The city of Vienna last year welcome 567,000 event delegates, up seven per cent on the previous year.

These visitors participated in a total of 4,084 congresses, corporate events and incentives, up 11 per cent on 2015, with the resulting number of bed-nights increasing two per cent to around 1,718,000.

“In 2016 Vienna’s meetings industry recorded more events, bed-nights and value-added than ever before,” explained Vienna director of tourism, Norbert Kettner.

The nation-wide value-added of the Vienna conference industry once again broke the significant billion-euro barrier, contributing a total of €1,072 billion, up three per cent, to the Austrian gross domestic product.

Some 80 per cent of this value-added was attributable to international congresses, which in 2016 attracted about half the total number of meeting delegates, and three quarters of bednights.

Meetings, congresses and incentives in Vienna secured nearly 20,000 year-round jobs throughout Austria.

Overall the Austrian capital recorded almost 15 million bednights in 2016, 12 per cent of which were attributable to the meetings industry.

“Vienna is an easily accessible central European hub with a multifaceted hotel sector and top meeting locations,” explained Kettner.

“Meetings are optimally supported by both urban and scientific establishments, and, with 36 licensed certification agencies for Green Meetings, Vienna has already demonstrated far-sightedness with respect to environmental compatibility and sustainability.”