The Use of Information and Communications Technology by the European Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) Sectors

ABSTRACT In their quest to operate ever more effectively, efficiently, and rapidly, those active in the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sectors have readily welcomed advances in information and communications technology (ICT) and used them to the fullest. This article begins with an overview of the main uses to which the meetings, exhibitions, and incentive sectors have put ICT products and services. It then examines the evidence which gives some indication of the limits to growth regarding the rate at which MICE sectors may continue to adopt these products and services. Subsequently, the potential of ICT to actually displace and replace travel for business-related purposes will be considered. Finally, this paper provides a discussion of the results of a quantitative survey undertaken by the authors, demonstrating the extent of current and future use of ICT in the European MICE sectors.