|
TCEB launches ambitious recovery campaign for Thai MICE |
|
Promotes Ratchaprasong to boost domestic MICE business
Mr Akapol Sorasuchart, President of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, revealed that TCEB is moving ahead to integrate its plans with the ‘Thai Khem Kheng’ (‘Strong Thailand’) policy and implementation plan in order to promote Thailand’s domestic MICE industry. This year the ‘Meetings in Thailand- joining hands to revive the economy’ campaign aims to raise awareness among both public and private sectors of the importance of organizing events in Thailand as an urgent measure to boost the domestic MICE sector and the national economy. On this occasion TCEB has joined with TICA, the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA). and the Thai Listed Companies Association (TLCA) to organize activities under the theme "We love Bangkok ... We love Ratchaprasong" from 2 - 4 July 2010. The event aims to build confidence and attract international MICE travellers to return to Thailand and hold their conventions, seminars and tourism events in Ratchaprasong and other parts of Bangkok. The goal of the Fam Trip is that 15% of participants will return to hold their organizations’ events meeting in the area. The ‘We love Bangkok … We love Ratchaprasong’ event is organized within the framework of the Mega Fam Trip. Key government agencies and around 100 leading business groups will participate, aiming to boost international confidence and accelerate economic recovery in the Ratchaprasong area, which was badly impacted by the political protests earlier this year. “The recent political disturbances have certainly impacted the MICE industry nationwide, and resulted in lost revenues estimated at 3 billion baht, with businesses around the Ratchaprasong intersection suffering the most damage. TCEB believes that the domestic MICE market has the greatest potential to make a quick recovery, and is therefore focusing on stimulating this category. All four groups have joined forces to encourage large corporates and organizations to attract international MICE events to Thailand- for example in the areas of consumer products (e.g. CP All Ltd Public Company, Colgate Palmolive Thailand, IBM Thailand, and ManuLife Insurance Thailand Public Company). These companies have joined this event to experience the capacity of the Ratchaprasong area to host major meetings and seminars, just as it did before the protests. We firmly believe that that this will give a much-needed short term boost to Thailand’s domestic MICE market”, Mr Akapol added.
Mr Sumate Sudasna na Ayuthaya, President, Thailand Incentive & Convention Association (TICA), commented that, “TICA is a private sector association directly for the MICE industry and has 302 members nationwide who are engaged in providing meeting and exhibition services. Our members, including hotels, convention and exhibition centres, professional event organizers, tour companies, etc., have all been directly impacted by the recent political protests. “TICA has therefore joined with TCEB to organize the “We love Bangkok… We love Ratchaprasong” event in order to stimulate a quick recovery for the MICE sector and boost awareness and confidence among leaders of Thailand’s business community. We aim to encourage them to return to hold their business events here in Thailand instead of travelling overseas. “This event will offer participants a unique opportunity to experience for themselves the wide range of high quality services and amenities available for hosting meetings, seminars, and incentive trips- from accommodation, food, conference venues, and banquet design. TICA aims to highlight the potential of its members in the Ratchaprasong area. We have also organized some new activities that can complement and add value to meeting events and incentive trips, including Team Building activities, and a special Tea Break at Gaysorn Plaza. “Moreover, TICA has opened the door not only for its members located in the Ratchaprasong area, but to all its members nationwide. So far, 100 of our members have registered for the event in order to showcase their products and services at the ‘Buyer Meets Seller’ events. Mr Chai Srivikorn, President of the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA). disclosed that, “As President of the Association, I am delighted to be part of this ‘We love Bangkok… We love Ratchaprasong’ event. I would like to thank TCEB and TICA for helping to promote the Ratchaprasong area as a venue for meetings, seminars and other events, and also for publicizing the Ratchaprasong area as a tourism destination. I can say that the Ratchaprasong area clearly has unique potential to host major events for the domestic MICE market. The area includes over 15,000m2 of venue floorspace at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Center at CentralWorld, and over 2,500 five-star hotel rooms. Also, the area has an abundance of shopping malls, restaurants and top-class spas. So we’re therefore very confident in the area’s huge potential to support the domestic MICE market.” The President of the Thai Listed Companies Association, Ms Pensri Suteerasarn said, “TLCA currently has 458 corporate members listed either on Thailand’s main stock market (SET) or on the Market for Alternative investment (MAI), and as such these companies represent key drivers of Thailand’s economy. It is therefore important that TLCA gives its full support and participation to our efforts to stimulate economic recovery, especially in the tourism sector. We have therefore launched a campaign among our members to hold their meetings here in Thailand, especially in locations which bore the brunt of the impact of the recent protests. Additionally, we have run a campaign for our members to encourage their overseas partners to bring their corporate events to Thailand. The TLCA sees these efforts as an important part of its broader role in supporting Thailand’s economic growth and development.” Apart from the good collaboration with TICA, RSTA and TLCA, government has announced a policy to support the domestic MICE industry, including specific measures such as 200% tax relief on event-related expenses for companies and limited partnerships. This provides a powerful incentive for companies to hold their events in Thailand.# # # For further details, contact: Marketing Communications Department
|
Bangkok, 2 July 2010 - TCEB recently launched an aggressive MICE marketing campaign under the theme ‘Meetings in Thailand- joining hands to revive the economy’. TCEB has joined with the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), the Thai Listed Companies Association (TLCA), Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA) and local businesses to organize a Mega-Fam Trip. Government agencies and around 100 leading business groups have also joined together for a major event: “We Love Bangkok, We Love Ratchaprasong”. It is anticipated this event will help restore confidence among business travellers and tourists.
“TCEB has also launched a plan to offer sales and marketing support specifically to the domestic MICE sector. This includes special packages (D-MICE Package) and promotion of low-season incentive trips and tourism. We will also launch a web portal 
