December 2025, the "2025 ICCA Global Venue Forum" – co-hosted by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and Beijing North Star Group – took place at the China National Convention Center Phase II in Beijing. As a top-tier global MICE platform, it brought together nearly 300 industry leaders, venue operators, government reps and executives from over 50 countries and regions.

Christopher Knabe, General Manager and Exhibition Complex Expert of OBERMEYER China, was invited to share insights at the "Executive Dialogue" session. Centered on "From Vision to Value: Strategic Revenue Reinvention and Stakeholder Alignment", he offered cutting-edge thoughts on future event district development and integration with urban ecosystems.

Mr. Knabe drew on OBERMEYER’s global venue knowhow and longtime Chinese market experience. He noted the core requirements for sustained success for larger venues: a future-focused MICE-district must develop into an integrated urban ecosystem, not a single-purpose ensemble. By combining venues, mixed-use assets, mobility systems, public spaces and digital infrastructure into an integrated platform, it drives activity year-round and thereby moves also economically much beyond pure event-driven-cycles.

For transportation integration, MICE venues must be embedded in multimodal networks: heavy rail/metro for mass travel, smart last-mile solutions (autonomous shuttles, micro-mobility) for better access, real-time traffic management for efficiency, and emerging UAM nodes (Urban Air Transportation) for high-value business travelers. These elements need early planning – not retrofits – to cut congestion, boost connectivity, and enhance economic spillover, delivering long-term urban value.

Mr. Knabe further contributed that China’s future MICE districts will demand an anchor on ecological construction and collaborative governance. This means integrating hotels, retail and cultural spaces to drive non-event revenue, plus unifying district management and shared revenue frameworks to align government, operators and merchants. Beyond that, digital-first operations are key – leveraging 5G/IoT and district-wide data platforms for smart services. Sustainability and resilience standards (net-zero design, circular materials, operational digital twins) will strengthen foundations, while addressing gaps like fragmented governance and inconsistent data sharing to offer a forward-looking, practical path for China’s MICE industry transformation.

Postscript

OBERMEYER has rich design experience on Exhibition Complex projects built in Germany, China and other countries.

Landmark Project – New Munich Trade Fair Center, Germany

This landmark project, as the largest building development in Munich, Germany in recent decades, was transformed from an airport and now hosts 250 exhibitions annually.  It stands as Europe's most efficient convention complex, equipped with cutting-edge information technology & green building solutions, recognized as the world's 1st energy-efficient convention building. It exemplifies Sustainable Development and Green Building in the Exhibition Industry.

About ICCA 

As the world’s leading international conference organization, International Congress & Convention Association ( ICCA ) was founded in 1963 and is based in Amsterdam. It focuses on industry collaboration, talent development and business partnerships to create lasting value. In 2024, ICCA opened its first national representative office outside headquarters in China – a milestone reflecting China’s growing role in the global MICE ecosystem.