27°C
SDQ MICE 2026 to Showcase Santo Domingo as a Leading Caribbean Meetings Destination
The sixth edition of SDQ MICE will take place in Santo Domingo from September 21 to 23, 2026, bringing together international buyers, tourism professionals, and event organizers as the Dominican Republic seeks to expand its presence in the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) market.
The Santo Domingo Hotels Association (AHSD) has announced the sixth edition of SDQ MICE 2026, scheduled for September 21–23, 2026, at El Embajador, a Royal Hideaway Hotel. The annual event has established itself as the Dominican Republic’s leading platform for promoting and marketing the country’s meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry.
The event will once again be supported by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) as its strategic partner and principal sponsor, reinforcing the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s business events sector and positioning Santo Domingo among the Caribbean’s leading destinations for international meetings and conventions.
International Buyers and New Business Opportunities
Gina Eli, president of the Santo Domingo Hotels Association, said SDQ MICE has become a key platform connecting the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry with international buyers.
“SDQ MICE has become a strategic platform to connect the Dominican offering with leading international buyers. This sixth edition represents another step toward establishing Santo Domingo as a leading destination for meetings, incentives, congresses, and conventions through a high-level agenda designed to generate tangible business opportunities for our hotels and the country’s tourism sector,” Eli said.
A major innovation for the 2026 edition is a strategic partnership with MICE Consulting, an international firm that will oversee the selection and qualification of hosted buyers to ensure participation by highly specialized professionals with strong business potential. The event will also welcome incentive travel agencies from the United States, expanding commercial opportunities for Dominican tourism suppliers.
Program Highlights
The technical direction of SDQ MICE 2026 will be led by Elizabeth Tovar, working alongside Fabeth Martínez, executive director of the Santo Domingo Hotels Association. Together, they will coordinate the business meetings, educational program, and event agenda in line with international best practices for the MICE industry.
The program has been designed to give international buyers firsthand experience of Santo Domingo’s hotel infrastructure, convention facilities, air connectivity, gastronomy, cultural attractions, and entertainment offerings. Organizers aim to increase the conversion of business opportunities while attracting more international congresses, conventions, incentive trips, and corporate meetings to the Dominican Republic.
Highlighting Santo Domingo’s Cultural Appeal
As part of the hosted buyer experience, the Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster will organize a cultural program featuring visits to the city’s Colonial Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized as the oldest permanent European settlement in the Americas. The initiative is intended to showcase the capital’s historical and cultural assets as key differentiators for business events.
The itinerary will also include a post-event familiarization tour to Punta Cana, allowing international participants to explore the diversity of the Dominican Republic’s tourism offerings beyond the capital.
SDQ MICE 2026 is supported by a broad network of public and private partners, including MITUR, the Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster, ASONAHORES, COPA Airlines, Banco Popular Dominicano, and several of the country’s leading hotel brands. Organizers said the official agenda, keynote speakers, and additional experiences will be announced in the coming weeks.
