6 Remote Work Trends in the MICE Industry for 2025 and Beyond

Remote work has been a major disruptor across all industries in recent years. What began as a temporary shift during the pandemic has evolved into a fundamental transformation of how we live, work, and connect.

Today, remote and hybrid working models are not only common; they are expected. And nowhere is this transformation more evident than in the MICE industry, where the changes brought about by flexible work are fundamentally reshaping event planning, corporate travel, and business tourism.

As we move through 2025, companies across the MICE tourism landscape are adapting their strategies to embrace this new way of working. The demand for more intentional, meaningful, and flexible in-person experiences continues to rise, and organisations that understand these shifts are reaping the benefits, not only in employee satisfaction but also in client engagement and competitive advantage.

This guide will look at remote work trends in the MICE industry and their impacts on businesses and employees. 

The MICE industry has been impacted by the rise in the popularity of remote and hybrid work and is continuing to adapt to new ways of working and new expectations from employees. If you’re part of, or own, a business in the MICE industry, understanding the latest trends in remote work is super important. It ensures that you’re optimising the way that your team works and you remain competitive as an employer.

A couple of years ago, flexible working was something that a small percentage of companies offered. Some employees were given control over their working hours and were allowed to work from any location without time in the office, but this definitely wasn’t considered the norm.

When the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the majority of people from being able to work in the office, remote working became necessary for a lot of employees across numerous industries, including MICE. With the opportunity for remote work also came a less rigid approach to working hours, which meant that more and more people started to take control of their schedules and work in a more flexible way to suit their lifestyle.

Recent studies have shown that remote and hybrid work are now the preferred arrangement for a significant portion of the workforce. A Forbes poll revealed that in the UK, 63% of 1100 working respondents worked remotely either all or some of the time. The trend has only accelerated over the years, with businesses increasingly adopting remote-first models and giving their employees more autonomy over when and where they work.

In turn, this evolution has reshaped the MICE industry. Business events, incentives, and conferences are no longer scheduled around traditional office routines. Instead, they must account for remote employees spread across time zones, flexible schedules, and limited face-to-face interaction. As such, the importance of MICE tourism is now linked not only to its ability to facilitate collaboration but also to its role in re-establishing human connection and fostering company culture. 

Gone are the days when flexible work was a niche offering. In 2025, job candidates actively seek employers that offer freedom in scheduling, remote work options, and autonomy in task management. In fact, a study by Remote.co found that 63% of employees would look for another job if remote work were no longer an option.

This shift means that companies involved in MICE travel and tourism must consider how flexibility impacts both their internal workforce and the clients they serve. Event planners need to accommodate remote attendees through hybrid models, virtual networking options, and asynchronous content. Incentive trip organisers are building more personalised experiences that cater to the individual preferences and schedules of participants, rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.

If you’re an employer in the MICE industry that wants to grow your team, be aware that many candidates will prioritise companies that offer them a flexible working schedule. Total freedom might not be an option for every company, but if you want to attract the best talent, you need to be offering what they’re looking for. Businesses that fail to adapt risk alienating both top talent and key clients.

Another powerful trend in 2025 is the decentralisation of the workforce. Without the requirement of being in a central office, employees are now spread across regions, countries, and even continents. For the MICE industry, this shift is a game-changer.

Having a global team offers several benefits. First, it allows for localised knowledge and insight into destinations, making international event planning more authentic and efficient. Second, it provides opportunities to access top talent regardless of geographical constraints. And finally, for MICE tourism businesses, it expands the potential market reach and improves cultural competency in client interactions.

Of course, managing a remote and international team comes with its challenges, particularly in terms of communication, time zone coordination, and building team cohesion. But the benefits far outweigh the difficulties, especially in a sector as globally interconnected as MICE travel and tourism.

One of the biggest cultural shifts brought about by remote work is the way people build relationships. In the traditional office, connections were often formed organically through casual conversations, shared breaks, or spontaneous collaboration. In remote environments, those interactions require much more intention.

For companies in the MICE industry, this change has led to a transformation in how business events are designed. Teams that rarely see each other in person need more time to reconnect and collaborate effectively. Simple meetings are now extended into full-day workshops or retreats. Networking events are less about business cards and more about meaningful conversations. The goal is to build trust, engagement, and alignment—things that can’t be rushed.

When planning events, businesses must account for this need. Allocating time for social connection, unstructured brainstorming, or team-building activities is not just a luxury, it’s essential.

This article lists a couple of great team-building activities so you can bring some more cohesion to an otherwise potentially scattered team. Companies that do this well see higher engagement, better outcomes, and a stronger return on their investment in MICE tourism.  

Remote working means that the lines between the time you are at work and the time you spend at home get blurred. It can be easy for employees to end up working later than they would in an office when there’s nobody around them to check in, and the temptation to keep thinking about and adding to a project can be greater when work equipment is all set up in the next room.

However, as remote work has become more entrenched, so too has the focus on achieving a healthy work-life balance. In 2025, this is no longer a fringe concern but a mainstream priority for both employers and employees. In fact, 61% of the workforce would decline a job offer that disrupts their work-life balance. From this, it’s clear that mental health, burnout prevention, and boundary-setting are now critical issues in workplace strategy.

