More than half of event planners across Asia Pacific expect to stage more meetings in 2026, signalling a strong rebound in regional business travel and face-to-face events.
A new survey of 167 planners by Cvent and Northstar Meetings Group finds 52% anticipate an increase in meetings next year, while 41% expect activity to remain stable and only 5% forecast a decline.
The research arrives as The Meetings Show Asia Pacific prepares for its third edition on 14–15 April 2026 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, with buyers projecting an annual meetings spend of more than US$250 million. The event is free to attend for meetings and events professionals, and organisers say demand is already high for its hosted buyer programme.
Confidence returns to Asia’s meetings market
Compared with last year, planners across the region are significantly more optimistic about the outlook for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). The survey highlights how APAC now outperforms other major regions in confidence levels.
- 70% of APAC planners say they are more optimistic, compared with 44% in EMEA and 32% in North America.
- Last year, optimism stood at 63% in APAC and 47% in EMEA and North America.
- Only 20% of APAC planners say they are less optimistic, compared with 26% in EMEA and 32% in North America.
However, the expected rise in meeting volume does not necessarily translate into larger crowds. Just 28% of planners expect an increase in attendee numbers, down from 45% a year ago. This suggests organisers may be favouring more frequent but tighter, more focused gatherings, reflecting evolving corporate travel budgets and hybrid working patterns.
For buyers and suppliers alike, the numbers still point to meaningful economic impact. According to the survey, buyers attending the Singapore show collectively project more than US$250 million in annual meeting spend, with particularly strong demand for Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam as host destinations.
- Projected annual meeting spend: over US$250 million.
- Top destination demand: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.
- Event dates: 14–15 April 2026 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
- Access: Free to attend for meetings and events professionals.
“With overwhelming market interest in The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, buyer applications reveal strong sentiments that APAC continues to demonstrate strength and resilience in MICE activities. Collectively, buyers project an annual meeting spend of over US$250 million, with strong demand for Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam,” said Nelson Khoo, Events Director at Northstar Travel Group, Asia.
Why Asia Pacific is absorbing global uncertainty better
Industry leaders point to deeper regional integration and rising internal demand as key reasons behind the rebound. Alexander John, Regional Director – Business Development at MCI Middle East, will attend the 2026 show in Singapore as a hosted buyer and believes the region’s economic scale is reshaping travel flows.
“There’s a measurable shift in economic momentum and demand coming from APAC. The region is now large enough – and increasingly integrated enough – to generate more of its growth internally, even while remaining deeply connected to global markets. For example, East Asia and Pacific alone have a population of 2.39 billion and a GDP of US$32 trillion (2024), creating a scale of domestic and regional demand that can support ‘organic’ growth,” said Alexander John, Regional Director – Business Development at MCI Middle East.
He also highlighted the role of regional trade in stabilising demand for corporate travel and events. “That scale is reinforced by deeper intra-regional trade. UN ESCAP notes that in 2024, intra-Asia-Pacific trade accounted for 53% of the region’s exports and 56% of its imports, meaning more than half of goods trade is now anchored within the region itself (not primarily dependent on Western markets),” John said.
While not immune to global economic pressures, he said the region is better positioned than many others to absorb shocks. “APAC’s combination of massive market size, rising intra-regional trade intensity, and still-strong growth expectations helps it absorb shocks better than smaller, less-integrated regions – while not making it ‘immune’ to global downturns, tariffs, or financial tightening,” he said.
The optimism extends beyond pure economics. “The region has not only recovered from the pandemic but is now experiencing a strong and sustained phase of growth,” he added. “With relative stability, expanding trade relations, and a more predictable geopolitical climate compared to many other parts of the world, economic activity continues to strengthen. This combination of increasing commercial momentum, minimal geopolitical disruption, and steady health and political environments has created an ideal landscape for continued growth and enhanced economic output,” John said.
Launched in 2024, The Meetings Show Asia Pacific is now positioned as one of the region’s leading trade shows for the MICE sector and is co-located with the Business Travel Show Asia Pacific. Together, the events bring together destinations, venues, hotels and technology suppliers under one roof, creating what organisers describe as the largest gathering of travel and meetings professionals in the region.
For global travellers, the rebound in corporate meetings also has wider implications. Rising demand supports airline capacity, hotel development and infrastructure investment across Southeast Asia and beyond, while encouraging secondary cities to compete for international events. As companies balance cost control with the value of in-person connection, Asia Pacific appears set to remain one of the most dynamic regions for business travel growth into 2026.
