Cvent names top meeting destinations, hotels for 2026

Cvent unveiled its 2026 rankings of Top Meeting Destinations and Top Meeting Hotels globally. The annual lists are issued regionally for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America & Caribbean.

The rankings are determined based on insights gleaned from more than $20 billion of sourcing and request-for-proposal activity through Cvent’s sourcing platforms in 2025, including the Cvent Supplier Network, one of the world’s largest group hotel and venue sourcing marketplaces. The record sourcing activity seen in 2025 reflects more than demand-driven growth. It signals a structural shift in how organizations are prioritizing face-to-face engagement in an increasingly digital-first landscape.

Seventy percent of event professionals predicted an increase in in-person events in 2026, 95 percent expected meetings spend to increase, and they consistently rank live experiences as among the highest-ROI investments in their marketing and engagement mix.

Planners are placing selective, higher‑impact bets on destinations, venues and suppliers that can deliver both memorable moments and measurable return.

Cvent Top Meeting Destinations | North America

Orlando once again claimed the top spot for the eleventh consecutive year, followed by Las Vegas (#2). Nashville made a notable jump to #3, rising one spot, while Chicago dropped one position to #4. New York City was the standout mover this year, surging four spots to break into the Top 10 at #8, reflecting the city’s continued resurgence as a premier destination for corporate and association events. Austin, Texas also impressed, climbing two spots to #9.

Big-City Comebacks and Secondary Market Strength

This year’s rankings highlight a dual trend: the renewed strength of gateway cities like New York, alongside continued momentum from high-growth meeting hubs such as Nashville and Austin—underscoring planners’ appetite for destinations that pair scale with differentiated experiences unique to their locations.

“Being recognized by Cvent for the 11th year underscores the trust planners place in Orlando,”  Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, said in a statement. “Through Cvent’s innovative technology platform, Visit Orlando works closely with our partners to connect planners with the right resources across a destination that continues to evolve and offers solutions for meetings of every size — reinforcing Orlando’s position as the top-ranked meetings destination in the country.”

“Being ranked among the top three meeting destinations in North America is a tremendous honor,” said Deana Ivey, president and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “As Nashville continues to evolve as a premier meetings and conventions destination, we remain committed to delivering the authentic experiences that make Music City unique. With world-class venues like Music City Center and Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, a highly walkable downtown campus and an expanding portfolio of luxury hotels, Nashville continues to strengthen and elevate its appeal for meeting planners. Most importantly, the strong relationships we’ve built with our clients continue to drive growth and momentum for our city."

Cvent Top Meeting Hotels | North America

JW Marriott Austin rose four spots to claim the #1 position this year, underscoring Austin’s continued strength as a sought-after meetings destination. The Gaylord brand had a standout year, with Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center ranking #2, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center ranking #4, and Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center ranking #9. Las Vegas continued to demonstrate its depth of group offerings, with The Venetian Resort Las Vegas (#3), Fontainebleau Las Vegas (#5), and Wynn and Encore Las Vegas (#7) all earning Top 10 recognition.

The strong showing from both the Gaylord portfolio and multiple Las Vegas properties reflects a growing premium placed on destinations and brands that can reliably support large, complex events at scale—without sacrificing responsiveness or planner partnership.

“Earning the title of #1 Top Meeting Hotel in North America by Cvent is an incredible honor for JW Marriott Austin,” GM Scott Blalock said. “This milestone, on the heels of our tenth anniversary, reflects the passion our team brings to every meeting, event and guest experience; from large-scale conventions to small team gatherings, we strive to create an elevated hospitality experience that feels authentically Austin. We are grateful to our team, clients and partners for their continued trust, and we are proud to represent Austin on a national stage through this recognition.”

“Congratulations to every hotel and destination recognized on this year’s Cvent Top Lists,” said Bharet Malhotra, Cvent executive vice president. “The record-setting $20B+ of group business that was sourced through our platforms in 2025 is a clear signal that in a world saturated with digital communication, face-to-face events have never been more valuable. The properties and destinations featured on these lists have earned their recognition by going above and beyond to make it easy for planners to source, book, and deliver exceptional experiences. We look forward to continuing to connect our global network of nearly 160,000 event professionals with the suppliers that can bring their visions to life. As meetings become a bigger and more strategic part of an organization’s revenue-driving marketing mix, we remain committed to giving planners and suppliers the data and AI-first tools they need to make every sourcing decision count and the meaningful reach they rely on to maximize business impact and ROI.”

View all the Cvent Top Lists worldwide here.