An Expert-Informed Framework for Sustainable MICE Operations: Evidence from Suwon City, South Korea

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/jocth.v2i2.68

Keywords:

Sustainability, MICE, UNSDGs, City Branding, Suwon City, South Korea

Abstract

This study addresses the implementation gap between global sustainability agendas and the operational realities of secondary MICE destinations, using Suwon City, South Korea, as an informed framework case study. While Suwon strives to compete with mega-destinations, it faces critical challenges in operationalizing international sustainability standards and overcoming fragmented governance within its distinct structural ecosystem. To address these issues, this research was guided by three specific objectives: (1) to identify core operational and governance challenges in Suwon City’s MICE ecosystem; (2) to formulate an integrated, actionable framework combining environmental stewardship and local stakeholder collaboration; and (3) to provide strategic policy recommendations for municipal authorities and convention organizers. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study utilized Focus Group Interviews (FGIs) with 10 industry experts over a three-month period to derive robust operational insights. The findings establish a four-pillar framework: Sustainable Hosting Facilities, Sustainable Transportation, Sustainable Food & Beverage, and Post-Event Management. Results indicate that a successful sustainable MICE transition requires shifting from isolated initiatives to integrated destination governance, digital innovation, and localized supply chain resilience. Practically, the research offers actionable plans for policymakers, including zoning for specialized MICE districts, incentivizing AI-driven hybrid event technologies, and mandating localized procurement networks to ensure corporate accountability. This research offers a scalable, context-adaptive model for secondary cities, transforming sustainability from a branding narrative into a measurable, accountable corporate practice.

Author Biographies

Alaa Nimer Abukhalifeh, Department of International Hotel Management, Kyungdong University Global Campus, South Korea

Dr. Alaa Nimer Abukhalifeh, has more than 8 years of international teaching and research in the hotel and tourism industry currently she’s an Assistant Professor International Hotel Management (IHM) Kyungdong University-Global Campus 1410, 4th floor, Chunghyokwan Building, Gosung, Gangwondo, 24764, South Korea.
Previously Assistant Professor Hospitality & Tourism & PhDs' Program Coordinator Global Hotel Management (SIHOM) Sol International School http://sis.ac.kr Office 4041. Endicott Building (W16) Woosong University 171 Dongdaejeonro, Dong-gu, Daejeon 300-715. South Korea, teaching undergraduate and graduate level students and coordinating Graduate School. Previously an Assistant Professor, Postgraduate Centre, Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. she holds a doctoral degree in Hotel Management from University Sains Malaysia (USM), She worked as a Senior Lecturer and research coordinator in School of Hospitality & Creative Arts, Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, and worked as a researcher at Sustainable Tourism Research Cluster (STRC), Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. She was working for the Jordanian hospitality industry for several years. She has participated and presented research papers in several academic conferences held in Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand,
Indonesia, Jordan, China, South Korea, Hongkong, Greece, Philippines, and more countries. She is an active member of the Scientific and Editorial Review Board on management, hotel, tourism, events, human resource for Journal of Tourism Management,
Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management (JHMM), Current Issues in Tourism (CIT), Asia-Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality and Tourism (APJIHT), Reviewer for Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, Taylor & Francis Online. Her latest works have been published in many KCI, Scopus and Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Science) journals as well as conference proceedings, book chapters in ENCYCLOPEDIA MANAGEMENT
AND MARKETING Editor in Chief: Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, EDWARD ELGAR
PUBLISHING LIMITED ISBN: 9781800377479.

Mazni Saad, Department of Tourism, Kulliyyah of Sustainable Tourism and Contemporary Languages, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Malaysia

Associate Professor Dr. Mazni binti Haji Saad serves as the senior lecturer within the Tourism Department at the Kulliyyah of Sustainable Tourism and Contemporary Languages (KSTCL) in the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) located in the Education Hub Pagoh. Initially she was appointed as the Coordinator of the Quality Unit for KSTCL, she later assumed the role of Department Head of Tourism. Dr. Mazni specializes in teaching tourism and hospitality management courses, along with research methodology. Leveraging over a decade of experience in the electronic appliance industry, where she held the position of Quality Assurance Manager, she is also proficient in teaching business and management courses. Dr. Mazni earned her Ph.D. in Hotel and Tourism Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, and holds a Master's Degree in Technology Management with a focus on Occupational Safety and Health from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Her undergraduate studies led to a BSc Degree in Tourism and Travel from Western Michigan University (WMU), USA. She has completed Safety and Health Officer courses and obtained certification after passing exams administered by NIOSH. Additionally, she has attended ISO 9001 and 14001 courses and is certified as a competent auditor. Currently, aside from her scholarly pursuits such as writing journal articles and books, Dr. Mazni actively engages in collaborative research and grants, participates in conferences, contributes to invention and innovation efforts, and conducts training for the public. She has received several gold medals in innovation competitions and has been honored with best paper awards at various conferences.

Ahmed Abdulhakim Al-Absi, Department of Smart Computing, Kyungdong University Global Campus, South Korea

Dr. Ahmed A. Al-Absi is an Associate Professor in the Smart Computing Department and Academic Dean at the Kyungdong University Global Campus located in Gangwon-do, South Korea. His expertise spans big data, cloud computing, and IoT. [1, 2]   Academic Background
  • Ph.D. in Computer Science: Dongseo University, South Korea (2015)
  • M.Sc. in Information Technology: Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia (2011)
  • B.Sc. in Computer Applications: Bangalore University, India (2008) [1, 2]
  Research and Specializations
  • Core Research Fields: Big Data analytics, Hadoop, Cloud Computing, IoT, VANETs, and Bioinformatics.
  • Academic Output: Published multiple articles in SCI/SCIE-indexed journals, book chapters, and holds various patents and copyrights

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Published

2026-09-30

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026): JoCTH

Section

Articles