The Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA) brought together 70 buying organisations and 16 exhibition booths for the first edition of i-MICE 2026, a new annual business forum designed to facilitate structured B2B interactions between India’s MICE buyers and premium industry suppliers. The i-MICE 2026 event was held at The Suryaa, New Delhi, on September 18, 2026.
Exhibitors at the inaugural edition included Tourism Malaysia, Jetwing and TravClan, among other companies operating across the tourism and travel technology space. The event marks NIMA’s first standalone business forum focused specifically on structured, high-quality B2B interactions within India’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) trade, distinct from the larger, broader travel trade fairs the industry typically relies on.
Why Does India’s MICE Trade Need A Dedicated B2B Forum?
India’s MICE agent community has traditionally relied on larger multi-segment travel trade shows to connect with suppliers, often competing for attention with leisure and corporate travel exhibitors. By launching i-MICE as a focused, invitation-style forum, NIMA is positioning the event to give MICE-specific buyers and suppliers more direct, structured interactions rather than the broader networking format of larger expos. With 70 buying organisations in attendance at the debut edition, the forum signals meaningful early demand from India’s MICE agent and buyer community for a dedicated meeting ground.
What Does This Mean For India’s MICE Industry?
The launch comes as India’s broader MICE market continues to expand rapidly, with the sector projected to grow from roughly $49.4 billion in 2024 to $103.7 billion by 2030, according to industry estimates. A dedicated B2B forum for agents and suppliers reflects the maturing structure of India’s MICE trade, which has increasingly sought sector-specific platforms alongside government-led initiatives such as the India Convention Promotion Bureau’s push to establish city-level MICE promotion bureaus across the country.
Industry Reaction
The presence of international exhibitors such as Tourism Malaysia alongside Indian travel technology players like TravClan at the first edition suggests i-MICE is drawing interest from both inbound destination marketers and domestic MICE technology and services providers. For NIMA, a successful debut with 70 buying organisations sets a benchmark for scaling the forum in future editions, potentially expanding exhibitor categories and buyer participation as the event becomes an annual fixture.
What Happens Next?
NIMA is expected to build on the inaugural edition’s turnout as it plans future iterations of i-MICE, with the broader Indian MICE trade calendar continuing to expand alongside events such as MICE Show India and the India Convention Promotion Bureau’s ongoing efforts to establish regional MICE bureaus across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is i-MICE 2026?
i-MICE 2026 is NIMA’s newly launched annual business forum designed to facilitate structured B2B interactions between India’s MICE buyers and premium industry suppliers, with its first edition held on September 18, 2026, in New Delhi.
Who organised i-MICE 2026?
The event was organised by the Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA) at The Suryaa, New Delhi.
Who participated in the first edition of i-MICE?
The inaugural edition brought together 70 buying organisations and 16 exhibition booths, with exhibitors including Tourism Malaysia, Jetwing and TravClan.
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