The Lion City leads Asia Pacific, but Bangkok experienced the greatest growth, according to GainingEdge's third annual Competitive Index. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Global convention industry consulting firm, GainingEdge's third
annual Competitive Index of international convention destinations is
out, with Paris topping the global list, followed by Singapore, while
Bangkok experienced greatest growth.
The Competitive Index is based off ICCA's list of top 100
destinations over a three-year period, with other considered factors
such as what meeting planners look for in host destinations. The list
features 101 cities that have hosted 87 or more international
conventions in the same time frame.
Paris is the world's most competitive convention destination,
Singapore tops the APAC region, while New York leads the way for
America.
With a score of 744.9, Singapore tops the APAC region and outranks
its closest contender, Tokyo, by nearly 50 points. In fact, a look at
the island city's infrastructure breakdown against global winner, Paris,
shows Singapore winning in convention facilities, business environment,
economy size, social factors such as safety, as well as costs incurred.
Singapore is also on par for hotel offerings, market population and air
access, losing to Paris only in destination appeal and association
community.
Bangkok, meanwhile, jumped 10 spots to reach eighth place, with ICCA
ranking the Thai capital second in APAC and 13th globally. In China,
Hangzhou has risen as a new contender in the international convention
circle — it was out of the top 100 list last round — with its 37th
placing in the Competitive Index this time. Thailand is currently on a
new lockdown, reeling from a second wave of the virus.
The top 10 global destinations on the index are: Paris, Singapore,
New York, Barcelona, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur
and London.
APAC destinations within the top 20 include Seoul (18th), while Taipei just missed out at 21st position.
Bangkok jumped 10 spots to eight place, whereas previous destinations within the top 100 that have dropped out in 2020 include Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt and San Francisco.The report also spotlighted a few destinations which have
successfully achieved convention results above their level of
competitiveness.
ICCA for instance ranked Lisbon second globally in 2019, yet, the
Competitive Index has placed its convention product at the 43rd spot —
which means Libson is securing more international meeting beyond its
capacity, supported by strong local industries and convention bureaus.
The 2020 edition also sees an update to a new tool introduced a year
back called “fair share” analysis of a destination’s business levels and
“ratio analysis” meant to help destinations focus in on their most
important competitive issues based on the cities with which they are
actually competing with.
“This will help destinations to understand their competitive
position, relation between different competitive factors and to identify
areas for improvements in relatively short time. Finally, the Index
provides quantitative indicators that enable the meetings industry to be
understandable to decision makers (governmental bodies or city
authorities) and make their proposals on fact-based data," said
GainingEdge CEO, Jon Sivertson.
“Fair share ...is no longer a concept, but a tool we’ve proven in the
market to help destinations determine if they are above or below fair
share, and the reasons for it. Fair share analysis has helped
destinations develop actionable strategies and informed robust business
cases for bureaus seeking increased resources, be they financial,
organisational or intellectual.”
For the full report, click here.