2. □ Understand the history of MICE
□ Look at the development of MICE in
different countries
□ Take a preview of todays industry
3. Rome, Roman
Forum and
Comitium
In Latin,
Conferentia means
« to bring together »
Auditorius means
« a place to listen »
4. The industrialization of
the late 19th to early
20th century increased
the need for business
meetings. There were
also meetings on
political, religious and
recreational issues.
Associations also
began to include annual
meetings.
5. Countriesand cities (municipalities)
emphasize heavy investment in infrastructure
development to support industry
development. National and local convention
bureaus were set up to actively promote their
countries and cities as travel destinations.
There are also improved industry
representation and co-ordination with the set-
up of organizations such as the Professional
Conference Management Association
(PCMA), Meeting Professionals International
(MPI) and more.
6.
7. Europe and North America still play the
leading role in the world convention and
exhibition market in terms of number of
events, but the convention and exhibition
industry in Asia has shown stronger-than-
average growth since the 1960s. The number
of conventions in Asia-Pacific increased
124% from 1980 to 1996. The industry
accounts for more than 39% of business trips
and takes in 48% of business travellers.
