Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam are among the most popular international meeting and incentive destinations, according to the 2024 Global Destination Index from Global DMC Partners (GDP).

The listing is based on leads and RFPs received for programs happening in 2024 across GDP’s worldwide DMC partners.

Paris topped the international list, which is dominated by European capital cities, up from third spot last year. The French capital was in the global spotlight this summer as host city of the 2025 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and is the location for micebook Ventures next week (4-6 November).

Meanwhile, Chicago topped the most popular US destinations list, followed by Washington DC, and New York.

“It’s interesting to see the new destinations that have made this year’s list, as well as the changing order in popularity of the top 10, particularly as our industry is a great indicator of the world’s economic strength and where the most business is being done,” said Global DMC Partners President and CEO Catherine Chaulet. “We’ve also seen an increased interest in secondary destinations with an uptick in leads for 2024 or 2025, as compared to prior years.”

The Top 10 MICE Destinations for 2024 ranked as follows:

Top 10 International

1. Paris, France
2. Barcelona, Spain
3. Amsterdam, Netherlands
4. London, England
5. Lisbon, Portugal
6. Athens, Greece
7. Madrid, Spain
8. Vienna, Austria
9. Rome, Italy
10. Berlin, Germany

Top 10 U.S.                                       

1. Chicago, IL
2. Washington, D.C.
3. New York, NY
4. Las Vegas, NV
5. Nashville, TN
6. Dallas, TX
7. Miami, FL
8. Orlando, FL
9. Austin, TX
10. San Diego, CA

Additional top secondary destinations include:

• Japan
• Hawaii
• Costa Rica
• Saint Lucia
• Emilia-Romagna Region in Italy (Bologna, Parma and Modena)
• Greek Islands including Corfu, Aegina and Milos
• Midwestern U.S. cities such as Minneapolis, Kansas City and Louisville

“Our partners are sharing insights with us about the popularity of the French Riviera; for example, groups can land in Nice and within half an hour be in Monaco on one side and in Cannes on the other side. These three key cities offer great event infrastructure and amazing hotels, surrounded by picture-perfect villages, boutique hotels, and vineyards,” continued Chaulet.

“A partner in Spain shared the increased interest they’ve seen in cities such as Málaga, Sevilla and Valencia. With seasonal daily direct flights from New York, and the opening of stylish 4- and 5-star hotels in its charming city centre, Málaga has risen to the top of the rankings for hosting small to medium-sized groups in Spain.

“As the Green European Capital 2024, Valencia is gaining recognition for its excellent value and versatility as an event destination, with competitively priced hotels and unique venues. And last, but not least, Sevilla stands out as one of Spain’s premier MICE destinations for 2024, blending traditional charm with cutting-edge venues, ideal for events of any size, particularly large congresses and conferences.”

Check out last year’s Global Destination Index for comparison