MICE stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions: the corporate side of travel. Whether it is a two-day offsite or a reward trip abroad, the same handful of decisions come first.
1. Purpose and headcount
Everything else follows from why the group is travelling and how many people are coming. Even a rough number (30, 80, 200) lets a planner shortlist venues and transport that can actually handle it.
2. Dates and destination
- Pick two or three possible windows, not one, so venues and flights have room to fit.
- Match destination to purpose: a strategy offsite wants calm and focus; an incentive wants a reward the team will talk about.
3. Venue, stay and food
- Meeting rooms, breakout space, projectors and Wi-Fi that copes with a full room.
- Rooms for all delegates, ideally in one property.
- Meal plans that respect dietary needs across the group.
4. Getting everyone there
Delegates rarely arrive together. Airport transfers on staggered timings, and coaches between venue and hotel, keep the programme on time.
5. Budget per person
A per-person range is the clearest brief you can give. It tells a planner how to balance stay, venue, activities and travel.
