- Beijing is listed as the number one spot for networking in 2024 with the fastest Wi-Fi speed (291.7mbps) and cheapest taxi fares (€0.54 per mile).
- The top place for the cheapest average 4*+ hotel price per night goes to Sao Paulo (£80 per night).
- London and Manchester have the most networking events available, with Manchester overtaking London as better networking hub in new index.
Searches for “networking “and “networking events” have increased by over 22% in the last year alone, with many entrepreneurs and business professionals seeking to broaden their network and increase their knowledge.
In line with this, the team at Wings Global Travel has analysed 30 cities with the highest GDP per capita worldwide to find out which cities around the world are the best to visit for business meetings and networking opportunities. By looking at factors including number of networking events, co-working spaces, meeting rooms and more, Wings Global Travel has created an index for the best locations to network in 2024.
Beijing ranks top as best location for business networking events for 2024
New study from Wings Global Travel shows that China’s capital, Beijing, is one of the top locations to consider when setting up a networking event or international conference. Not only does the city have an abundance of meeting rooms available for hire, you won’t need to worry about losing connection to those who may not be able to make it in person either as they also rank the most highly for Wi-Fi speed and connectivity.
Wings Global Travel looked at numerous metrics, including the average Wi-Fi speed in these cities, and found that Beijing ranks top with 291.7mbps. Shanghai and Singapore coming in at second and third with 285.39mbps and 284.13mbps.
You can see the top 10 cities for networking and conferences here:
|
Location
|
No. Networking events pages
|
No. Meeting rooms to hire
|
No. 4*+ hotels available
|
Average cost of hotel (per night)
|
Average Wi-Fi speed (mbps)
|
Average taxi fare per mile (euros)
|
Average restaurant price (euros)
|
|
Beijing
|
78
|
87
|
199
|
150
|
291.7
|
0.54
|
23.9
|
|
Sao Paulo
|
43
|
99
|
1234
|
80
|
176.81
|
1.25
|
35.2
|
|
Hong Kong
|
70
|
155
|
202
|
100
|
274.26
|
1.92
|
47
|
|
Manchester
|
500
|
1021
|
275
|
120
|
128.87
|
4.09
|
66.2
|
|
Shanghai
|
2
|
119
|
309
|
130
|
285.39
|
0.62
|
26.9
|
|
London
|
500
|
5920
|
2301
|
260
|
112.36
|
3.66
|
79.7
|
|
Dubai
|
29
|
214
|
5686
|
200
|
230.94
|
1.23
|
60.1
|
|
Singapore
|
6
|
147
|
183
|
190
|
284.13
|
1.1
|
55.3
|
|
Paris
|
36
|
957
|
1834
|
300
|
193
|
3.11
|
70.1
|
|
Rio de Janeiro
|
19
|
44
|
716
|
110
|
176.81
|
1.61
|
29.3
|
Manchester and London have largest number of networking events of all the locations analysed
London and Manchester top the index for number of networking events available to book, with 500 pages worth each of networking events on Eventbrite. London has long been viewed as a hub for networking and business and it shows no signs of slowing down. For those who want to really dive head-first into the world of business networking, London is a great location to set yourself up.
But London is not the only great business hub in the UK – Manchester is now catching up to the capital with thousands of business networking events available to book, the UK’s second largest city has become an increasingly intriguing business hub for many e-commerce and tech companies.
Sao Paolo ranks best for accommodation options, whilst Beijing has the cheapest private transport options
When it comes to networking, accommodation and being able to get around the city is very important while on a networking trip. Wings Global Travel factored this into their study, looking at the average price of hotels (4*+) per night and average cost of a taxi fare per mile.
Sao Paulo has the cheapest hotel per night on average at only £80 and over 1,000 4*+ hotels. Not far behind is, Hong Kong which takes second place on the list with an average price of only £100 per night, but only 202 4*+ hotel options.
Beijing tops the list for the cheapest average taxi fare at a surprisingly low €0.54 per mile, perfect for getting from meeting to meeting around the city. In Contrast, the most expensive city to get a taxi is Sydney, Australia at €4.68 per mile.
These business hubs around the world are just waiting to be explored – but where will you choose to visit for your next networking event or conference?
Luke Schildkamp, Director of Global Supplier Management at Wings Global Travel says; “At Wings we know that networking and conferences have become more important than ever before in the world of business – industry conferences are crucial for making key connections and staying ahead of the curve in your chosen expertise. Our experts work with a range of business needs, from investment bankers to engineers looking to have their business travel needs taken care of so they can concentrate on the job at hand whilst we worry about every other aspect of the trip”.
To find out more about how Wings Global Travel experts can help you or your company with your corporate travel management needs, get in touch at https://www.wings.travel/.
