What was your motivation to join ICCA?
We know ICCA is an organization recognized worldwide for the quality of information and statistics it provides. Also, the training, knowledge and education opportunities it generates, are among the reasons why the Corporación de Santiago de Chile through the bureau Santiago MICE decided as a priority to become an ICCA member. We are confident that thanks to all the ICCA benefits and platform we will be able to increase bidding opportunities and confirmation of international congresses for Santiago.
Tell us your story. How did Santiago MICE get started?
Santiago MICE is part of a higher organization called Corporación de Santiago, a non-profit institution, under private law, created in 2016 by the Regional Government of Santiago de Chile, managed by a Public-Private directory. Our scope of action addresses regional development in many areas and industries, being the most relevant, tourism.
The importance that for many years the meetings and trade fairs industry has had in Santiago allowed the creation of Santiago MICE, mostly due to the fact that the capital of Chile has a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a stable economic, political and security situation, generating high levels of confidence to carry out different types of events. For this reason, in 2020 Santiago MICE was created, the new convention bureau of the city, with the objectives to position Santiago amongst the most important international destinations to hold trade fairs, congresses and events, also, to promote the destination and its touristic offerings.
What sets Santiago MICE apart?
The key differential is our public-private structure, which facilitates the communication and coordination between all the actors involved in the development of the MICE Tourism. Thanks to this structure, we have greater strength and representation to promote the development of this industry.
What is your favourite success story from your organisation?
Without a doubt the creation of our website santiagomice.com where we present the complete touristic offer of Santiago de Chile. This search platform allows everyone interested in the organization of meetings and events in Santiago to find the best places to hold trade fairs, congresses and exhibitions, as well as other activities and useful information about the destination.
What can we expect to see from Santiago MICE in the future?
Our purpose is to promote the development of the MICE industry in Santiago, articulate the business ecosystem and position the capital of Chile as an ideal Latin American destination for international trade fairs and congresses. To this end, we hope to have an active participation in the activities that ICCA organizes and to take advantage of the tools and resources it provides to its members.
Which trends do you see in the Association Meetings?
Although there is a trend to organize hybrid and more segmented meetings, we have no doubts that the industry will recover in the mid-term doing business face to face. We know new technologies are here to stay, we are sure that the fundamental value for the meetings industry is human contact and relationships to develop and strengthen commercial activities.
What is an industry challenge your organisation is facing currently?
Our main challenge in the short-term is to reactivate our industry. We have the great task of bringing together all the industry actors in Santiago to unify future actions with the objective of strengthening our international place as a destination for trade fairs and congresses.