Lugano

Whether it's a business meeting, an incentive trip or an exclusive event, Lugano welcomes every initiative with professionalism, charm and an unmistakable touch of hospitality. Thanks to its connections to the major international airports of Milan and Zurich and its rail network, it is easily accessible. The mild climate throughout the year, the wide choice of high-quality facilities, the locations and the multitude of activities also create an ideal setting to ensure quality and comfort for any type of event.

Added value

The pleasantly mild climate all year round and the wide choice of hotels, locations and activities make this city ideal for organising events in any season.
The Ticino Convention Bureau team is on hand to offer you free, personalised advice, recommending the best partners to work with, from venues to hotels and side activities, to create a flawless event and an unforgettable experience.

Sustainability

Sustainability encompasses every aspect of the event, from the selection of the location to the definition of side activities and the choice of a zero-kilometre restaurant.
The city of Lugano attaches great importance to environmental protection and energy issues. Confirming its commitment and sensitivity to this important topic, in 2023 it was once again awarded the title of Energy City, while several MICE partners have recently obtained ISO20121 certification for sustainable event management.

The region also promotes slow mobility, made even more attractive thanks to the Ticino Ticket, which allows all guests staying in accommodation to travel free of charge throughout the canton.

Whether it's a business meeting, an incentive trip or an exclusive event, Lugano welcomes every initiative with professionalism, charm and an unmistakable touch of hospitality. Thanks to its connections to the major international airports of Milan and Zurich and its rail network, it is easily accessible. The mild climate throughout the year, the wide choice of high-quality facilities, the locations and the multitude of activities also create an ideal setting to ensure quality and comfort for any type of event. 

Accessibility

Geneva International Airport (GVA): 370 km
Zurich International Airport (ZRH): 214 km 
Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg International Airport: (BSL) 271 km
Milano Malpensa International Airport (MXP): 50 km
Bern Airport (BRN): 270 km
Lugano Airport (LUG): 6 km

Rail: Excellent connections via the Swiss Federal Railways sbb.ch

Lugano's Ecosystems

ICT & AI : Lugano is southern Switzerland's compact but increasingly specialised tech hub, anchored by strong research institutions rather than large numbers of employees. It is home to the USI Faculty of Informatics, the ICT institutes of SUPSI, and IDSIA (the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Studies), one of Europe's pioneering AI research centres. Just outside the city, the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) operates 'Alps', one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, which reinforces Lugano's role in high-performance computing and AI research infrastructure. The ecosystem also has a distinct fintech/blockchain focus thanks to initiatives such as the Lugano Plan ₿, and is supported by the city's Lugano Living Lab and the Lifestyle Tech Competence Centre, which promotes applied innovation. Community events such as Voxxed Days Ticino bring together developers, researchers, and companies from across the region

Healthcare & Life Science: The pharma and life sciences sectors are both central to the city's profile. The city is home to the headquarters of major pharmaceutical companies, including Helsinn Healthcare, IBSA Group and Cerbios Pharma, as well as research and education institutions such as the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). Alongside the broader canton's cluster of drug developers and manufacturers, this establishes Lugano as one of Switzerland's lesser-known yet well-established biomedical hubs.