third in Italy among MICE destinations

During IMEX in Frankfurt, the ICCA Ranking 2023 was released, listing the world's best convention destinations based on the number of international association congresses hosted during the year.

With the 43 international events hosted, Bologna ranks 47th, confirming its place in the Top 50 worldwide and in the Top 30 in Europe, ahead of destinations such as Munich, Zurich and Antwerp. The destination also reinforces its excellent ranking domestically, maintaining its place in the Top 3 in Italy, just behind Rome and Milan.

Considering the ranking of countries, Italy figures as the first destination in Europe for the number of association congresses. With as many as 553 events hosted, our country earns for the first time the second position in the world, preceded only by the United States.

This excellent result was achieved thanks to the work of the Bologna Convention Bureau team, as attested by the 19 bids won during the year, which will bring in more than 16,000 delegates for the period 2024-2028, and the 400 event requests managed. Its transition to a fully publicly controlled Participation Foundation also foreshadows an even more impactful future for its MICE activities.

The success achieved has also been possible thanks to the variety and versatility of event venues, the privileged geographic location and the synergistic collaboration between territorial operators, city institutions and the University. In this regard, a great boost was given by the incentive plan Bologna Welcomes Events, which is proving to be a remarkable tool for the city of Bologna.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the contribution of the significant intellectual capital that Bologna benefits from, represented by personalities from the academic and scientific worlds who commit to nominating the city as a venue for international events: to date, the city can count on as many as 68 Bologna Ambassadors. The next Bologna Ambassador Award Ceremony, scheduled for June 12, 2024, will be an opportunity to honor the personalities who have made an impact this year, but also to discuss the important achievements shared by ICCA before institutional figures representing the area.

“It is with great satisfaction that we receive the news of Bologna's placement as the third Italian city in the ICCA ranking. This prestigious recognition further motivates us to continue investing in the initiatives that make Bologna a sought-after destination for events of global significance,” - says Daniele Ravaglia, President of Fondazione Bologna Welcome - ”Major international events also represent a great driver for tourism in Bologna: in addition to bringing prestige to the city, they are able to generate important returns to the territory and corroborate its socioeconomic fabric. We are proud of the work done so far and we will continue to work hard to maintain and strengthen our position of excellence.”