At the 2025 Sustainable MICE Management Forum in Seoul, the MICE industry took a vital step forward—reframing the conversation from profit-driven events to purpose-led, sustainable experiences.
The gathering—organized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)—brought together thought leaders and innovators to define how the MICE sector can truly align with ESG principles. Leading the charge was Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC, who used his keynote to highlight the urgent need for global standards—like the GSTC MICE Standard—to improve credibility and scale sustainable practices across markets.
Beyond thought leadership, the event spotlighted real-life case studies. Jessica Choi (MGM, Macau) showcased implemented sustainability initiatives at key venues, while Korean startup Umoh introduced its AI-powered event planning platform—designed to reduce carbon footprints through smarter logistics. Ground K demonstrated how low-emission transportation and carbon reporting can be integrated into MICE operations.
On the governance front, Eunkyung Lee (UN Global Compact) tied the MICE industry’s evolution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while Dr. Sangyeol Lee (Goyang Convention Bureau / Global Destination Sustainability Movement) mapped out actionable pathways for integrating green certification, waste reduction, and sustainability metrics into event operations.
A spirited panel moderated by Prof. Younghye Yoon (Dongduk Women’s University) rounded out the forum, highlighting how policy gaps and institutional delays hinder the MICE sector’s sustainability progress—and calling for stronger governance support to embed ESG into the industry’s DNA.
For associations, the Seoul Forum offers a powerful roadmap: from adopting global standards to elevating partner choices and integrating responsible technologies—this is how conferences become catalysts for sustainable transformation.
