Congress business is growing: more guests and overnight stays in Austria

Congress tourists spend a particularly large amount of money in Austria

This means that the proportion of business visitors in all overnight stays (around 150 million) is low. However, business guests often leave a lot of money in the country. “The international guest brings a particularly high level of added value,” noted Sandra NeukartChief Operating Officer der Austria advertising. While the average holidaymaker in the federal capital spends around 380 euros per day including an overnight stay, congress tourists spend 562 euros.

In the most recent ranking of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Austria remained stable as a destination at 16th place. Although Vienna fell from 1st place to 4th place – behind Lisbon, Paris and Barcelona – it was still at the top of the world rankings. The criterion used for the international comparison is also solely the number of events. “We have more overnight stays and more participants,” emphasizes Neukart.

A third of the events took place in the Federal capital instead, where almost 13 percent of overnight stays come from the business segment. Follow behind Salzburg and Lower Austria with numerous smaller events. On average, the conferences had 130 visitors. The local location is attractive for organizers because of a combination of regionality and internationality. In addition, there are reliable ones Train connections to the state capitals and the Security across the country. This is now a “huge factor,” says Neukart.

Large conferences are an important support in the off-season

Large international events such as the one in 2025 were particularly important Radiologenkongress (ECR) and the Geological congress (EGU) with around 20,000 participants each in the federal capital. “We have had the radiologists in Vienna in March for decades,” says a delighted member Renate Androsch-HolzerPresident of the Austrian Convention Bureau (ACB). She underlines the importance of business events to support tourism businesses in the off-season. The ECR alone brings added value of almost 20 million euros and almost 300 jobs.

There were also big events outside the federal capital in 2025: For example, a multi-day training event by the car manufacturer Mercedes with 14,000 guests in Salzburg or a German congress with 3,500 participants in Schladming.

Optimistic forecast for the next few years

Looking into the future also makes Androsch-Holzer optimistic. According to an ACB flash survey of more than 70 member companies, 80 percent expect a stable to better situation for the years 2026 to 2028 Booking situation. At the same time, 91 percent of the responding companies reported vacancies.

The increased costs continue to be a challenge for the industry Personal and Energy. “But this is not something that only affects the conference industry. It affects all industries,” says Androsch-Holzer.