“Attending a Conference” in a Paradise Island?
Not every renowned destination has what it takes to become a MICE hub. A large-scale event requires far more than spectacular scenery or luxury hotels. Air connectivity must be convenient, infrastructure must be capable of accommodating thousands of attendees, transportation must operate seamlessly, and the destination must offer compelling experiences that encourage guests to stay beyond the conference itself.
That is why Asia’s MICE market has long been concentrated in a handful of established hubs. Singapore stands out for its excellent connectivity and professional event-management capabilities, but these advantages come with relatively high costs. Bali offers celebrated landscapes and an extensive resort portfolio, yet continues to contend with traffic congestion and pressure on its infrastructure. Island destinations in the Philippines boast exceptional natural beauty but are more exposed to extreme weather conditions.
Among these, Phu Quoc is emerging with a relatively rare combination of advantages: striking natural beauty, a generally mild climate, modern tourism infrastructure, and costs that remain competitive compared with many other destinations in the region.
Kem Beach in Phu Quoc - recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches - is a favorite destination among travelers.
Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is less directly affected by typhoons than many other island destinations. The island has also consistently earned recognition in prestigious international rankings, from repeatedly appearing among Travel + Leisure’s favorite islands in the world to being named the most beautiful island in Asia and the third most beautiful worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler.
For MICE travelers, however, natural beauty is only the beginning. Phu Quoc’s more significant advantage lies in its ability to integrate multiple needs into one concentrated itinerary.
A group can attend a conference in the morning, enjoy lunch by the sea, take an overwater cable car to Hon Thom Island, watch the sunset at Kiss Bridge, and end the evening with live performances and fireworks. Activities that would ordinarily require travel across multiple districts in a major city can be organized within a single destination. This allows companies to save time while still creating a diverse and engaging itinerary that strengthens connections among attendees.
Guests staying at New World Phu Quoc Resort can complete airline check-in procedures directly at the resort.
This seamless experience now extends through the final leg of the journey. Passengers traveling with Sun PhuQuoc Airways can check in for their flights, receive boarding passes, and check their luggage directly at La Festa Phu Quoc, Curio Collection by Hilton, and New World Phu Quoc Resort. Their baggage is then transported to the airport for the required security screening procedures.
For large MICE groups, bringing airline check-in services directly to their accommodations does more than reduce waiting times at the airport. It also eases the considerable logistical burden of coordinating hundreds of passengers and pieces of luggage at once. Guests can enjoy a meal, meet with business partners, or take part in one final activity before departing for the airport.
This is an advantage that would be difficult to achieve if airlines, hotels, transportation providers, and attractions operated independently. When these components are connected within a single ecosystem, group travel can become more seamless from the moment guests arrive on the island until they enter the departure area.
For businesses, a MICE trip is therefore no longer simply about bringing employees into a meeting room. It can simultaneously serve as an incentive retreat, a team-building program, an opportunity to engage with business partners, and an immersive destination experience.
A New Generation of Landmark Developments Reshaping the Game
While Phu Quoc’s existing tourism ecosystem underpins its appeal, a new generation of developments being built for APEC 2027 is set to significantly strengthen the island’s capacity to host large-scale events.
More than $5 billion is being invested in major infrastructure projects, ranging from the expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport and the development of urban transportation networks to new convention facilities, theaters, and hospitality complexes. These projects are designed not merely to serve a single international event, but also to establish the foundation for Phu Quoc to develop its MICE market for many years beyond APEC.
At the heart of these plans is the APEC Convention and Exhibition Center, developed by Sun Group. The complex is designed to feature a ballroom spanning approximately 11,050 square meters. Once completed, it is expected to surpass the approximately 9,300-square-meter ballroom at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.
For a multinational corporation, this is more than simply an exceptionally large meeting venue. A space of this scale would allow thousands of attendees to gather for a single conference session, awards ceremony, or gala dinner, rather than requiring the program to be divided among several smaller rooms and diminishing the sense of a shared experience.
The world’s largest column-free ballroom at the APEC Convention and Exhibition Center.
Opposite the convention center, a multipurpose theater is planned with a seating capacity of 4,030 - exceeding the approximately 3,400 seats at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards.
Seating capacity alone does not determine an event's stature. Nevertheless, the scale indicates that Phu Quoc is preparing a venue capable of hosting awards ceremonies, major concerts, performing arts productions, and high-profile brand events. Together with the convention center across from it, the two facilities could form an integrated complex capable of accommodating conferences, exhibitions, performances, and gala events.
Surrounding the complex is a plan to develop a “hotel city” at Bai Dat Do. Under the master plan, 17 high-rise hotels offering nearly 7,000 five-star rooms will expand Phu Quoc’s premium accommodation capacity, with several international hotel-management brands expected to participate.
A large concentration of rooms near the event complex would help Phu Quoc meet one of the MICE sector's most critical requirements: enabling thousands of guests to stay in the same area, receive relatively consistent service, and travel quickly between their accommodations and event venues.
At the same time, Phu Quoc International Airport is being expanded to increase operating capacity and accommodate the substantial growth in passenger volume anticipated in the coming years. With aviation, transportation, convention, entertainment, and hospitality infrastructure being developed in tandem, Phu Quoc will move closer to having the capacity to serve large international delegations comprehensively.
Rendering of the Phu Quoc International Airport expansion project
Of course, monumental developments alone do not automatically create a leading MICE destination. Phu Quoc must continue expanding its international flight network, developing a highly skilled professional workforce, and demonstrating its operational capabilities through real-world events. APEC 2027 will be the first test of the entire system on a sufficiently large scale.
However, once its record-setting ballroom opens its doors, its theater welcomes its first major events, and thousands of guests can move seamlessly from the aircraft to their hotels, conference venues, and ultimately back to the departure gate, Phu Quoc will have a credible foundation from which to enter a much larger arena.
The competition is not merely about possessing the largest facilities. It is also about creating the most convenient and experience-rich journey - one compelling enough to make visitors want to stay long after the event itself has ended.