[Edaily Reporter Oh Hee-na ] Domestic and international experts will gather to explore ways to foster regional ecosystem growth through MICE. Goyang Special Self-Governing City and related organizations will host the “2026 Goyang Destination Week (GDW)” from the 26th to the 29th at KINTEX in Goyang and throughout Goyang City.

The theme of this year’s event is “MICE Legacy: Strengthening People and Regional Capabilities Through MICE.” It will examine, through various case studies, how international conferences can bring about changes in a host city’s industrial ecosystem, human resources, global networks, and local communities.
On the first day of the event, the 26th, a discussion titled “MICE: Asking Citizens” will take place to explore the future of the MICE industry with Goyang citizens. On the 27th, following the “Goyang MICE Leaders Summit,” the “Goyang Destination Competitiveness Forum”—the event’s main session bringing together domestic and international experts—will be held.
On the third day, the 28th, the “Goyang MICE Discovery Workshop” will provide an opportunity for domestic and international MICE experts to examine best practices. On the final day, the 29th, a “Post-Tour”—a sightseeing program for international participants—is scheduled to take place.
This year, GDW is expanding the scope of its evaluation of the MICE industry’s competitiveness from “event hosting capabilities” to “ecosystem-building capabilities.” This reflects a growing global trend in the MICE industry, where event organizers, host cities, and service providers are moving beyond simple contractual relationships to establish strategic partnerships that set shared goals and generate long-term results.

Thomas Rizer, a partner at Gaining Edge and one of the keynote speakers, will deliver a presentation on “From Client to Partner: New Partnerships Between Destinations and Associations,” addressing the evolving relationships within the MICE industry. He will emphasize the need to move beyond the traditional transaction-based structure—which centers on RFPs, contracts, and event hosting—and instead create new value through sustained collaboration based on shared goals and interests.
Interregional solidarity and public-private cooperation will also be key agenda items. Bobby Peralta, founder and CEO of PCAAE, will highlight the importance of MICE alliances (consultative bodies) that connect the government, the private sector, and local communities through his presentation titled “The Power of Solidarity: Jointly Designing a National MICE Strategy Through Inter-Association Cooperation—The Case of the Philippines.” He will also share success stories of transforming large-scale events into assets for urban growth.
Asako Shioi, Director of the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, will take the stage to deliver a lecture titled “The Legacy of Expo 2025 Osaka.” This will be an opportunity to gain insight into Osaka’s strategy and direction for leveraging the Expo not merely as a one-time tourism event, but as a platform for the city’s long-term growth.
Through this event, the Foundation plans to leverage the synergies resulting from the combination of its expertise in expos and exhibitions with its specialization in conventions and city marketing, thereby elevating the global competitiveness of Goyang City’s MICE industry to the next level.
Lee Chang-hyun, CEO of the Goyang International Expo Foundation, stated, “This event goes beyond a mere one-off occasion; it is a forum for devising strategies to bring about tangible change in the city and local community through MICE.” He added, “It will be an opportunity to hear solutions from various domestic and international experts on how to secure a differentiated competitive edge in the global MICE market and create unique legacies and values.”