Leaders in MICE

1. Leading MICE Destinations (Countries & Cities)

Leadership here is often measured by the number of international association meetings hosted. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is a key authority that ranks these destinations.

While rankings can shift slightly year by year, the following are consistently at the top:

Top Countries:

• USA: Remains a dominant force due to its vast number of large cities, extensive infrastructure, and massive domestic market.

• Spain: Cities like Barcelona and Madrid consistently rank as top MICE hubs.

• Germany: Known for its efficiency, central European location, and world-class exhibition grounds (e.g., in Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt).

• France: Paris is a perennial leader, boosting the entire country's standing.

• Singapore: A powerhouse in Asia, praised for its cutting-edge facilities, ease of business, and strategic location.

• Italy: Rome, Milan, and Florence are major draws for international events.

Top Cities:

• Paris, France: Often vies for the #1 spot globally, offering a blend of unparalleled venues, attractions, and accessibility.

• Singapore: A dominant leader in Asia, home to iconic venues like Marina Bay Sands.

• Vienna, Austria: A long-standing leader known for its expertise in hosting large-scale international congresses.

• Barcelona, Spain: A highly desirable destination that perfectly blends business facilities with a vibrant culture.

• Dubai, UAE: A major, fast-growing leader in the Middle East, winning awards for its state-of-the-art infrastructure and ability to host mega-events like the World MICE Awards.

• Seoul, South Korea: A top-tier technology and business hub in Asia with massive, modern convention centers.

2. Leading Companies & Organizations

These are the corporate giants that own the venues, manage the logistics, and provide the accommodation for MICE events.

Major Hotel Chains: These companies lead because they have a global footprint, massive-scale properties with integrated conference centers, and dedicated "MICE" or "Events" divisions.

• Marriott International (Marriott Bonvoy Events): As the world's largest hotel chain, its portfolio (which includes The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, and Westin) gives it an enormous advantage in hosting events of all sizes.

• Hilton (Hilton Meetings & Events): A historic leader in the business travel space, Hilton has dedicated event and meeting planners across its global properties.

• Hyatt Hotels Corporation: Known for its large-scale luxury and convention center hotels, particularly under the Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency brands.

• Accor: A major player, especially in Europe and Asia, with brands like Fairmont, Sofitel, and Mövenpick that are popular for MICE.

Event Management & Planning Companies: These are the professional organizers (PCOs) and destination management companies (DMCs) that handle the end-to-end logistics for a MICE event.

• Cvent: A leading event technology company that provides software for event management, venue sourcing, and marketing.

• BCD Meetings & Events: A global agency that specializes in managing the logistics for corporate meetings and events.

• CWT Meetings & Events (Carlson Wagonlit Travel): The MICE division of the major global travel management company.

• HelmsBriscoe: A global leader in meetings procurement and site selection, acting as an intermediary between event planners and venues.

• The Freeman Company: A massive brand in the "Exhibitions" space, Freeman provides everything from event strategy and design to audiovisual and booth setup for trade shows.