"Our overnight stay statistics have stabilized at a high level after the successful year of 2019, the subsequent pandemic-related years of slump and the positive development in 2023," reports Mayor and Head of Economic Affairs Christiane Hinninger on the current figures collected by the Hessian State Statistical Office and prepared by the city's Office for Statistics and Urban Research.

"Wiesbaden has already matched the record year of 2019 in 2023 with an increase of 4.6 percent in overnight stays," explains Hinninger, adding: "This means that we have already overtaken the Hesse-wide result from 2024 in 2023 and will continue the positive development of the figures in 2024."

Hesse as a whole is reporting positive figures for 2024 with an increase of 4% in guest arrivals and 3% in overnight stays compared to 2023. However, the number of guests and overnight stays across Hesse has not yet matched 2019, with Hesse still 2% below the pre-coronavirus level of 2019.

The state capital of Wiesbaden can also be satisfied with the average bed occupancy rate, which rose by 1 percent to 44.1 in 2024 compared to 2023 (43 percent), as was the case in Hesse (bed occupancy rate in Hesse: 38 percent). This includes all open accommodation establishments with 10 or more beds, a total of 73 hotels, hotel garni, vacation apartments and other accommodation establishments.

"The increase in the number of overnight stays by visitors from within Germany is also pleasing. A total of 1,070,022 overnight stays and thus more than 21,000 overnight stays compared to 2023 ensure an increase of over 2 percent compared to the previous year," explains Mayor Hinninger. "The increase in domestic visitors to Wiesbaden is due not only to tourism-related travel but also to the numerous successful trade fairs and congresses held in the city's event centers," explains Martin Michel, Managing Director of Wiesbaden Congress & Marketing GmbH (WICM), which is responsible for the state capital's national and international marketing activities as well as the operation of the RheinMain CongressCenter (RMCC), Kurhaus Wiesbaden and Jagdschloss Platte event centers. In addition to multi-day congresses such as the Internistenkongress (approx. 8,500 participants), the Founder Summit (approx. 5,000 participants) and the Röntgenkongress (approx. 3,000 participants), the Connichi trade fair (approx. 27,000 participants), the international trade fair InterWhisky (approx. 10.000 participants) and public events such as events with Torsten Sträter (approx. 5,000 participants), Lang Lang (approx. 2,660 participants), Chris de Burgh (approx. 1,200 participants) and the Ball des Weines (approx. 1,500 participants). The opening of the Reinhard Ernst Museum in June 2024 also attracted many national guests to Wiesbaden as part of a city break.

The statistics show a decline in guest arrivals and overnight stays from abroad. A comparison of the number of guests and their overnight stays from abroad: the total number of guest arrivals fell by 8 percent (2024: 95,456) and overnight stays by 5 percent (2024: 274,713), with visitors from the Arab Gulf States in particular experiencing a decline. Visitors from the USA also traveled less to the Hessian state capital in 2024 than in the previous year, but are still the largest source market for Wiesbaden with a total of 68,301 overnight stays. What is particularly pleasing here is that although fewer American guests traveled to the city, they stayed relatively longer. "This was a goal of the 2026 + tourism strategy for Wiesbaden," explains Mayor Christiane Hinninger. The statistics also show that most of the target markets that WICM GmbH is actively working on with marketing and sales measures and that are considered relevant for Wiesbaden in terms of value creation have recorded an increase: The Dutch market achieved an increase of 8.7 percent in overnight stays, Austria 2 percent, Sweden 65 percent and Denmark 9.7 percent. Even the figures from Japan and South Korea, which had declined due to the pandemic, recorded an increase again.

The WICM marketing and sales team was active in Germany as well as at trade fairs in neighboring European countries and at international trade fairs. In order to promote Wiesbaden as a venue for international events, sales activities were stepped up internationally with participation in events in Portugal, the USA, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In addition to participating in trade fairs and workshops, the focus was placed on the company's own knowledge transfer events. WICM offers free training and networking opportunities with the aim of presenting itself as a competent partner in the event sector.

The annual statistics for guests and overnight stays are collected by the Hessian State Statistical Office and prepared and published by the city's Office for Statistics and Urban Research.

A detailed overview of all campaigns, trade fair participations and marketing and sales activities can be found in the annual report of Wiesbaden Congress & Marketing GmbH. The report for 2024 will be published in mid-May here: https://www.wicm.de/b2b/jahresbericht.php (opens in a new tab)

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