Specialized infrastructure and existing capacity for MICE events in Guayaquil: a proposal for documentary assessment

Abstract

Specialized infrastructure and hotel supply influence the feasibility of organizing meetings, incentive travel, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE). However, destination promotional information does not always distinguish existing resources, reported capacities, and verifiable operational availability. This article aims to design a documentary assessment proposal for specialized infrastructure and hotel supply related to MICE events in Guayaquil, Ecuador. A qualitative, descriptive and proposal-oriented methodological approach is developed on the basis of identifiable academic literature and institutional documents. The resulting framework comprises seven analytical dimensions, an indicator-and-source matrix, a standardized record sheet, a four-level evidence scale (E0–E3), and a territorial implementation guide. It establishes rules for traceability, measurement units, source currency, and documentary corroboration. The instrument can organize information and identify evidence gaps without treating promotional claims as certified capacity. It is concluded that the proposed framework offers explicit criteria for reproducible documentary assessment. Nevertheless, its usefulness and consistency require pilot implementation, expert review, and technical corroboration before any definitive diagnosis of Guayaquil’s installed MICE capacity can be made.