Top MICE Destinations in Europe
February 12, 2016Results from a recent global Destination Index, compiled by the leading Global DMC and Event Management Company Pacific World have identified Italy and France as the most popular countries in Europe for meetings and incentives.
Improved transport links and investment in infrastructure resulting in the opening of a number of new hotels and venues were factors accountable for the fact that Milan and Paris have both been voted as most popular European cities for meetings and incentives.
Emanuele Pinna, destination manager of Pacific World Italy, commented, “Thanks to its geographic centrality, recent economic and political stability and very good direct flight connections, Italy is becoming an increasingly popular destination for meetings and incentives. The destination is also seeing a great deal of interest from Middle East meeting planners, due to the Alitalia acquisition by Etihad in 2014.”
Emirates flying daily from Dubai to Bologna from November 2015, has made Bologna’s Marconi Airport the fourth largest in Italy for global connections. From February 2016, Verona will accommodate three flights a week from Paris Orly International Airport, operated by Transavia, Air France’s low cost company.
Cecile Dubeau, destination manager of Pacific World France, commented: “We’ve seen an increased demand for Paris as a meetings and incentives destination from countries including USA, UK, Germany and Brazil. Factors contributing towards its rise in popularity include the impact of the exchange rate for U.S. clients, affording them greater buying power and the constant demand from the EU zone source markets.”