Singapore’s MICE industry is moving into a new phase of sustainable growth, with the launch of MICE Sustainability Roadmap 2.0 at Singapore MICE Forum 2026 placing social and economic sustainability alongside environmental considerations.
Announced at Singapore MICE Forum 2026 by guest-of-honour Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Foreign Affairs, the refreshed roadmap was developed by the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS).
“Alongside infrastructure, sustainability remains an important competitive advantage,” Gan said.
It builds on the original roadmap launched in December 2022, which focused on environmental sustainability and set targets around sustainability standards, certification, waste tracking and carbon emissions. Since then, targets have been crossed with all six purpose-built MICE venues and more than 80% of SACEOS members now sustainability certified.
An expanded sustainability scope
The 2.0 version expands that scope from one pillar to three. Environmental sustainability now carries additional targets, including the development of a MICE Decarbonisation Framework by 2028 for purpose-built venues, continued tracking of waste and carbon emissions, and the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Social sustainability has been added to ensure the sector creates more meaningful and inclusive impact for the communities in which it operates, with a partnership framework for event organisers, partners and suppliers targeted for 2027 and a MICE Industry Social Impact Playbook by 2028.
The economic pillar will examine the business case for sustainability adoption, with a study due by 2028.
“As we enter the next phase of the MICE Sustainability Roadmap, we are setting clear, measurable targets for the industry to rally behind, expanding our remit to cover environmental, social, and economic sustainability,” said Carrie Kwik, executive director, conventions, meetings and incentive travel, Singapore Tourism Board. “This reflects our belief that a truly sustainable MICE destination must deliver lasting value not just for the environment, but for the local community and businesses as well.”
The wider remit comes as Singapore seeks to reinforce its position as a sustainable business events hub. The city-state currently ranks first in Asia Pacific and fifth globally for international association meetings, according to ICCA, and second in Asia-Pacific and 13th globally in the 2025 Global Destination Sustainability Index. For the industry, the updated roadmap signals a shift from greener events alone to events that also support communities, strengthen enterprises and generate longer-term value.
That direction underpins the theme of this year’s Singapore MICE Forum, “Going Beyond”, which opened at Resorts World Convention Centre with more than 1,500 attendees from government, industry associations, MICE companies and institutes of higher learning. The three-day programme spans the Association MICE Symposium, Singapore MICE Awards and Gala Dinner, Singapore MICE Challenge and Singapore MICE Development.
MICE Industry Development Plan
Alongside the sustainability roadmap, the recently announced MICE Industry Development Plan is beginning to unfold at the forum through a live showcase led by STB and IMDA representatives. The effort is aimed at helping companies identify where to begin with transformation, particularly in a manpower-constrained environment where higher productivity, leaner teams and stronger technology adoption are becoming central to long-term competitiveness.
Richard Ireland, president of SACEOS, framed the shift as an immediate industry reality. “The MICE industry is at an inflection point. Technology has moved from a competitive advantage to a baseline expectation, and the numbers bear that out – nearly three in four meeting professionals already rely on software to run their meetings, and 87% of exhibition companies reported using AI in 2025. This is no longer the future we are preparing for; it is the present we are operating in,” he said.
The policy push comes against a growth backdrop. Singapore has set a target to triple MICE tourism receipts to S$4.5 billion (US$3.9 billion) by 2040, after receipts rose 35 per cent from S$1.7 billion in 2024 to S$2.3 billion in 2025. With MICE visitors typically spending twice as much as leisure visitors, the sector is expected to remain a key driver of high-value tourism growth.