FIEXPO Latin America Closes Inaugural Costa Rica Edition with Strong Results
The first edition of FIEXPO Latin America held in Costa Rica concluded with compelling outcomes, reaffirming its role as the region’s most influential platform for the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector. Over four days, Costa Rica became the regional focal point for the industry, welcoming more than 1,800 participants, including over 700 exhibitors and representatives from 87 destinations, with new delegations from Spain and the Caribbean.
From 9 to 12 June, multiple venues across San José, Costa Rica, hosted a robust programme of business meetings, educational content, innovation and sustainability initiatives. This inaugural edition also marked the beginning of a landmark three-year commitment, with Costa Rica confirmed as the official host of FIEXPO Latin America through to 2027. More than 12,000 scheduled business meetings took place, generating commercial prospects valued at over US$60 million.
FIEXPO Latin America went beyond the traditional trade show format. It was a collaborative, transformative experience. Each forum, workshop and session was structured around a clear premise: active participation, applied learning and co-created solutions. Moving away from passive formats, more than 30 international speakers not only shared insights but also provided practical tools and methodologies, ensuring each attendee had a direct role in shaping the industry's evolution.
The academic agenda featured high-level global certifications, including SITE’s CIS Certification, ICCA's AI Advantage Certification (focused on strategic applications of artificial intelligence in events), and the MPI Event Impact Forum: People & Planet, an innovative training module integrating sustainability, neuroinclusion and climate action through participatory formats and real case studies.
FIEXPO also provided a platform for strategic dialogue. The 12th Latin American Political Forum on the Meetings Industry gathered ministers, business chambers and international leaders to discuss public policy frameworks supporting sustainable economic development. The International Associations Forum, organised in collaboration with ICCA, examined trends in professionalisation, market intelligence and evolving membership models. In parallel, the Corporate Forum, spearheaded by PCMA, focused on strategic leadership for designing impactful private sector events.
The programme also featured initiatives such as the Convention Bureau Challenge, a solutions lab for destination marketing organisations, and the Next Generation Summit, which brought together more than 100 university students from across the region in an immersive exercise to conceptualise global events and develop impactful digital content. The Business Owners Conclave provided a closed forum for MICE entrepreneurs to reflect on current challenges and explore long-term strategies for sustainable growth.
The FIEXPO Gala Dinner has become a signature moment in the event’s calendar. It recognises professionals, organisations and destinations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to excellence across the Latin American and Caribbean meetings industry.
Reinforcing its sustainability mandate, FIEXPO Latin America 2025, with the support of the Costa Rica Convention Centre operated by Heroica, was awarded the Blue Flag Ecological Certification for Events. This distinction recognises events that embed responsible practices throughout planning, execution and teardown, while encouraging environmental stewardship and legacy-focused outcomes.
Sustainability continues to act as a catalyst for industry transformation. Colombia reaffirmed its support for the agenda by sponsoring initiatives with tangible social and environmental outcomes.
FIEXPO’s impact extended well beyond the convention floor. Over 60 local businesses, 60% of them small and medium-sized enterprises, were actively engaged in delivering services across transport, technology, visual design, interpretation, audiovisual production, catering, stand construction and higher education. This broad collaboration strengthened Costa Rica’s national MICE infrastructure. As a result of these efforts, the country now ranks as the eighth most competitive destination in Latin America in ICCA’s meetings industry index.
Tatiana Orozco, Director of the Costa Rica Convention Bureau, stated: “FIEXPO reflects a shared national vision. More than an exhibition, it is a strategic initiative that strengthens the entire meetings value chain and positions Costa Rica as a globally competitive destination.”
Closing the event, Arnaldo Nardone, Director of FIEXPO Exhibitions Group, remarked: “FIEXPO was founded to be more than a marketplace. Our goal is to transform how the meetings industry in Latin America is understood and projected. To have Costa Rica as host for three consecutive years is not only a recognition of its leadership, but a strategic opportunity to drive real impact. We thank everyone who contributed to this edition. This is only the beginning.”
With a clear strategic direction, an increasingly engaged community and a MICE ecosystem ready to innovate, FIEXPO Latin America’s first Costa Rica edition leaves a meaningful legacy and reinforces the country’s role as a key actor on the global meetings industry map.
Published by Meeting Media Group, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.
