31 association conferences in 2024
The Geneva Tourism & Conventions Foundation lays out an overwhelmingly positive report for its Convention Bureau in 2024, showing a clear increase on the previous year in terms of congress acquisition. In 2024, the Convention Bureau confirmed a total of 31 association conferences for the coming years: an increase of 24% compared to 2023. These 31 conventions will bring together some 27,000 participants, an increase of 57% from 2023, while projected overnight stays are up by 65% to more than 76,000. To celebrate these achievements, the Convention Bureau invited its academic, scientific and institutional partners to its traditional Ambassador Dinner, held at the FER on 6 February 2025. For the occasion, three honorary prizes were awarded to figures from the association conference sector.
The Convention Bureau strengthens and diversifies its efforts
The dynamism displayed by the conference sector has much to do with the increase in the Convention Bureau’s staffing levels, a request that was supported by the Geneva Tourism & Conventions Foundation Board. In 2024, the team increased from six to eight people, with the aim of intensifying marketing and communication activities and developing the acquisition of congresses in different fields. While Geneva holds a long-standing reputation as a leading destination for medical conferences, the Convention Bureau is now diversifying its efforts to attract association events in other areas such as law, finance, and engineering.
“While 2023 has marked a return to stable growth since the pandemic, 2024 saw the trend intensify, with a significant increase in the confirmed number of association conferences, with record levels of projected attendance and overnight stays,” notes Philippe Schwarm, President of the Geneva Tourism & Conventions Foundation. “The coming years also have a very promising outlook – an excellent sign for all tourism and trade partners who benefit directly or indirectly from the congress sector’s positive economic spin-offs.”
In strengthening the Convention Bureau team, which had only three team members at the beginning of 2022, capacity for new initiatives has also been created. One such initiative is setting up the Geneva Congress Board: a platform for discussions bringing local authorities together with convention sector stakeholders, with the aim of encouraging congress acquisition. Another initiative was the creation of the Geneva Association Days which were held on 29 and 30 January for the first time, bringing together CEOs of associations and non-governmental organisations.
Award Ceremony
At the Ambassador Dinner on 6 February 2025, the Geneva Convention Bureau awarded three prizes:
– The Recognition Award went to Dr Michel Bader, Professor Nader Perroud, and Professor Kerstin von Plessen for organising the eighth international French-language colloquium on ADHD. The conference brought together nearly 1,500 participants at the CICG on 26 and 27 September 2024.
– The Impact Award was presented to Cary Adams, CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Céline Francina, Head of Congress and Events at the UICC, and Professor Olivier Michielin for the UICC’s World Cancer Congress 2024, which was held at the CICG from 16 to 19 September 2024 and drew in more than 2,000 attendees from 122 countries.
– The Honorary Award was presented to Gilles Andrier, CEO of Givaudan, for his support in the World Perfumery Congress 2024, held at Palexpo from 24 to 27 June and bringing together more than 1,600 participants.
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