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ICCA: Lyon ranks second among France’s congress cities

ICCA: Lyon ranks second among France’s congress cities

Business Tourism

Publication date : 06/09/2023

Lyon stands in second place in the prestigious 2022 ranking by the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association), behind Paris, a position it has held for five years in a row. A major event in the world of business tourism, this global honours list rewards destinations that achieve the best performance in hosting international association meetings.

Cité Centre de Congrès de Lyon © Nicolas Robin

The ICCA 2022 ranking (world ranking of congress cities)*, announced at the Imex 2023 trade fair in Frankfurt, still ranks Lyon as the 2^nd most important congress city, after Paris, out of the 14 French cities included in this year's ranking.

For the fifth year running, Lyon is France's second-largest convention city behind Paris, with 43 international congresses organised.

Although the number of participating cities changes from year to year, Lyon remains the leader in business tourism. Out of 187 cities in Europe, Lyon ranked 28^th, ahead of Geneva, Munich and Birmingham. It also ranked 36^th out of 326 cities worldwide. These excellent results are on a par with 2019**.

Thanks to the collaboration of project initiators, university professors, scientists and doctors, among others, the destination of Lyon has generated a great deal of positive energy and shown its desire to host ever more international gatherings.

Lyon's position as European leader in hosting major scientific and medical conferences is made possible by the involvement of local project initiators - researchers, doctors, scientists, among others, - and by the city's recognised expertise in certain disciplines, particularly those related to the life sciences.

2^nd place at national level: Lyon came behind Paris and ahead of Marseille, Nice and Lille
28^th place at European level: Lyon came ahead of cities like Geneva, Munich and Birmingham
36^th at world level: Lyon came ahead Melbourne, Tokyo and New York

*ICCA only counts international association meetings that attract 50 or more participants, with at least 45% from overseas, and have already been held in at least three countries.

**The results for 2020 and 2021 included off-site conferences, putting Lyon in 18th place in Europe and 23rd in the world. In 2022, 85% of association congresses were held on site.

Further information on ICCA