The Geneva Tourism & Conventions Foundation presents a decidedly positive assessment of its 2023 conference activities, reflecting a return to stable growth since the pandemic. Thanks to the work of the Convention Bureau, 22 congresses took place in Geneva in 2023, bringing together some 12,000 participants and generating an economic impact of around 25 million Swiss francs. The outlook for the coming years looks favourable, with conventions confirmed up to 2027. The Convention Bureau invited partners to its traditional Ambassador Dinner to celebrate these achieviements, held at the CERN Science Gateway on 15 February. For the occasion, three honorary prizes were awarded to association and convention sector figures.  

“The congresses have shown very encouraging results, demonstrating that, in an increasingly digitised world, physical meetings remain essential in our field, given the importance of the human factor,” notes Adrien Genier, CEO of the Geneva Tourism & Conventions Foundation. “Our canton offers many assets as a destination of choice for conferences, leading to positive local benefits for all tourism and trade partners.”

Alain Pittet, Director of the Geneva Convention Bureau, says: “Based on these favourable results, we are preparing to strengthen our team and intensify our acquisition efforts when it comes to association congresses, as a key part of our strategy to develop new markets, products and service.”

The year 2024 promises to be decisive, with the creation of the Geneva Congress Board, which met for the first time in January. The entity brings together city and cantonal authorities and all players in the convention field. It aims to unite stakeholders and continue allowing activity to grow in line with emerging needs and opportunities. 

Awards ceremony 

At the Ambassador Dinner on 15 February 2024, the Geneva Convention Bureau awarded three prizes: 

  • The Recognition Award was presented to Professor Nago Humbert for organising the 10th international conference for the French-speaking paediatric palliative care network: the only international congress dedicated to the field, bringing together internationally renowned professionals worldwide every two years. Professor Alan Ansari of HUG supported Professor Humbert, who has led the conference in Geneva for the past ten years. 
  • The Impact Award was presented to Doctor Erika Castro, Professor Philip Bruggmann, and the entire INHSU team for the INHSU 2023 Conference: “International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users”. The conference brought 640 people together at the CICG from 17 to 20 October 2023.
  • The Honorary Award was presented to Vincent Subilia for the World Chambers Congress, which welcomed nearly 1,400 participants at the Palexpo Centre from 21 to 23 June 2023. Over the three days, more than 160 speakers across 52 sessions held debates and discussions on multilateralism in service of peace and prosperity with economic stakeholders, business leaders, and decision-makers worldwide.
Geneva, capital of trust

Geneva hosts numerous congresses and events, particularly for science and medical associations and benefits from significant advantages. Vincent Subilia, Director General of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services and member of the Council of the World Chambers Federation of Commerce, highlights the reasons for the city’s success: “Geneva is the smallest of large cities, the centre of global governance; it is also the capital of trust. This is of utmost importance in the troubled world we are facing today. Offering a platform for open, transparent, constructive dialogue, our canton holds a prime location for congresses. To this end, we are fortunate to rely on an extremely efficient Convention Bureau.”