The global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is transitioning toward more sustainable practices as environmental and social considerations become increasingly important in business and event planning. This shift is driven by growing awareness of the industry's significant impacts on the environment and communities (GSTC, 2024), leading governments, businesses, international organizations, and event organizers to place greater emphasis on sustainability throughout the planning and implementation of business events. Alongside economic benefits, business events are increasingly expected to support environmental and social objectives.
Traditionally, the MICE industry has been recognized for its contribution to tourism activities, business networking, knowledge exchange, and local economic development. However, the growth of the industry has also raised concerns regarding its environmental impacts. According to Koh (2026), food and beverage services, accommodation, and exhibition design are among the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions within the MICE supply chain, while attendee travel is recognized as one of the largest sources of carbon emissions associated with business events.
In response to these challenges, Green MICE has emerged as an approach that integrates sustainability principles into the planning and implementation of business events through measures such as resource efficiency, waste reduction, energy conservation, and sustainable transportation. Reflecting this growing commitment, several destinations have introduced dedicated sustainability strategies for the MICE sector. Singapore, for example, launched its MICE Sustainability Roadmap to raise sustainability standards across the industry, increase the adoption of sustainability certification, and encourage the tracking of carbon emissions and waste generation, providing a practical example of how destinations can support the transition toward more sustainable business events (Singapore Tourism Board, 2022).
Initiatives such as Singapore's MICE Sustainability Roadmap demonstrate how destinations can promote sustainable business events and highlight the importance of assessing destination readiness for Green MICE development. In the Indonesian context, research by Li et al. (2025) evaluated the readiness of several Indonesian cities to support Green MICE development, considering factors such as event venues, transportation, food and beverage services, event materials, and carbon offsetting.
Based on this assessment, Bali emerged as Indonesia's leading Green MICE destination, followed by Jakarta and Yogyakarta. Although Bali ranked highest overall, the findings suggest that Jakarta possesses many of the key factors needed to support Green MICE development. This potential is further supported by Indonesia's steadily improving tourism performance index since 2008, indicating favourable conditions for the future development of Green MICE. These cities possess the capabilities and infrastructure needed to support the implementation of Green MICE. In particular, Jakarta benefits from a well-developed business ecosystem, transportation connectivity, and event infrastructure, positioning the city as one of Indonesia's most promising destinations for sustainable business events.
One of Jakarta's strongest advantages lies in its event infrastructure. Li et al. (2025) found that Jakarta received the highest assessment in the event venue category, reflecting the city's extensive capacity to host conferences, exhibitions, and business events through convention centres, hotels, exhibition halls, and other supporting facilities. As Indonesia's economic centre, Jakarta has developed a business ecosystem capable of accommodating events of various scales.
Transportation was another area where Jakarta demonstrated strong performance. This finding is particularly relevant given that transportation is widely recognized as one of the largest contributors to emissions associated with MICE activities. According to the study, Jakarta's transportation network and urban connectivity provide an important foundation for promoting more efficient mobility and reducing the environmental footprint of business events.
The study also highlights Jakarta's strengths in event materials and supporting services. As Indonesia's primary business hub, the city benefits from access to suppliers, logistics providers, and supporting industries that can facilitate event organization and support the adoption of more environmentally responsible practices. The availability of these resources may also make it easier and more cost-effective for event organizers to obtain materials that support sustainable event management. Together with its strengths in event venues and transportation, these factors suggest that Jakarta already possesses several of the key elements needed to advance Green MICE implementation. Continued efforts to strengthen transportation systems, venue management, and event practices could further support the adoption of Green MICE in Jakarta while promoting more environmentally responsible business events.
As environmental considerations become increasingly important within the global MICE industry, the development of Green MICE will require collaboration among government, venue operators, event organizers, hospitality providers, and other industry stakeholders. Building on its strengths in infrastructure, transportation, and supporting business services, Jakarta can continue to integrate Green MICE principles across its business events ecosystem. Such efforts may help improve the quality of event management, reduce environmental impacts, and support the long-term development of Jakarta's MICE industry. This also creates opportunities for Jakarta to enhance its attractiveness as a destination for international business events, supporting the city's broader ambition to strengthen its position as a global city.
Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). (2024). GSTC MICE Criteria. https://www.gstc.org/wp-content/uploads/GSTC-MICE-Criteria_v1_2024.pdf
Koh, E. (2026). Sustainability in the global MICE/business events industry – the current state, and the road ahead. ABAC Journal, 46(1), 36–47. https://doi.org/10.1108/abac-08-2025-0149
Li, X., Wong, J. N. B., Kim, D., Qin, J., & Yuan, Y. (2025). Sustainable Planning and Development of the MICE Industry with Tourism Evaluation Index: The Case of Indonesia. International Journal of Tourism Research, 27(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.70075
Singapore Tourism Board. (2022). Singapore’s MICE Sustainability Roadmap. https://www.visitsingapore.com/mice/en/plan-your-event/sustainability/mice-sustainability-roadmap/