The fund for congress promotion is once again endowed with US$118,000 (€100,000), and with the expansion of networks and a targeted international orientation, even more value-adding conferences are to be brought to the region in the future.
The goal of the joint congress offensive by Innsbruck Tourism and the City of Innsbruck is to further develop the region as an international hub for science, business, and innovation. “Conferences are much more than just scientific gatherings. They bring people together, create jobs, and generate value throughout the entire region – especially outside the peak tourist season,” tells Barbara Plattner, Managing Director of Innsbruck Tourism.
From the perspective of the city of Innsbruck, the congress sector is also an important factor for the future. Mayor Johannes Anzengruber explains; “Innsbruck is a place of ideas, research, and exchange. We are thereby strengthening the international appeal of our city and consistently developing Innsbruck as a university and business location.”
Congress funding as a location advantage
A key incentive for international organizers is the congress funding, which specifically supports high-quality and sustainable conferences. This was newly established in 2024 by the City of Innsbruck and Innsbruck Tourism and is endowed with 100,000 euros annually, with the partners each contributing half to the funding program. “It was important to us to continue the congress funding even in a challenging budget year, because such funding keeps the economic engine running,” said Mariella Lutz, City Councilor for Economic Affairs and Tourism. In 2025, the funding pot was fully utilized, and for 2026, it is budgeted in full again – a clear signal for the long-term development of the conference location.
Successful Balance Sheet of the 2025 Congress Year
The past congress year showed a positive impact of this strategy: In total, over 30 applications for congress funding were submitted in 2025, including eight major congresses with more than 800 participants. In recent years, participants from more than 75 countries consequently came to Innsbruck to attend conferences.
In 2026, sustainable events will also be given priority support thru congress funding, with a twenty percent higher funding rate for so-called Green Meetings. A committee decides on the allocation of funding based on a clearly defined set of criteria. For example, a sponsored event must last at least three days and include two overnight stays in the region. More information is available on Innsbruck Tourismus website.
Tags:Mayor Johannes Anzengruber Innsbruck Tourism Mariella Lutz
