With 9% more bed nights and 12% more value-added than in 2008, last year Vienna recorded its second best congress results, only slightly below the record set in 2007. National and international congresses and corporate events accounted for 14% of the total of 9.8 million bed nights.

In 2009, the Viennese congress industry was responsible for 1,372,884 bed nights, 9% more than in 2008. Director of Tourism Norbert Kettner stressed: “Overall, Vienna has come out of the crisis year 2009 looking good, and that is due in no small measure to its position as a congress destination. Last year, the congress industry accounted for 14% of the total volume of overnights. The lion’s share was generated by international congresses, where Vienna has been able to defend its standing as one of the worlds’s most sought-after congress cities for decades.”

Value-added on the rise

The value-added accounted for by congresses and corporate events impacting not just Vienna but all of Austria rose by 12% compared to 2008 to EUR 736.1 million. Furthermore, the Viennese congress industry secured some 15,000 permanent jobs last year. Sales generated by the Viennese congress industry in 2009 should also be highlighted: delegates spent EUR 420 per person per night on average in Vienna. The comparable figure for all visitors to Vienna is around EUR 276, while the figure for all Austria is EUR 181.