As India’s corporate travel landscape evolves, the MICE sector is witnessing a strong shift from traditional meetings to immersive, experience-led engagements. Companies are increasingly investing in incentive travel, leadership off-sites, and curated events that strengthen collaboration and recognition while delivering memorable experiences for teams. With global destinations expanding and expectations rising among well-travelled corporate participants, the role of specialised MICE planners has become more strategic than ever.
Voyager’s World speaks to Anand Bisarya, Director, Elegante World and AU Holidays and Events, in an exclusive interview about the changing dynamics of corporate incentive travel, emerging destinations, and how thoughtful design is reshaping the future of luxury MICE experiences.
What gap in the luxury travel and MICE ecosystem were you aiming to address when you founded the company?
Coming from a hospitality background, I strongly believe that the MICE industry should never become routine or repetitive. For a long time, corporate events have followed predictable formats focused largely on meeting rooms and presentations. While these serve their purpose, they often overlook the opportunity to create deeper engagement and memorable experiences for participants.
When we founded the company, our vision was to move beyond the traditional approach of simply organising meetings. Instead, we wanted to design experiences that inspire collaboration, connection and motivation. For us, MICE is not just about logistics; it is about crafting journeys that leave a lasting impact on participants and strengthen organisational culture.
How do you assess the current growth trajectory of the Indian MICE market?
The growth of the Indian MICE market is extremely encouraging and clearly gaining momentum. Organisations today view corporate travel and events less as discretionary spending and more as strategic investments in employee engagement, motivation and business development. Incentive travel, leadership retreats, sales conferences and recognition programmes are therefore becoming increasingly significant. Additionally, the younger workforce tends to value experiences over conventional formats, which is encouraging companies to design more engaging and immersive events.
Another interesting development is the growing interest in emerging destinations. Tourism boards and governments are investing in infrastructure, connectivity and event facilities to capture this expanding demand.
What major shifts have you observed in corporate incentive travel patterns over the last few years?
Corporate incentive travel has evolved considerably. Earlier, programmes were largely driven by the appeal of the destination itself. Today, the emphasis is more on the experiences a destination can deliver and the impact those experiences create for participants. Companies are increasingly seeking professional expertise to design well-curated incentive journeys where recognition, engagement and destination experiences align seamlessly. Competitive benchmarking also plays a role, with organisations striving to create programmes that stand out within their industry.
Another noticeable shift is the preference for smaller, more curated groups. This allows greater leadership interaction and enables more personalised and premium experiences such as luxury accommodation, cultural encounters and exclusive dining.
Are Indian corporates becoming more experience-driven in their incentive programmes? How has this influenced your planning strategies?
Yes, there is certainly a shift toward experience-led incentive programmes, although it is still evolving. Practical considerations such as visa accessibility, connectivity, logistics and budgets often encourage companies to continue with familiar destinations. However, the mindset is changing. Organisations are increasingly open to exploring new formats and destinations as long as participant comfort and convenience are not compromised. Another important factor is that today’s participants are far more well-travelled, and repetitive itineraries rarely generate excitement.
When experiences feel predictable, engagement tends to decline. Industries such as technology and other new-age sectors are leading this transition by placing experiences at the centre of their incentive programmes rather than treating them as an add-on.
What sectors are currently driving demand in the MICE industry?
Several sectors are contributing significantly to MICE demand. The pharmaceutical industry continues to be a consistent driver through medical conferences, product updates and doctor engagement programmes. The BFSI sector also remains very active, particularly through annual sales meetings, leadership summits and incentive programmes designed for distributors and channel partners.
Interestingly, the building materials and infrastructure sector has emerged as another strong contributor. Dealer incentive programmes and recognition events are often used to strengthen relationships with channel partners. At the same time, the technology and digital ecosystem is witnessing rapid growth. Many brands are now collaborating with influencers and digital creators to host experiential product launches that generate both engagement and marketing visibility.
How important is personalisation in designing high-value corporate incentives?
Personalisation is now at the heart of premium corporate incentive programmes. Every touchpoint plays a role in making participants feel recognised and valued—from the first invitation to the final on-ground experience. This can include personalised invitations, curated travel documentation, customised in-room amenities and meaningful recognition moments during the programme.
For international incentives, this becomes even more important because participants are often well-travelled and expect experiences that go beyond standard hospitality offerings. Technology is increasingly supporting this process through event applications and digital platforms that capture attendee preferences in advance, enabling organisers to design more tailored itineraries and seamless experiences.
What emerging international destinations are gaining traction among Indian corporates?
Indian corporates are becoming increasingly open to exploring newer international destinations that combine accessibility, reliable infrastructure and unique experiences. Central Asian destinations such as Azerbaijan and Georgia are attracting attention for their scenic appeal and competitive pricing. Vietnam and Sri Lanka are also gaining traction as their hospitality infrastructure continues to improve.
The Middle East is another important region to watch. Saudi Arabia, in particular, is emerging as a strong contender for corporate events as it rapidly develops under its Vision 2030 strategy. However, the growing number of options has also created a new challenge. Many corporates request multiple destination proposals without clearly defining objectives or budgets. This is where experienced MICE professionals play a consultative role, helping clients align their goals, budgets and destination choices more effectively.
How do you balance cost efficiency with premium experiences for large corporate groups?
Creating a premium experience does not always require a significantly higher budget. The key lies in smart programme design rather than simply increasing spending. Small but thoughtful enhancements can elevate the experience considerably—for instance, replacing a standard buffet with a curated sit-down dinner or adding a surprise experiential element during the programme.
Strong relationships with hotels and destination partners can also help secure upgrades, better venues or exclusive touches without dramatically increasing costs. Additionally, deep destination knowledge allows planners to select locations that offer better experiential value within the same budget, ultimately creating a more premium feel.
Risk management is critical in international MICE. How does your team ensure seamless delivery?
Successful execution begins with anticipating potential disruptions early. Our approach is built around preparation, transparency and trusted partnerships. Contingency planning is essential, whether the challenge involves weather disruptions, airline delays or venue limitations. A strong backup plan is always necessary.
Equally important is honest advice. A planner’s role is not only to execute but also to guide clients toward practical decisions that minimise risk—even if that sometimes means advising against a particular option. Insurance and compliance safeguards provide additional protection against unforeseen global uncertainties. Finally, working with reliable airlines, hotels and destination partners significantly reduces operational risks when managing large international groups.
How important are global partnerships in strengthening your outbound MICE portfolio?
Global partnerships are fundamental to delivering high-quality programmes. The strength of these relationships directly influences reliability, creativity and overall execution. Trusted Destination Management Companies and tourism boards provide valuable local expertise, dependable logistics and access to unique venues and experiences.
Strong airline partnerships help secure better group fares and smoother coordination for large groups, while direct relationships with international hotel brands ensure consistent service quality and faster responses. Together, these partnerships create a dependable global network that allows us to deliver seamless experiences and maintain client confidence.
How do you see the Indian MICE market evolving over the next five years?
The Indian MICE market is poised for significant transformation in the coming years. Stronger outbound travel, improving visa access and better global connectivity will enable corporates to explore a wider range of international destinations. This, in turn, will encourage domestic destinations to enhance infrastructure and experiences to remain competitive. Continued aviation expansion and improved connectivity will further accelerate this growth.
Technology will play an increasingly important role in planning, personalisation and operational efficiency, although the industry will remain deeply people-driven. Sustainability will also gain greater importance as organisations adopt more responsible event practices. At the same time, the rapid development of Tier-2 cities in India will open new opportunities for the domestic MICE ecosystem, creating a more diverse and dynamic industry landscape.
