Who can actually get into the MICE business in the US? Is it strictly for travel agencies?

The law actually recognizes a specific type of PCO agency—basically travel agencies that focus entirely on running congresses. A PCO is just a Professional Congress Organizer. To even touch that kind of business, an agency has to grab a PCO certificate to prove they actually meet the requirements. Those standards were set by the Department of Commerce and the American Liberty Association of Travel Agents.

Interesting take on this topic.

http://bit.ly/1BSZcTJ ☕

I’m just looking at these criteria from the American Liberty Association of Travel Agents, but I can't seem to find any official link on the Department of Commerce website stating they actually mandate anything like this...

As far as I can tell, any travel agency is perfectly capable of organizing a convention...🤷

Basically, anyone with enough cash in their pocket can pull together a convention whenever they feel like it.