Paris has topped a list of the most popular European cities for meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE)

The French capital was the destination with the most leads and requests for proposals (RFPs) in 2024, new figures show.

Barcelona and Amsterdam came second and third respectively, while London and Lisbon made up the top five.

Chicago, Washington DC and New York, meanwhile, were the top three MICE destinations in the U.S, according to the 2024 Global Destination Index.

Globally, seven additional destinations also made this year’s list, with Japan, Hawaii and Costa Rica filling the top three slots.

Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, home to the cities of Bologna, Parma and Modena, also made the list of “additional top secondary destinations” for the first time.

The Global Destination Index is compiled by Global DMC Partners, a global network of independent Destination Management Companies (DMCs).

Catherine Chaulet, Global DMC Partners President and CEO, said: “It’s interesting to see the new destinations that have made this year’s list, as well as the changing order in popularity of the top 10, particularly as our industry is a great indicator of the world’s economic strength and where the most business is being done.

“We’ve also seen an increased interest in secondary destinations with an uptick in leads for 2024 or 2025, as compared to prior years.

 “Our partners are sharing insights with us about the popularity of the French Riviera; for example, groups can land in Nice and within half an hour be in Monaco on one side and in Cannes on the other side. These three key cities offer great event infrastructure and amazing hotels, surrounded by picture-perfect villages, boutique hotels, and vineyards.”

The Top 10 MICE Destinations for 2024 ranked as follows:

Top 10 U.S.

1. Chicago, IL

2. Washington, D.C.

3. New York, NY

4. Las Vegas, NV

5. Nashville, TN

6. Dallas, TX

7. Miami, FL

8. Orlando, FL

9. Austin, TX

10. San Diego, CA

Top 10 International

1. Paris, France

2. Barcelona, Spain

3. Amsterdam, Netherlands

4. London, England

5. Lisbon, Portugal

6. Athens, Greece

7. Madrid, Spain

8. Vienna, Austria

9. Rome, Italy

10. Berlin, Germany

Additional top secondary destinations of 2024 include:

Japan

Hawaii

Costa Rica

Saint Lucia

Emilia-Romagna Region in Italy (Bologna, Parma and Modena)

Greek Islands including Corfu, Aegina and Milos

Midwestern U.S. cities such as Minneapolis, Kansas City and Louisville

Chaulet added: “A partner in Spain shared the increased interest they’ve seen in cities such as Málaga, Sevilla and Valencia. With seasonal daily direct flights from New York, and the opening of stylish 4- and 5-star hotels in its charming city center, Málaga has risen to the top of the rankings for hosting small to medium-sized groups in Spain.

“As the Green European Capital 2024, Valencia is gaining recognition for its excellent value and versatility as an event destination, with competitively priced hotels and unique venues. And last, but not least, Sevilla stands out as one of Spain’s premier MICE destinations for 2024, blending traditional charm with cutting-edge venues, ideal for events of any size, particularly large congresses and conferences.”

Images: Courtesy Chris Karidis and Fineas Anton/Unsplash