The most liveable city in the world

As a conduit between East and West, Vienna is growing in popularity - and international firms are taking note.

Austria's capital recently beat 229 other buzzing cities to be crowned the most liveable city in the world according to a study from consultancy Mercer.

It's geographic location plus easy living make it a big draw for business people. While centuries ­old castles and fine arts make it a popular tourist destination business travellers are just as common.

"For me, Vienna was the most aesthetic city in Europe," said Magnus Beyer, an engineer with Imperial College in London who recently went on his first business trip to Vienna to participate in the general assembly of the European Geosciences Union held in April.

While the city is known for its old­-world charm, travellers he speaks to are still taken aback by its beauty, said Jean-­Paul Dantil, general manager at the Ritz­ Carlton Vienna.

"They are really always astounded just by how beautiful the city really is. Many are also surprised how easy it is to walk around here, how great the public transportation is and that traffic isn't bad at all considering that it's a capital," Dantil said.

He said at the hotel, about half of the guests are in town for business reasons, many of them diplomats, high­-ranking government officials and consultants who shake hands at international meetings of power players, such as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. OPEC has been running its worldwide operations from Vienna since 1965.

And as one of the United Nations' four major central office locations, Vienna is home to some of its major agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency. The UN offices employ some 4,400 people from 120 countries.

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