The 2025 Meet Global MICE Congress has drawn twice as many participants
The international congress has confirmed Moscow’s status as a world-renowned center of excellence in the field of business tourism, having brought together professionals from 37 countries of the BRICS and the Global South. The congress had twice as many participants compared to the year before – over 2500 people. A multi-format program covered such topics as the success of MICE destinations, the efficacy of business events, the future of neurotechnology and the experience economy in the industry, all while setting a record number of business meetings.
Middle Eastern countries were well represented at the 2025 Meet Global MICE Congress, having amounted to 30% of the total number of representatives. Among the participating countries were the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan – which confirms the region’s strong interest in the development of international business tourism and interregional cooperation.
Participants from 37 Countries
The results of the Meet Global MICE Congress (MGMC), an international business tourism forum, were summed up in Moscow. The forum took place on December 17-18 and brought together more than two and a half thousand representatives of industry professionals, relevant agencies, associations, corporate clients, and business event organizers from various countries. This is 2 times more than the previous year and six times more compared to the very first forum.
Congress participants came to the capital from 37 countries and Russian regions – there were twice as many compared to the year before. The high profile of the participants, with 70% of them being senior executives and decision makers, allowed for partnership agreements to be formed right during the event.
While discussing the role of business tourism in global development, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau Mubarak Al Shamsi pointed out that the MICE industry is now transcending industry boundaries and becoming an instrument of economic development and international cooperation: “We view the MICE industry as a key tool for economic diversification, as well as an important part of diplomacy, allowing us to build bridges around the world. Today, we are really promoting the idea that business experiences should flow seamlessly into cultural and entertainment experiences. This transforms a standard event into a unique experience that can only be had in Abu Dhabi.”
Among the participants were: the Visit Qatar MICE Acting Director Ruqaya Cassim, Mint Leong, President, Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association and Managing Director of Sunflower Holidays from Malaysia, Chairman of the Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association Hosea Andreas Runkat, the CEO of China Travel Online Marcus Lee, Governing Board Member of the Indian Convention Promotion Bureau Tushar Kesharwani, Chairperson of the Association of African Exhibition Organisers Projeni Pather, the Kenyan Actnable AI founder and CEO Dharmendra Jain, the former CEO of EXPO 2027 in Serbia Dušan Borovčanin. There were also representatives of tourism departments of Jordan, the Maldives, Nepal, Tanzania, and Uzbekistan.
Within the exhibition area, more than 8 thousand business meetings were held, all aimed at establishing new contacts, finding clients and developing a plan of events for the future.
