rewrite this title SDQ MICE, together with the ICCA Summit 2024, promoted the strengthening of Santo Domingo as a MICE destination in the Caribbean region

The Santo Domingo Hotel Association recently held the 4th Edition of SDQ MICE, from September 10 to 14, at the Marriott Piantini Santo Domingo Hotel, with the participation of more than 200 delegates. The event hosted the LATIN AMERICA ICCA SUMMIT 2024. An important commitment to strengthen the attraction of the MICE segment, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, framed in the tourism strategy of market diversification, promoted by MITUR, with the aim of continuing to grow and consolidate the country's tourism.

Yudit Garcia, president of the Santo Domingo Hotel Association (AHSD), the organization that coordinates SDQ MICE, explained that “hosting the ICCA SUMMIT 2024 within the SDQ MICE commercial platform was a challenge for both parties, since ICCA had not merged the SUMMIT event with any other event previously. This merger allowed us to have access to a more robust agenda of content, as well as a more specialized selection of potential buyers for the destination. Adding international coverage provided by ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association.

We have concluded this 4th version with the execution of a comprehensive program, designed to promote the tourist offer and highlight everything that the country's brand encompasses: history, culture, gastronomy, folklore, talent, values, music, dance, geography and the incredible entertainment that the DR offers. I must point out that it has been a success, according to the comments of ICCA and the international delegates, who have described the event and experience as the best SUMMIT in which they have participated.

We owe this success to a formidable team made up of the AHSD in alliance with TURENLACES del CARIBE, which is our co-director of the SDQ MICE program, the Ministry of Tourism – MITUR, which in addition to being an ally, is our main sponsor, and the Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster, with whom we work permanently.

We would like to highlight the support received from the MARRIOTT PIANTINI hotel, the venue of the event, as a key collaborator for the development of the plenary sessions, as well as COLONIAL TOURS, in charge of transfers and post-tour offers for delegates. We also had the support of the company PLATAFORMA, which sponsored the audiovisuals of the event, and our colleagues from INCONTACTO, who provided us with the registration and B2B meeting platform.

We had the support and sponsorship of the JW MARRIOTT hotels, which provided the Welcome Cocktail, and the EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON, which hosted the Opening Cocktail. To enrich the agenda, we had a tour by the Comprehensive Program for Tourism and Urban Development of Ciudad Colonial (PIDTUCC), which together with the Cluster was in charge of the experience in the Zone and a themed dinner in Jalao. The closing activity was held at CASAS DEL XVI.

With the aim of integrating other destinations that strengthen the capital's offer, we had the privilege of having CLUB HEMINGWAY in Juan Dolio, with a gastronomic and wellness proposal, in a beach environment. The post-tour of Hosted Buyers (Guest Buyers), had the support of MELIA, which prepared a program to highlight the offer of Punta Cana, so well known and appreciated internationally.

The SDQ MICE 2024 program included an important academic agenda with content curated by ICCA International, as well as the presentation of the Technical Vice Minister of MITUR, Jacqueline Mora, entitled: Managing the Tourist Life Cycle, Learning for the Meetings Industry. Additionally, the event included a program for students from tourism universities, with the presentation of current topics, addressed by international leaders of the Meetings Industry, concluded Yudit Garcia, president of AHSD.

The SDQ MICE Fair is the ideal setting for the meeting of the main leaders of the sector and suppliers of the country with international buyers and representatives of trade associations with the potential to hold congresses and conventions in the country, who visited us from different countries. Continuing in this way, in the positioning and growth of the meetings industry, the International Congress and Convention Association, ICCA for its acronym in English, is one of the most outstanding organizations, which brings together the major players in congresses and conventions at an international level.

We would especially like to thank our sponsors for their trust and support for this important initiative: Mitur, Turenlaces Del Caribe, Colonial Tours, Marriott Y Aloft Piantini, Plataforma, Incontacto, Embassy Suites By Hilton, Jw Marriott, Club Hemingway, Melia, Bhd, Aerodom Vinci, Visit Santiago, Banco Popular Dominicano, Casas Del Xvi, Cirsa, Banreservas, Brugal, Grabo Estilo, Push Digi, Copa Airline, Arajet, La Aurora, Sr. Vino, Kah Kow Experience.