Contact : Mégane Simeon
Geneva Convention Bureau
GENEVA
Geneva, the city of Expertise and Dialogue
“Individuals know that when they come to Geneva, they come into the global health hub of the world. They can meet organisations like the World Health Organisation, Medicines Patent Pool, GARDP, or GAVI. All these organisations which are very much part of the Geneva community which is an exception for them when they come to a congress” – Dr. Cary Adams, CEO, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
A city of dialogue
Being home to International Organisations, NGOs, multinational HQs and numerous international associations, Geneva is the ideal place for international congresses. This unique ecosystem contributes to the success of conventions by attracting many participants, providing access to renowned keynote speakers, and creating synergies between associations and International Organisations. Geneva is a city of dialogue, where key discussions take place.
A hub of international expertise
By organising a conference in Geneva, you gain access to high-class experts from the Geneva University Hospital (HUG), the University of Geneva, ranked in the top 100 best universities, and the CERN. These institutions have a combined total of 20 Nobel prizes. The HUGs are known for being the national referral centre for childhood liver disease and paediatric liver transplantation as well as for influenza and emerging viral infections. Experts, professors, and researchers are eager to welcome congresses in Geneva and contribute to the progress of sciences.
A multicultural spirit with a dash of Swissness
Being the most international city of Switzerland, with 190 nationalities living and working in Geneva, every traveller can find a piece of home. Thanks to its openness to the world, Geneva is leading the way as a place of tolerance, acceptance and inclusivity. Core values of the destination also include Swiss strengths such as punctuality and high standards services and infrastructures.
“Having the World Chambers Congress in Geneva was very important because of the cosmopolitan nature of the city. As we often say it is a global village. Our delegates felt at home in a city with so many different vibrant cultures mixing, interacting, debating which is exactly what we’re looking for when organising an international conference of this scale.” – Julian Kassum, Director, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
A beautiful and liveable city
What is striking when walking in Geneva is the human size of the destination as well as the omnipresence of nature. Sustainable initiatives such as the location of Switzerland’s second largest solar power plant on the site of the Palexpo conference centre, easy rail access to the destination from major European cities, and an efficient and fast public transportation system, free of charge for people staying in a hotel in Geneva, aim to make the destination more sustainable.
Geneva Convention Bureau: your independent door opener to the city
The Geneva Convention Bureau brings you its extensive knowledge of the meeting industry and the destination to provide customised solutions. Our neutrality regarding our large network of partners enables us to give you the best advice depending on your wishes, budgets and needs.
“The collaboration with the Geneva Convention Bureau was excellent. They helped me a lot to organise this conference in Geneva. I really appreciate working with them, as they are very nice people, and their reactivity was very good.” – Prof. Jean Villard, Professor of clinical and transplant immunology, Geneva University Hospital
Geneva – A Hub for International Expertise
Alain Pittet
Director Geneva Convention Bureau
Geneva is home to 39 international organisations and 432 NGOs. What advantages does this bring for the meetings industry?
Alain Pittet: Geneva is not only home to all these international organisations which include the UN and WHO and NGOs, but also HQ of numerous European and World associations and federations as well as HQ of large multinationals in the fields of perfumes, banking and finances, watchmaking and IT services. In addition, the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) are the largest university hospital in Switzerland and work closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO), which awarded HUG with referral centre status in 6 medical areas. Furthermore, Geneva is hub of different sciences with the CERN, Campus Biotech, the University of Geneva and many other institutions. All of the above points are often crucial for international associations when deciding where to hold their congress or global event, as they guarantee a high number of potential participants from Geneva and surroundings.
What else is important for potential conference organisers?
Alain Pittet: There are of course many points. Geneva is an ideal location for conferences due to its central location in Europe, excellent transport connections, and world-class facilities. I will definitely start with accessibility. Because of the many international organisations and associations, Geneva can be reached very easily and quickly with its intercontinental airport and by train. There are 140 direct flights from Europe, Asia, America, Africa and the Middle East, and important cities such as Paris and Milan can also be reached very sustainably by train in 3 to 4 hours.
Arriving at Geneva Airport by plane, participants who are staying at a hotel in Geneva can travel to the city centre in just 7 minutes with the free of charge Digital Transport Card they received in advance. Worth mentioning are of course the high-class venues such as Palexpo, the CICG and the many large hotels with their own meeting infrastructure. Geneva is also known for its unique natural beauty, with the Alps and Lake Geneva providing a stunning backdrop for any event.
What are the latest developments in Geneva?
Alain Pittet: A new location, CERN Science Gateway, which will open in summer 2023, will certainly be important for meeting organisers. It will be an emblematic education and outreach facility. Through immersive exhibitions and hands-on educational activities, it will enable people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the discoveries, the science and the technologies of CERN. Inspired by CERN’s technical buildings and underground tunnels, CERN Science Gateway will consist of five different spaces that will host exhibitions, hands-on laboratories, a large auditorium, a shop and a restaurant, all connected by a bridge 6 metres above-ground. With more than 2 000 square metres of solar panels and surrounded by a forest of 400 trees, CERN Science Gateway will have a net zero carbon footprint.
And what about the hotel situation in Geneva?
Alain Pittet: There are some new hotels such as the Marriott, Adina, InterCity and B&B, which have now increased the number of rooms to 11,660 in Geneva and to more than 15,000 if we consider the radius of 20 minutes travel time around Geneva. The many additional rooms in the 3 and 4-star range are important for organisers of medical congresses. The Marriott Hotel, which opened last autumn, very close to the airport, also has interesting conference and meeting spaces that are of interest to meeting planners. Furthermore, we know that some of the 5-star hotels will be renovated in the next few years, which will further increase the attractiveness of Geneva for travellers from all over the world.