As an economic asset, a driver of internationalization for the city and a trigger for value creation, congresses and corporate events are vital for Vienna’s tourism industry. The Vienna Meeting Fund 2021-2023 was set up as a source of additional funding to support organizers looking to host meetings under the current circumstances.
The city’s first meeting industry fund that also extends to corporate events as well as (association) congresses, is aimed at supporting domestic and international organizers who are planning meetings to be held in Vienna between 1 May 2021 and 31 December 2023. Agencies are entitled to apply for support if they are acting as the organizer themselves or demonstrably working on behalf of the organizer.
For the first time, the Vienna Meeting Fund 2021-2023 will also provide funding for hybrid events in Vienna. The move is part of the Vienna Tourist Board’s response to the current situation faced by meeting planners and provides supplementary funding to help cover the additional costs associated with hosting parallel virtual and on-site meetings.
The EUR 4 million allocated to the fund was provided by the City of Vienna.
Photo Credit: Wien Tourismus/Christian StemperChristian Woronka, Director of the Vienna Convention Bureau commented: “We are thrilled to launch the Vienna Meeting Fund 2021-2023 to welcome, and fund even more events in Vienna by international organisers, as well as expand our support for the first time to include corporate events and hybrid meetings. Vienna remains one of the world’s leading meeting destinations, even in challenging times. The funding programme is an important support for the industry that provides a perspective for the future and at the same time underlines the importance of the meetings industry. After all, Vienna as a meeting destination and Vienna’s role as a city of international meetings, play an important role in Vienna’s strategic development. Our novel approach demonstrates our continued commitment to the recovery of the meetings sector, and we look forward to welcoming fund applications”.
Funding to help with costs incurred during business events
Funding is available for business events – for which the registered participants are known to the organizer – that add value for Vienna as an innovation hub and business location. These include association congresses and meetings, as well as corporate meetings. Purely (corporate) evening events, exhibitions, fairs and cultural or sporting events are not eligible for funding.
The Vienna Meeting Fund provides support for costs associated with hosting a meeting, including expenses relating to the event location and other service providers such as A/V companies and caterers.
The Vienna Meeting Fund 2021-2023 comprises three funding modules
To qualify for funding, the following basic requirements (Module 1) must be met: the event is hosted at a location in Vienna, payment is made to the venue, it is attended by at least 50 on-site participants and lasts a minimum of four hours.
If the congress or corporate event generates overnight stays, it may also qualify for funding under Module 2. For the event to be eligible, the number of overnight stays in Viennese hotels must be equivalent to 10% of the number of on-site event participants in 2021, 30% in 2022 and 50% in 2023.
Funding is available under Module 3 if the meeting is held as a hybrid event from start to finish and costs arise as a result.
The funding amounts for each module are directly linked to the number of participants. The maximum funding available per event is EUR 60,000.
Applications now open through the Vienna Convention Bureau
Applications can be made at any time between now and 3 December 2023, or until all of the funds have been allocated. Processed on a first-come-first-served basis, applications must be submitted online to the Vienna Convention Bureau at least three weeks before the starting date of the event.
Further information, the full Funding Guidelines, details of the documents required and the link for applications can be found here.
