The oneworld alliance officially announced the return of its MICE offering on October 13, during the IMEX trade show in Frankfurt. Las Vegas. The offer is aimed at event organizers. It gives them access to preferential rates on the 15 member airlines of the alliance, which serve nearly 1,000 destinations. The scope is wide: corporate meetings, professional conferences, congresses of international associations, but also religious gatherings and large private celebrations.
The scheme targets events involving at least 50 participants traveling individually to the same destination. The organizer receives a dedicated booking link. He can either pass it directly to the participants or integrate it into the event website. Each delegate then reserves their flights from their own departure point, according to their schedule constraints. On the other hand, oneworld does not disclose either the level of discount or the distribution channels, notably the role of agencies and TMCs.
Seven trends for events from 2027 to 2030
On the occasion of the return of oneWorld Meetings & Events, the alliance shared the findings of a new report from Globetrender, which identifies the trends that will shape the meetings and events sector between 2027 and 2030. The report from this travel foresight agency identifies seven developments. First, the Physical interaction gains in value as AI becomes more commonplace information. Then, the rise in travel costs forces organizers to prove the return on investment of the presence. Congresses also borrow from festival codes, and the host city becomes a reason for participation in its own right. The report also highlights the effect of ultra-long-haul flights and geopolitical tensions on the map of destinations, as well as the importance of airline and hotel loyalty programs. Finally, airports and their hotels are becoming meeting places.
" We are entering a new golden age of gatherings. As AI makes information abundant and digital communication effortless, the value of physical presence increases. But the economics of participation are evolving », notes Jenny Southan, CEO of Globetrender. For Roger Blackburn, Vice President Commercial and Loyalty at oneworld, « Even in an increasingly digital world, studies show the lasting value of in-person encounters ".
