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Slovenia strengthens its position on the global map of professional meetings

In the latest ICCA report, Slovenia ranked 41st globally

May 28, 2025

Ljubljana, Slovenia — Photo: City of Ljubljana

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has published its 2024 Annual Report, one of the most relevant global analyses of international association meetings. The ranking is based on the number of recorded events that meet strict ICCA criteria and reflects global trends in the professional MICE sector. While Europe remains the leading region, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East are also gaining increasing prominence.

Topics that have dominated international meetings for more than a decade include medical sciences, technology, science, industry, and education—fields characterised by a constant need for international knowledge exchange. Slovenia, a long-standing ICCA member with around 70 active members and stakeholders coordinated by the Slovenian Convention Bureau, continues to solidify its position as a recognised destination for professional meetings, ranking 41st globally and 21st in Europe in 2024. Particularly noteworthy is the performance of its capital, Ljubljana, which achieved an excellent 39th place globally and 23rd place among European cities.

Future Events: Megatrends as an Opportunity for Slovenia

The Future Meeting Space report highlights key megatrends: digitalisation, new work culture, sustainability, diversity, and lifelong learning, that are reshaping the world of professional meetings. Slovenia, as a destination that naturally incorporates sustainability, boutique character, quality experiences, and a strategic European location, has the opportunity to strengthen its position on the ICCA rankings by embracing these trends. In a context where events are increasingly valued as platforms for knowledge, exchange, and connection, the Slovenian MICE community can strategically position itself as a hub for relevant, engaging, and content-rich meetings of the future.

bled_slovenia — Photo: Bled Tourist Board, Aleš Krivec

Slovenia among the leading countries in the region

In the latest ICCA report, Slovenia ranked 41st globally with a total of 81 recorded international association meetings. In the European context, this places Slovenia at 21st. With this, Slovenia has surpassed destinations such as:

Croatia and Romania (tied at 42nd, 72 events each)
Estonia (44th, 69 events)
Lithuania (47th, 54 events)
Serbia (49th, 49 events)
Bulgaria (57th, 33 events)

Just ahead of Slovenia are:

Hong Kong (40th, 86 events)
Hungary (37th, 107 events)

The top five countries globally in terms of international association meetings in 2024 are:

USA (709 events)
Italy (635 events)
Spain (536 events)
Germany (491 events)
United Kingdom (481 events)

Ljubljana strengthens its position among leading European congress cities

Ljubljana remains Slovenia’s most active city for international association meetings. It ranked 39th globally with 51 events and climbed to an impressive 23rd place in Europe. Although not among the top ten cities globally by number of events, ICCA has consistently recognised Ljubljana as a stable and active destination over the years. A key reason for this is the strong presence of medium-sized meetings (150–999 participants), which account for 53% of all international events recorded in the 2024 ICCA report. These types of meetings allow for more in-depth content, a more personal experience, and closer professional connections, hallmarks that make Ljubljana particularly recognised in the international community.

It is also worth highlighting success on the organisational level, Jan Oršič, Head of the Ljubljana Convention Bureau, was elected to the ICCA Board of Directors at last year’s ICCA Congress. This represents an important acknowledgement of Slovenia as a proactive destination in the global arena.

Other Slovenian cities are gaining recognition

In addition to Ljubljana, cities such as Portorož, Bled, Maribor, and Brdo pri Kranju are increasingly recognised within Slovenia. While not individually listed in the 2024 ICCA report, they frequently serve as venues for medium and smaller, boutique international meetings, particularly in fields like medicine, science, technology, education, and sustainability, which also dominate globally.

This development reflects Slovenia’s strategic focus on decentralization, quality infrastructure and services, and regional development of the MICE sector.

portorose_slovenia — Photo Credit: Slovenian Convention Bureau

European cities with tradition and global impact

According to ICCA data, the top cities by number of events in 2024 are:

1. Vienna – 154 events
2. Lisbon – 153 events
3. Singapore – 144 events
4. Barcelona – 142 events
5. Prague – 131 events
6. Paris and Seoul – 124 events each

In addition to the total event count, ICCA also offers an alternative perspective, ranking cities by average number of participants per event. On this list, Dubai leads (899 participants per event), followed by Barcelona, Milan, Bali, and Melbourne. This metric further emphasises the strategic value of destinations that host higher-impact meetings.

Slovenia as a sustainable destination with professional added value

Thanks to its infrastructure, strategic location, high-quality services rooted in longstanding tradition, natural and cultural diversity, and a strong focus on content-rich events, Slovenia continues to establish itself as a destination that combines professional excellence, memorable experiences, and sustainability.

For the professional community, ICCA membership also means active participation in global initiatives, knowledge exchange, and the opportunity for Slovenia to be profiled as a reliable, experienced, and modern partner in international collaborations.

Source: Slovenian Convention Bureau