The number of international congresses held in Utrecht has increased further over the past year; as shown by figures of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), which keeps track of the worldwide congress statistics every year.
In 2012, Utrecht moved up to 61st place in the leading European ranking for international association congresses and thus climbed 32 positions, compared to last year. Utrecht is also doing well worldwide: the Dom Tower city climbed from the 172nd to the 117th place and has thus left many larger cities behind.
In 2012, Utrecht functioned as the host city for 51 multiday, international congresses . The growth realised is mainly attributed to the introduction of an increased number of international “knowledge” events. In 2012, this number increased to 19, as compared to 12 international association congresses the year before.
KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURE
’This is great news for Utrecht,’ says Alderman Mirjam de Rijk of economic affairs. ‘Utrecht increasingly lives up to its reputation as a city of knowledge and culture, which is also demonstrated by the fact that congress organisers select Utrecht increasingly often. Congresses are of major importance for tourist expenditures and the increasing number of almost 15,000 jobs in business tourism.’
UTRECHT CONVENTION BUREAU
Since late 2010, with the Utrecht Convention Bureau the Tourism Utrecht has focused on attracting more national and international knowledge events to Utrecht. Congress organisers are supported with information and advice from a wide partner network in which the UMC Utrecht, the Utrecht University, Utrecht Science Park, the hotels, Jaarbeurs Utrecht and others participate. The convention bureau also mediates in bidding procedures and site inspections. In addition to the incentive fund coordinated by Toerisme Utrecht, the organisation also avails of a bid fund to finance bid books and makes promotional material available to congress participants free of charge.
