Costa Rica Convention Center consolidates its sustainable leadership in the MICE segment
Maximiliano Chacón, Marketing and Sales Manager of the Costa Rica Convention Center, shares his assessment of his participation in ICCA and the progress made in 2025 in terms of sustainability, innovation, and international projection
How was your participation in ICCA and what is your assessment of the event?
Our participation in ICCA has been strategic and enriching. We positioned the Convention Center as a benchmark for sustainability and decarbonization, built connections with decision-makers, and received valuable feedback, especially on the CarbonClear Events by Heroica methodology, which generated significant international interest. The overall outcome is highly positive.
What short, medium and long-term effects can this have on your organization?
In the short term, we gained visibility and strengthened our international network. In the medium term, we seek to consolidate strategic alliances that will allow us to attract high-profile events. And in the long term, this participation drives Costa Rica's consolidation as a leading destination for responsible events.
How valuable is it to participate in this type of convention?
It's essential. It allows us to generate business opportunities, anticipate trends, better understand international expectations, and benchmark ourselves against global standards. Furthermore, we reaffirm our commitment to sustainability and introduce innovations like CarbonClear Events, which ensures the real and measurable decarbonization of our events.
How do you rate what happened at the Convention Center this year?
2025 has been a year of consolidation and expansion. We not only grew in the number and diversity of events, but also in sustainable operational maturity, with advances in energy efficiency, waste reduction, and clean mobility. The implementation of CarbonClear Events transformed the way we conceive and execute events.
What milestones would you highlight from this year?
I highlight three: the consolidation of our value proposition based on sustainability. The implementation of a new platform for sustainable events through the Impulsa Network, with real-time carbon footprint measurement. And our participation in international forums such as ICCA, which strengthened the Center's global reach.
What promotional actions do you have ahead and in which markets?
Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 season, we are targeting markets such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and Europe. We will participate in international trade shows, strengthen our digital strategy in several languages, and generate content that highlights our sustainable approach, with a focus on attracting events aligned with ESG principles.
How do you think demand will evolve towards 2026?
The trend is toward purpose-driven events. International demand will be more selective, with an emphasis on environmental traceability, transparent reporting, and local community engagement. This represents a great opportunity to consolidate Costa Rica as a leader in sustainable meeting tourism.