Bogotá is strengthening its business tourism strategy with the launch of Visit Bogotá Conecta, a digital platform designed to facilitate event planning in the Colombian capital. Presented during EXPOMICE 2026, this initiative brings together, in a single digital space, service providers specialized in hosting congresses, conventions, and professional events.
The project is led by the Instituto Distrital de Turismo, in collaboration with the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, the Convention Bureau of Invest, and Fenalco. The objective is straightforward: to enable event organizers to more easily identify local companies capable of providing the services required to deliver a congress, trade show, or convention.
A platform connecting the city’s event ecosystem
The platform operates as a specialized directory for the meetings and events industry. Organizers can search for venues, technical providers, logistics operators, catering services, and event production teams.
The tool also allows users to filter results according to the type of event or the required capacity. This makes it possible to find both spaces suited for executive meetings and infrastructures capable of hosting several thousand participants.
By centralizing this offer in a single digital space, the city aims to increase the visibility of an ecosystem that remains fragmented among different industry stakeholders.
A strategic sector for Bogotá’s economy
During the platform’s launch, the Director of the Instituto Distrital de Turismo, Ángela Garzón Caicedo, highlighted several advantages of the Colombian capital for hosting international events:
“Bogotá is an open city that offers gastronomy, culture, entertainment, museums, and nature that cannot be found in other major cities. It also benefits from excellent connectivity: El Dorado Airport has been ranked the best airport in South America, giving us a significant advantage over other destinations.”
These factors contribute to the steady growth of business tourism in the capital. According to data from the Instituto Distrital de Turismo, the MICE and SMERF segments represent approximately 26.5% of incoming tourism in Bogotá.
In 2025, Bogotá hosted more than 127 MICE events, a figure that does not include events organized directly by agencies and private sector tourism companies. These events alone generated an economic impact exceeding 300 billion Colombian pesos (approximately USD 75 million). This momentum is also reflected in international rankings: according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Colombian capital ranks among the leading congress destinations in Latin America.
How to join the platform
Companies wishing to be listed on Visit Bogotá Conecta must meet several requirements. They must have a valid commercial registration, an up-to-date RUT, and, when applicable, a National Tourism Registry.
Service providers must also demonstrate experience in organizing or delivering services for events held in Bogotá. Companies based in other cities may also join the platform, provided they can prove their participation in events organized in the capital.
An increasingly competitive market
The launch of Visit Bogotá Conecta reflects a broader trend across Latin America: cities are increasingly competing to attract international congresses and professional events.
In this context, having modern infrastructure is no longer enough. The ability to structure and showcase the full range of local services has become a key factor in attracting international event organizers.
For Bogotá, where business tourism already represents a significant share of overall tourism activity, this platform serves as a new tool to strengthen its position among the leading MICE destinations in the region.
Photo: Instituto Distrital de Turismo
