With its enticing combination of vast natural beauty, fascinating traditions and sophisticated culture, Iceland offers lots of opportunities for meeting and incentive groups to create memorable experiences. And for groups, the capital city of Reykjavík makes an especially good hub thanks to its array of hotels, interesting attractions and event venues. It’s easy to experience all the island has to offer using the capital as a base for exploration and for getting down to business.

The Golden Circle, Iceland’s best-known tourism route, offers a logical starting point for groups looking to witness the island’s natural beauty. Available with many local tour operators, the route includes stops to view beautiful gorges at Thingvellir National Park, geyser eruptions at the Geysir geothermal area and the plunging waters of the Gullfoss waterfall.

Groups can also embark on a thrilling whale-watching tour operated by companies such as Whale Safari, offering departures aboard rigid inflatable boats for up to 60 people. Sky-high adventure, meanwhile, is the draw at Norðurflug Helicopter Tours, a company offering airborne excursions ranging from quick hops over the city and bay to volcano eruption tours that soar over an
eruption site.

© Nordurflug Helicopters

Icelandic cuisine is a delicious blend of traditional Nordic flavors and modern influences, with fresh seafood and lamb among the dishes often appearing on local menus. Many restaurants in Reykjavík offer tantalizing Icelandic and international menus in beautifully decorated settings that work well for groups. At Perlan Exploratorium, for example, groups of up to 1,000 can
savor seasonal specialties at a restaurant situated beneath a glass dome perched atop six hot-water tanks, complete with unforgettable views of the mountains and ocean.

Other noteworthy restaurants include Skal, where Icelandic and international dishes are the specialty; Matur & Drykkur, where a six-course tasting menu changes with each season; and Fish Mrkt, a stylish, Asian- influenced restaurant.

The city’s sophistication shows in its range of hotel offerings, with styles ranging from traditional to contemporary. The local hospitality scene is about to get a boost, in fact, thanks to the expansion underway at Hotel Reykjavík Grand, slated to open a new, 134-room tower in 2028 that will include additional meeting space, a spa, restaurants and bars.

Other group-friendly hotels include the 253-room Reykjavík EDITION, the city’s only 5-star hotel, boasting more than 5,400 square feet of private meeting and event spaces; and the 252-room Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, offering 2,007 square feet of event space, including 17 meeting rooms.

© Blue Lagoon

Also well-located in the city, the 163-room Iceland Parliament Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton features seven meeting rooms, including the Ladies School, set in a building dating to 1874. Groups looking for nature-based experiences should also consider the 220-room Berjaya Reykjavik Natura Hotel, offering easy access to trails for cycling, walking and running.

Meet in Reykjavík, the convention and business bureau for Iceland, provides assistance to MICE planners.

UNIQUE VENUES

Groups can literally immerse themselves in Iceland’s natural beauty at the Blue Lagoon, where the nation’s legendary geothermal waters draw visitors from around the globe for relaxing soaks and a variety of spa treatments. The on-site meeting room offers views of the lagoon and dramatic lava fields, while its LAVA restaurant seats up to 500 guests. Groups can enjoy more extensive access to the facilities when they stay at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland.

Another dramatic setting for meetings and events, the Whales of Iceland exhibition features 23 life-sized models of whale species that live in the surrounding waters — complete with ambient lighting and sound effects. The space hosts private events for up to 500 guests.

For events with an artsy vibe, it’s hard to beat Reykjavík Art Museum, where groups can check out impressive exhibits of diverse artwork and make use of event space accommodating 1,000 people. Also exuding a creative vibe, Harpa Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Centre includes space for up to 3,500 attendees; and Gamla Bíó, a former opera house and cinema, now hosts concerts and private events for up to 750 people.