The revolution in convention sales starts now - with MICE DESK
Why the hotel industry needs nothing less than a turnaround
The MICE industry is at a turning point. Between an acute shortage of skilled workers, overflowing inboxes and rising customer expectations, a market that holds huge economic potential is in danger of failing due to its own complexity. But this is exactly where we at MICE DESK come in - not as another tool provider, but as a real game changer. Bernd Fritzges, CEO and co-founder of MICE DESK, puts it in a nutshell: "We know the pain of our customers."
An industry between standstill and system failure
In hardly any other segment of the hotel industry are the system breaks as evident as in convention sales. A study by the MICE DESK Benchmark Report (2024) shows:
41% of all inquiries in the MICE sector are not answered at all.
The average response time to a request for quotation is 74 hours - a maximum of 24 hours is expected.
The causes? Lack of capacity, confusing systems, inefficient processes. The result: lost sales, frustrated employees and a damaged image that can no longer be salvaged with friendly follow-ups.
A radically different approach
MICE DESK revolutionizes these structures from the inside out - with a hybrid model of people and technology.
"Those who have built software solutions have never been in the operation themselves. We, on the other hand, feel the pain of our customers."
This is how Bernd Fritzges describes the fundamental difference. MICE DESK combines:
Specialists with real convention sales know-how who work operationally for hotels
Rocket 2.0, a self-developed, modular AI-supported platform for process automation and performance measurement
An onboarding model that takes each customer individually and does not fob them off with standard processes
From bottleneck to booster: How MICE DESK doubles conversions
The goal is clear: more sales through faster, higher quality processes.
One example: While in the conventional hotel industry it often takes more than 3 days between inquiry and quotation, MICE DESK processes guarantee a quotation time of less than 24 hours - in many cases even significantly less. The consequences are measurable:
Up to doubling of conversion rates compared to the industry average (source: MICE DESK Performance Report 2024)
Significant reduction in process time from lead to booking
Transparent dashboards with KPIs for real-time evaluation of performance and demand
Architecture that breathes
Every hotel is different. And this is exactly what the Rocket 2.0 platform takes into account. It has a modular structure, is flexibly scalable and is managed by real BI experts. Evaluations by distribution channel, customer type or conversion speed are not the exception, but the standard.
"We have an employee who does nothing but BI tools. Because data only helps if you can read it."
Why the revolution is not digital, but human
Bernd Fritzges does not see the future in pure AI automation. Instead, he sees a "human in the loop" approach in which technology does not replace people, but rather supports them. The team behind MICE DESK consists of practitioners - former convention sales managers, system architects and process professionals.
"MICE DESK is not a software company. Nor is it an agency. We are the hybrid of the two."
The onboarding processes are not just empty phrases. They follow a clearly structured model developed in workshops with the hotel industry. The core elements:
Individual analysis of the hotel structure
Training and integration of MICE DESK colleagues into the hotel team
Gradual handover of operational tasks
Continuous process optimization through performance data
Three insights from the value proposition work with hotels
Meeting demand: MICE DESK's approach precisely meets the needs of the industry
Pricing logic: success instead of fixed costs - variable models have prevailed
Building trust: Customers don't want tools, they want people who understand them
Why now?
The hotel industry is under pressure. Outdated systems, rising costs, staff shortages. At the same time, the MICE sector is one of the highest-margin areas - provided it can be served. This is precisely where the power of MICE DESK lies.
According to PwC, the global MICE market will grow to USD 1.93 trillion by 2033. Germany will remain one of the most important markets in Europe. But if you want to stay in the game, you need to be able to scale processes.
Conclusion: If you don't control the loop, you will be controlled by it
MICE DESK does not simply change processes. It changes mindsets. It shows that convention sales does not have to be inefficient, nerve-wracking and expensive. It has to be fast, lean and human.
If you don't want to lose touch today, you need more than just tools. They need a partner who thinks, works - and feels - with them.
Let's talk.
Request your free process workshop now and experience how your convention sales can be transformed in no time at all