In a recent research paper compiled by Cvent, these cities rank as the most popular meeting destinations.

#1: Orlando, Florida

#2: Las Vegas, Nevada

#3: Chicago, Illinois

#4: San Diego, California

#5: Atlanta, Georgia

#6: Washington, D.C.

#7: New York City, New York

#8: Dallas, Texas

#9: Nashville, Tennessee

#10: Phoenix, Arizona

#11: Miami, Florida

#12: New Orleans, Louisiana

#13: Denver, Colorado

#14: San Francisco, California

#15: San Antonio, Texas

"Competition for meetings and conventions business continues to be very heated between destinations that are eager to attract events to boost their local economies," said Bharet Malhotra, senior vice president of sales for the Cvent Supplier Network. “This year we witnessed several cities vying for a position in the top 50 list, with significant movement within the ranks. One of the interesting trends this year has been the rise of smaller cities moving ahead of and even displacing destinations that are near large metro areas but not downtown."

Cvent also notes that “smaller cities have been actively investing in and expanding their infrastructure and attractions, and benefiting from property renovations in their markets. Many of these locations are winning significant new business by serving as interesting regional alternatives to major destinations. Additionally, many smaller cities are on planners’ rotations designed to vary destinations from one year to the next, and many of these events have been growing, bringing more attendees and budget.”

The top 3 cities are:

• Orlando, which reclaimed the number one spot on the most recent list, a position it hasn’t held since 2013.
• Las Vegas, which moved up one spot to #2 compared to last year
• Chicago, which dropped from number one to number three.

One trend in the report shows that smaller cities are growing in popularity.  Kevin Fliess, vice president of Cvent Supplier Network Product Marketing commented on why they are growing: "it's investment in infrastructure, price competitiveness, and the unique experiences that those different destinations can offer. Growth of room inventory is a fourth component. As destinations continue to invest in hotels, that opens them up to better accommodate larger groups."

Article submitted by Donna Baldino, National Account Manager

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