Cvent recently released its list of the top global meeting destinations for 2019. The rankings are based on meeting and event booking activity recorded on Cvent’s venue sourcing platforms. Results are organized by region, covering the United States, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Canada.
In the United States, the top five meeting destinations for 2019 are, in descending order: Orlando, Las Vegas, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas. Europe’s leading cities are London, Berlin, Barcelona, Paris and Amsterdam. In Asia, the top five destinations are Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai. For the Caribbean and Latin America, the rankings list Nassau, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Punta Cana and San Juan. The Middle East and Africa top five are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Marrakesh.
“Business events add $1.5 trillion to the global GDP and because of this positive economic impact, the cities featured in this year’s Top Meeting Destinations lists have put significant time and resources into attracting more group business to their locales,” said Chris McAndrews, vice president of marketing, Cvent Hospitality Cloud. He noted that while many leading destinations remain consistent year to year, some cities have newly emerged on the lists: Napa, California; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Beirut, Lebanon. These cities have invested in positioning themselves as attractive locations for meetings and events.
According to Cvent, top destinations are collaborating closely with local hotels and venues to develop and promote distinctive experiences that help event planners create memorable, impactful gatherings. This focus on unique programming and strong destination partnerships contributes to the continued growth and appeal of these cities as premier meeting locations.