‘m&i Fest Global, Marrakech’ to return in 2025

# tags: MICE , Morocco , Events , Meetings Industry

I was fortunate enough to attend the last inaugural ‘m&i Fest Marrakech 24’, when it descended onto the ‘Red City’ earlier this year.

The launch of the m&i Fest Global concept in March 2024, was the latest new event format from Worldwide Events and was recognised by the industry as a landmark m&i moment, and as such, attracted high expectations around the inaugural event.

The question was could this super-sized event retain the smaller group m&i forum ethos and produce a boutique exhibition: combining the choice of an exhibition with the proven ROI power of an m&i Forum.

The answer was unequivocally YES, as m&i have just announced the next edition of m&i Fest Global, Marrakech, to run between the 16th and 20th of March 2025, bringing together the ‘movers and shakers’ of the global meetings and events industry.

Richard Barnes; CEO, Worldwide Events said: "We were quietly confident that the inaugural m&i Fest was going to be special. But what transpired in Marrakech last year and the industry's reception to it surpassed even our high expectations. m&i Fest was born from the culmination of over 20 years of learning from organising more than 190 events. I'm thrilled that this wealth of experience translated into a truly exceptional event, and we eagerly anticipate welcoming the cream of the MICE community back to Marrakech in 2025 for an event that we promise will raise the bar even higher."

That bar looks to have been raised with an increasing number of attendees expected; 700+ industry professionals will descend on the Mövenpick Mansour Eddahbi & Palais des Congrès Marrakech, where last’s years edition was successfully held, to continue another successful partnership.

“We cannot wait to host m&i Fest again in 2025. It was an absolute privilege to be the headline and host partner. Hosting m&i Fest for the first time in Morocco and in Marrakech was an outstanding opportunity to showcase the destination and promote our venue to a global community of industry professionals and decision-makers.” Stated Nadia Hamaras; Director of Sales Mövenpick Mansour Eddahbi & Palais des Congrès Marrakech.

Just the name Marrakech holds magnetic appeal for delegates looking to attend; the destination, of course, plays a key role in making this MICE festival as inspirational as possible. Compact in size, diverse in historical and cultural attractions and well-over 300 days of sunshine per year, makes it a truly warm and welcoming city for the m&i Fest team to curate another programme of ‘experiences’ across the city.

As mentioned in the editorial I did post m&i Fest Marrakech 24, that the ‘Pathway Experiences’ provided the big opportunity for m&i to go back to its ‘Forum’ roots, and let the social roulette-wheel, bring buyers and suppliers randomly together and let friendships and new business connections develop organically, within Marrakech’s breathtakingly cultural surroundings.

Buyers and suppliers will meet, network, and do business over a 4-day programme. Elsa Harbourne, COO Worldwide Events said: “m&i Fest 2024 was our most successful event yet. 500 industry leaders held over 7,500 meetings: a total of 55k connections over 4 days”.

In 2025 attendees get 40 guaranteed 15-minute meetings – m&i Fest provides more meeting time compared to traditional m&i events (13-minutes) to improve the business value for all attendees.

m&i Forums have hit upon a blueprint for the future of their events, whilst maintaining their key ideology, mindset and spirit, which they have continued to develop over two decades.

On that basis, m&i have announced their first events for 2025 with more to be confirmed throughout the summer, with more to follow:
m&i Flagship Brooklyn I US Buyers | 9-12 February 2025
m&i Fest Global, Marrakech | 16-20 March 2025
Luxe Lake Louise | US Buyers | 24-27 March 2025
m&i Healthcare Gothenburg | UK & EU buyers | 29 June – 2 July 2025
m&i Private Davos | UK & EU buyers | 28 September – 1 October 2025
m&i Flagship Antalya | UK & EU buyers | 12-16 October 2025
m&i Flagship Dubai | UK & EU buyers | 30 November – 4 December 2025

For all other 2025, buyers and suppliers can register their interest here.

It seems that the m&i Fest 'Caravan' looks set to return to its Caravanserai for years to come and is opening up a whole new portfolio for Worldwide Events. How can attendees register? With m&i Fest Global, Marrakech gearing up for its second edition, industry professionals are urged to secure their place as spaces are reportedly filling up fast. Suppliers and buyers can register their interest to avoid missing out: https://www.mi-forums.com/mi-fest-25.