IMS24 In Riyadh: Global Event Leaders Gather To Discuss MICE Industry Growth And Investment Opportunities

The International MICE Summit (IMS24) will gather leaders from major global event companies, alongside government and business figures from Saudi Arabia and worldwide. This summit aims to explore investment opportunities in the rapidly growing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector within the G20. Hosted by the Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA), IMS24 is scheduled for December 15-17 in Riyadh.

IMS24 will feature a comprehensive schedule of speakers and events, with announcements from ten leading industry organizations. Notable speakers include Informa PLC Group chief executive Lord Carter, RX Global chief operating officer Brian Brittain, Messe Munich chief executive Stefan Rummel, Clarion Events chief executive Lisa Hannant, and Messe Dusseldorf chief executive Wolfram Diener.

"This summit underscores the importance of the Middle East as the emerging global hub of the MICE sector and Saudi Arabia's position at the center of that transformation," said IMS24 host and SCEGA Chairman Fahd Al-Rasheed. "The Kingdom's unique combination of giga-project investment, global marquee events, and a surging tourism sector make the Kingdom a compelling destination for business tourism," he added.

Al-Rasheed emphasized that IMS24 will highlight Saudi Arabia's significant investment opportunities for the global MICE industry. The event will also showcase cutting-edge technologies and innovations expected to propel the industry forward in coming decades.

The summit is organized around six thematic pillars focusing on trends such as talent development, economic impacts of MICE models, borderless events, and sustainability practices. A collaboration hub will spotlight investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia's thriving MICE sector, bringing together investors, event organizers, tourism operators, event management firms, and government leaders to shape the future of this sector both locally and globally.

Innovation clusters at IMS24 will display new technologies while providing opportunities for discussions with Saudi leaders. The MICE sector in Saudi Arabia grew by 15% between 2022 and 2023, hosting nearly 17,000 events last year. By 2030, business visitors are expected to increase from 3.1 million in 2019 to 8 million.

Future Prospects for Business Tourism

This growth is driven by headline events like the World Energy Congress, Future Investment Initiative, World Defense Show, Smart Cities Forum, Future Minerals Forum, LEAP, Future Aviation Forum, and Expo 2030. Additionally, international sporting events such as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and Esports Olympics are on the agenda.

The three-day summit will take place at Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City (MISK). For registration details visit www.internationalmicesummit.com --SPA 18:48 Local Time 15:48 GMT 0054

With inputs from SPA