In its annual report, the Union of International Associations (UIA) has announced that for the seventh year in a row, the capital of Belgium has achieved second place in the world and first in Europe in terms of the number of conferences hosted in 2015. This means that the region has surged ahead of cities like Seoul, Paris, Vienna and Tokyo.
In 2014, Brussels made a leap forward, growing by 80 per cent. In 2015, it has consolidated its position, with 665 international conferences organised in the city. The capital was only beaten by Singapore, which hosts 736 conferences. The two leaders were followed by Seoul (494), Paris (362), Vienna (308), and Tokyo (249).
Patrick Bontinck, CEO, visit.brussels, said, “This latest recognition rewards the hard work done by the visit.brussels convention bureau, in collaboration with suppliers, as well as the event facilities the city boasts. As well as this, with the recent creation of the Association Bureau, Brussels has once again managed to demonstrate its ambition of standing out in this field, despite fierce competition.”
A number of factors combine to make sure that the city reflects a positive image: modern, flexible and sustainable facilities and services, a central geographical position, accommodation and access options among others. The team at the visit.brussels convention bureau offers their expertise to make sure that conferences, meetings and events run smoothly. This includes arranging for visitors to be welcomed, pre-booking and customised support for events. Added to this is the Association Bureau, a new concept that has just been introduced, offering personalised services to international associations and providing solutions to all their needs and questions.
