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According to a June 2026 report by Ebix Travels, a global travel technology company and an omni-channel travel exchange, 74% of Indian organisations expect business travel activity to increase over the next 12 months, while 68% identified cost optimisation as a key priority in managing travel programmes.<\/p>\n
\nA key segment within corporate travel is MICE, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions.
The segment covers company-led events such as leadership meetings, employee incentive trips, conferences, trade shows and exhibitions.<\/p>\n
MICE travel involves multiple services, including transportation, accommodation, venues, event management and destination planning. Companies use these events for employee engagement, business discussions, networking and stakeholder interactions.<\/p>\n
Why is domestic MICE gaining attention?<\/strong><\/p>\n Companies have traditionally used both domestic and international destinations for MICE events. However, industry experts said domestic destinations are seeing greater interest due to factors such as cost efficiency, connectivity, ease of coordination and operational convenience.<\/p>\n Anshul Bhargava, Founder & Chairman, Black Rock Hotels & Resorts, an Indian hotel management and brand franchising company based in Jaipur, Rajasthan, said cost is only one factor influencing destination choices.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough conducting an event in India could help companies save 20-30% of costs due to reduced travelling and logistical requirements based on the destination chosen and the size of the group, today the factors playing an equally important role in their decision-making are operational predictability, connectivity and execution capacity for large-scale events,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Bhargava said MICE budgets have remained resilient, but companies are focusing more on the value they get from these events.<\/p>\n \u201cRather than cutting budgets, organisations are spending more on providing better delegate experiences and extracting more value from domestic destinations,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Companies look beyond cost savings<\/strong><\/p>\n \nKush Kapoor, CEO, Roseate Hotels and Resorts, operated by Bird Hospitality, the hospitality arm of India’s Bird Group, said the shift towards domestic MICE is being driven by a combination of cost efficiency, operational convenience and certainty.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile hosting events in India can help companies save on international travel, visas and foreign exchange costs, the larger advantage is the ease of planning, higher delegate participation and reduced logistical complexity,\u201d Kapoor said.<\/p>\n He added that depending on the destination and event size, companies can optimise overall event costs by 20-40% when choosing premium domestic destinations over comparable overseas venues.<\/p>\n According to Kapoor, some organisations are using these savings towards better experiences, technology, entertainment and employee engagement initiatives.<\/p>\n Destinations with connectivity and infrastructure gain preference<\/strong><\/p>\n MICE events require venues, accommodation capacity, connectivity and supporting infrastructure. This has helped destinations with established hospitality ecosystems attract corporate events.<\/p>\n Bhargava said Jaipur has witnessed demand due to its air connectivity, hospitality infrastructure and ability to combine business events with leisure experiences.<\/p>\n \u201cDestination cities which are already ready for an event such as Jaipur have shown great demand due to their excellent air connectivity, hospitality infrastructure suited for large-scale events and recreational offerings,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Advance planning becomes important<\/strong><\/p>\n The rise in domestic MICE activity has also impacted how companies plan events, with hotels seeing earlier enquiries for large conferences and incentive programmes.<\/p>\n Kapoor said companies are booking earlier to secure preferred dates, venues and room inventory, particularly for large-format events.<\/p>\n He added that event formats are also changing, with many organisations opting for shorter two-to-three-night programmes focused on productivity and engagement.<\/p>\n The changing MICE landscape<\/strong><\/p>\n Experts said companies are looking at experiences alongside traditional business meetings. Wellness activities, local experiences, team-building programmes and curated food options are becoming part of some corporate itineraries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n