In the MICE industry, this trend manifests in several ways. Internally, companies must support their employees in maintaining a manageable workload and clear work boundaries. That might mean instituting ‘digital detox’ days, limiting meeting schedules, or encouraging time off after major events.

Externally, MICE travel and tourism offerings are increasingly incorporating wellness into their experiences. Conferences now include mindfulness sessions, incentive trips feature spa and relaxation components, and even networking events may be held in wellness-focused environments. As companies recognize that productivity is closely linked to wellbeing, the blend of business travel and self-care continues to gain momentum. 

With fewer people coming into the office daily, the physical workspace has taken on a new role, with upcoming key design trends listed here. In 2025, offices are no longer places where everyone gathers Monday through Friday - they are hubs for collaboration, creativity, and connection. For businesses in the MICE industry, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

Some companies have downsized their permanent offices in favour of more flexible coworking spaces. Others have redesigned their headquarters to include fewer desks and more meeting areas, breakout rooms, and lounges. The aim is to create an environment that encourages the kind of work that can’t be done remotely - team brainstorming, live presentations, and strategic planning.

The same principle applies to MICE tourism venues. Meeting spaces must now accommodate hybrid events, with tech-ready setups and flexible layouts. Clients are looking for venues that reflect the new world of work - places that feel less like boardrooms and more like dynamic collaboration spaces. 

In 2025, the simple act of gathering in person has taken on new value. With remote work limiting spontaneous daily interactions, the moments when teams come together physically are now viewed as precious and powerful.

As a result, traditional meetings are evolving into full-scale events. Company off-sites, team retreats, large-scale summits, and networking events are becoming more common, with an emphasis on impact, alignment, and culture-building. Businesses are investing more in these events - not just financially, but strategically - which makes sense considering that 34% of employees shared that they have had their most creative ideas on company or executive retreats, according to Travel Perk.

This shift is good news for the MICE industry. It reinforces the importance of MICE tourism in facilitating face-to-face engagement. But it also challenges industry professionals to think bigger.

How can you create events that are worth the time, travel, and cost? How do you design experiences that feel essential rather than optional?

You might spend a whole day running workshops and presentations to align employees with new business goals, or plan a couple of training sessions with social activities in between workshops. You could also just reward employees with a trip away, where strengthening relationships and building confidence is the priority.

Companies that get this right are seeing a dramatic return on their investment in terms of employee satisfaction, collaboration, and loyalty. 

One of the clearest trends to emerge from the remote work era is the rise of hybrid events. And by 2025, these are no longer experimental - they are a staple of the MICE travel and tourism industry. In fact, a study by Virtual Event Statistics revealed that almost 70% of event organisers believe hybrid events will be a lasting part of the industry.

Hybrid events combine the best of both worlds: the accessibility of virtual participation with the immersive experience of in-person attendance. For businesses with remote or global teams, hybrid models allow everyone to be included, regardless of location or travel restrictions.

But running a successful hybrid event takes planning. From high-quality live streaming to virtual networking tools, organisers must provide an experience that feels seamless for both audiences. This requires investment in technology, content strategy, and audience engagement.

For MICE tourism providers, this is a massive opportunity. Hotels, venues, and event planners that offer hybrid-ready services will stand out in a crowded marketplace. 

Another important angle is sustainability. With climate consciousness growing among both companies and employees, the reduced travel footprint of remote work is seen as a benefit. But when events do happen, they’re expected to be worth the environmental cost.

This is prompting a more thoughtful approach to MICE tourism. Rather than frequent short trips, companies are opting for fewer but longer and more meaningful events. Carbon offsets, eco-conscious venues, and local suppliers are also becoming standard practice.

Businesses in the MICE industry should take full advantage of the benefits that a remote workforce offers them, and in doing so, should be aware of the latest trends that have emerged in response to this increase in remote workers.

Staying on top of how remote working can impact your business and how best to manage any issues is the best way to adapt, and you should remain flexible in your approach instead of trying to avoid any potential mishaps.

MICE businesses will thrive in the age of remote working as long as they ensure that internal processes and communication are strong and they have a solid sense of company culture that helps employees to feel aligned and connected.

Consider the best ways that you can support your staff to make the most of both remote and in-person working opportunities and focus on ensuring that your business can operate with a remote or hybrid team.

For businesses operating within the MICE industry, these bullet points summarise the remote work trends well:

• Embrace flexibility in scheduling, event design, and employee management.
• Invest in technology that enables seamless hybrid collaboration.
• Redesign events to maximize the value of in-person connection.
• Rethink office and venue spaces to better serve modern work styles.
• Support employee wellbeing, particularly in remote environments.
• Prioritise sustainability in travel and event planning.

Crucially, companies must remain agile. The remote work landscape will continue to evolve, and those who adapt early will be best positioned to lead the way. 

Employment trends are always changing, but we believe that hybrid working models are definitely here to stay in the MICE industry for the foreseeable future. Whether your workforce is partly remote, scattered across different countries or only coming together a few times a year, understanding current trends in remote work is the best way to ensure your company continues to operate successfully and your employees remain happy with the way they work.

For more insight into MICE industry trends, check out the rest of the content on our blog. 

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