The 2025 edition examines the governing bodies of more than 7,500 international associations. Building upon the foundations of the 2021 report, the new edition introduces a refined methodology that broadens the analysis beyond associations hosting large congresses (over 500 participants) to also include mid-size conferences (200–499 participants). Drawing upon the ICCA database as well as official association websites, this integrated approach provides a detailed and inclusive view of how effectively destinations engage and leverage their intellectual leaders across all scales of the global meetings landscape.
“At a time when knowledge, innovation, and global collaboration are shaping the future of our industry, intellectual capital has become one of the most decisive assets for any destination,” said Steen Jakobsen, CEO of GainingEdge. “Behind this are the leaders who connect local expertise with global platforms—people who shape discussions, open doors to opportunity, and strengthen their destination’s international relevance. This report demonstrates that when destinations identify, empower, and activate these leaders, they strengthen partnerships, attract high-impact events, and build long-term resilience.”
Loading...
Southern Europe is gaining momentum
The findings reaffirm the leadership of major global knowledge hubs, with London, Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, and Madrid topping the world in representation on international association boards. Beyond these established centres, the research highlights significant regional shifts: Southern Europe is gaining momentum through cities such as Lisbon, Athens, Rome, Milan, and Barcelona; Asia-Pacific continues its rise with strong results from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore; and Scandinavian cities including Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, and Helsinki are strengthening their global presence through sustained investment in research and innovation.
At the core of the report is GainingEdge’s proprietary Harnessing Ratio, a metric that measures how effectively destinations convert their intellectual capital into international meetings hosted or secured. For 2025, Prague once again leads globally with an exceptional 70% across all meeting sizes. Lisbon, Istanbul, Bangkok, Barcelona, Montreal, and Cape Town also stand out as top performers. At the national level, the United Arab Emirates achieves the world’s highest ratio, above 90%, followed by Portugal, Thailand, and the Czech Republic.
“This edition confirms that intellectual capital is not just an indicator of knowledge strength,” said Miloš Milovanović, Partner at GainingEdge, Head of GainingEdge Analysis & Research (GEAR), and author of the report. “These individuals shape global agendas, bridge local expertise with international opportunities, and influence the associations that drive our industry. When destinations actively recognise and empower their leaders, they convert knowledge into impact and consistently outperform in attracting international meetings.”
The 2025 results also reveal meaningful geographical shifts. Several major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, have declined, reflecting a more domestically oriented market, while destinations such as Istanbul, Warsaw, Ottawa, Shanghai, and Cape Town have advanced, pointing to an increasingly multipolar global landscape.
Since 2020, GainingEdge Analysis & Research (GEAR), the firm’s specialised research division, has conducted continuous global research into the intellectual capital of convention destinations by mapping the international association leadership held by local scientists, academics, professionals, and innovators. This long-term initiative assesses how intellectual leaders elevate a destination’s global visibility, influence, and competitiveness within the international meetings ecosystem.
Find out more about GainingEdge here.
