CIMX 2026 Concludes First Edition with 6,000 Business Meetings, Boosting Global MICE Collaboration

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Three dynamic days of business, innovation and global connections marked a landmark debut for China International MICE Exchange (CIMX) 2026, which concluded today at the China National Convention Center Phase II in Beijing. Bringing together the Chinese and international MICE communities, CIMX opened a new chapter in international business exchange, creating a dedicated platform for industry leaders and decision-makers to explore opportunities, forge partnerships and strengthen cross-border collaboration.

Organized by Messe Berlin China and supported by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, CIMX 2026 delivered a strong inaugural edition, welcoming 150 exhibitors, 350 carefully selected hosted buyers and more than 3000 attendees from over 41 countries and regions. Generating nearly 6000 business meetings, the event created valuable opportunities for business exchange and international collaboration. Beyond the exhibition floor, 120 conference speakers covering 40 industry topics, nine networking events and a post-show familiarization trip to Beijing and Tianjin enriched the program with industry insights and meaningful connections. Together, these achievements established CIMX as a powerful new gateway between China's MICE market and the world, setting the stage for even greater momentum in 2027.

International Participation and Business Connections

Business matchmaking was at the heart of CIMX 2026, connecting international destinations, convention bureaus, airlines, hospitality groups and MICE service providers with corporate planners, agencies and professional buyers. Through pre-scheduled appointments and onsite networking, participants explored new opportunities, exchanged market insights and established valuable business relationships.

With 150 exhibitors from 18 countries and regions, CIMX showcased a diverse range of international MICE offerings, spanning destinations across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. China's MICE capabilities were represented by destinations including Beijing, Tianjin, Hainan, Shanghai Lin-gang Special Area and Macao, highlighting opportunities for corporate meetings, incentive travel programs and international events.

Yang Jin, Deputy Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Division, Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism said:

“CIMX is a highly professional exhibition, organized by Messe Berlin China and hosted in Beijing. For Chinese companies, it provides a platform to connect directly with international MICE buyers without having to travel abroad, making business exchanges more cost-effective and efficient. For Tianjin, it also presents an excellent opportunity to showcase our destination to international buyers and raise its visibility in the global market.”

The event also welcomed participation from leading Chinese and international industry associations and organizations, including the MICE Committee of the China Association of Travel Services, China Advertising Association Event Marketing Committee, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Sourcing China, Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), and Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE).

“CIMX has seen a good support from the industry—the meetings and events, MICE or business travel community. I look forward to seeing the show growing from this point into its future years, and look forward to continuing to partner with CIMX and just being able to meet more people from the business travel and MICE community,” said Elle Ng-Darmawan, Senior Director, APAC, Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).

Industry Dialogue for Exploring the Future of MICE

The CIMX Conference brought together 120 speakers covering 40 topics across six conference tracks and three specialized workshops and forums, addressing key trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the Chinese and global MICE industries. Key discussions explored MICE industry trends in China and worldwide, cross-border event development, destination showcases, incentive travel, artificial intelligence and the future of business events, offering fresh perspectives and practical insights into the industry's evolving landscape. Following the conclusion of the inaugural CIMX, key industry trends, insights and conference highlights will be shared through CIMX’s official channels.

Florence Chua, Managing Director, APAC, PCMA said: “Through its conference, CIMX brought together MICE professionals, association members and business leaders from China and abroad to share diverse content. The conference covered a wide range of areas, from incentive travel to conferences and exhibitions, making the content very rich. As the conference of the inaugural edition, both the quality of the events and the caliber of the speakers were very high.”

Beyond the main conference program, CIMX served as a platform for leading international associations and industry partners to foster meaningful dialogue, exchange expertise and strengthen industry collaboration. Highlights included the CIMX–ICCA International Association Meetings and Destination Development Forum, the PCMA Corporate Intelligence Exchange Workshop, and the GBTA Business Travel Forum. Together, these initiatives brought valuable international perspectives to CIMX and strengthened connections between China's MICE industry and the global business events community.

Connecting People, Creating Opportunities

Networking was an integral part of CIMX 2026, with nine social events creating additional opportunities for participants to connect beyond the exhibition floor. Highlights included the Corporates in MICE Luncheon, MICE² Macao × Hengqin Networking Luncheon, Singapore-Sponsored Luncheon, Shanghai Lin-gang · Dishui Lake Night, and the CIMX Opening Dinner which gathered 400 industry professionals and key stakeholders to celebrate the first edition of CIMX.

Post-Show Activities: Beijing and Tianjin FAM Trip

On the final day of CIMX 2026, a delegation of international buyers and media representatives departed on a 4-day familiarization trip to Beijing and Tianjin, with visits to key MICE venues, facilities and cultural highlights. The program offers first-hand insights into the destinations' business events infrastructure and capabilities, supporting future international meetings, incentive travel and business cooperation.

Building on the Momentum of CIMX’s Debut

Reflecting on the event, Nikolaos Swoch, Director of CIMX, commented:

“CIMX was created to turn China’s MICE potential into international business opportunities—and to open new doors into China for the global industry. This first edition has put that mission into action, bringing decision-makers together to explore business, build trust and establish partnerships. Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond, CIMX will establish itself as the must-attend annual gathering for the Chinese and international MICE communities, driving business growth, strengthening global collaboration and shaping the future of business events.”

Building on the momentum of its inaugural edition, CIMX will return to Beijing for its second edition from 2–4 November 2027 at the China National Convention Center Phase II. For more information about CIMX 2027 and registration opportunities, please visit the official CIMX website.