The Geneva Tourism & Convention Foundation has reported exceptionally strong 2025 results for its Convention Bureau, marked by a sharp rise in association congress acquisitions compared with the previous year.

Over the course of 2025, the Geneva Convention Bureau confirmed 43 association conferences scheduled for the coming year, representing a 39 per cent increase on 2024. These events are expected to welcome approximately 36,400 participants (+35 per cent) and generate more than 111,900 overnight stays, an increase of 47 per cent year on year.

These results were celebrated at the Convention Bureau’s traditional Ambassador Dinner, which brought together academic, scientific and institutional partners on 5 February 2026 at the Geneva Marriott Hotel. On this occasion, four awards recognised leading contributors from the Geneva and international congress community.

“The result achieved in 2025 clearly reflects the renewed confidence of international associations in Geneva as a congress destination,” says Alain Pittet, Director of the Geneva Convention Bureau. “In a context marked by global uncertainty, Geneva stands out for its political stability, economic strength and long-standing expertise in hosting high-level international events. This combination continues to resonate strongly with association decision-makers.”

Building on the team expansion implemented in 2024, the Convention Bureau further consolidated its activities throughout 2025, reinforcing both its operational capacity and strategic reach. Alongside its well-established expertise in medical congresses, the Bureau continued to diversify its acquisition efforts, attracting a growing number of non-medical association conferences across a wider range of disciplines.

The first edition of the Geneva Association Days proved particularly successful, confirming the relevance of this new platform dedicated to dialogue and exchange with and for association leaders. At the same time, the Convention Bureau stepped up the deployment of high-quality, targeted communication tools for international associations, Association Management Companies and Professional Congress Organisers. These included a dedicated newsletter, the publication of three white papers focusing on leadership, fundraising and sustainability in the medical sector, as well as the release of the Geneva Responsible Events Guide, underlining Geneva’s commitment to sustainable event practices.

In parallel, the Convention Bureau strengthened its international network through new strategic partnerships within the meetings industry, notably being Destination Partners of IAPCO, and a stronger collaboration with ESAE (European Society of Association Executives).

During the Ambassador Dinner held on 5 February 2026, the Geneva Convention Bureau presented four awards recognising outstanding contributions to the association congress sector:

  • The Recognition Award was presented to the Geneva International Legal Association for the creation of the association in 2024 and the organisation of the first Geneva International Legal Week. This international event, designed to strengthen Geneva’s role as a global hub for law and legal services, brought together nearly 380 participants from the legal community at the FER from 10 to 12 March 2025.
  • The first Impact Award was awarded to Professors Luca Caricchi, Costanza Bonadonna and Joël Ruch, from the Section of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Geneva, for the 2025 International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI) Scientific Assembly. Held at Uni Mail from 29 June to 4 July 2025, the event welcomed over 1,000 participants and delivered a strong legacy programme, including public initiatives such as scientific film screenings, an exhibition, and activities highlighting challenges and opportunities for women scientists.
  • The second Impact Award went to Professor Roland Walter, from the Department of Astronomy at the University of Geneva, for the 39th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC), which took place at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG) from 15 to 24 July 2025 and attracted more than 1,100 participants. Through the STELLAR project at the CERN Science Gateway, the conference successfully reached a wider public, engaging an intergenerational audience through presentations and activities featuring four Nobel Prize winners and three European and international astronauts.
  • The Honorary Award was presented to the Geneva University Hospitals for their involvement in the World Hospital Congress, organised by the International Hospital Federation. Held at the CICG from 10 to 13 October 2025, the congress brought together around 1,500 healthcare decision-makers from 90 countries.