Value Creation in the Meetings Industry. Economic Significance of the Meeting Industry in Austria

The aim of this study is to comprehensively quantify the meeting industry in Austria and to record its overall economic impact. Methodologically, the project follows a mixed-methods design: (1) Direct, indirect, and induced value-added and employment effects are modeled quantitatively. This is based on a bottom-up survey of expenditure-relevant flows and their allocation to economic sectors. The effects are calculated using regional input-output analysis for Austria and the federal states. (2) Qualitatively, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders are conducted to identify and evaluate spillover effects, such as knowledge transfer, innovation impulses, internationalization, and sustainability effects. The results are processed at the national level and disaggregated regionally. The expected contribution is an evidence-based decision-making basis for politics and industry that provides targeted support for investment, location development, and the sustainable positioning of the Austrian meeting industry.