(Pictured above: Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau)
Thailand’s business event offering is rapidly expanding with the launch of the riverside True ICONSIAM Hall and Capella Hotel Bangkok opening soon in the capital city.
In 2022, the renovated Queen Sirikit National Convention Center will open offering 55,000 square meters of event space. Three five-star hotels and a new special venue join the wide range of venues in Bangkok.
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is sharing details of the latest developments, bid wins and its new campaign and incentive offer following a rise in the country’s ICCA ranking.
Thailand’s ICCA 2018 Ranking jumped to fifth place in Asia from sixth in 2017, with the highest number of conventions ever recorded for Thailand (193 events), retaining its position as top destination in Southeast Asia for another year. Bangkok becomes for the first time the world’s top ten destinations.
Accompanying this international recognition and surge in development are major bid wins. TCEB, the country’s official government agency supporting global and regional business events in Thailand, won 10 bids in the first two quarters of this year. International events taking place in Thailand this year include:
- Jun 22-26, 33rd International Epilepsy Congress 2019, pax 4,200
- July 7-14, 45th International Council of Traditional Music, pax 1,000
- July 19-26, 8th Education International World Congress 2019
- Nov 6-9, 86th UFI Global Congress, pax 400
The latest statistics from TCEB show that the country welcomed 594,663 overseas MICE visitors in the first two quarters of 2019—an increase of 8.6 percent from the same period last year. In terms of European visitors, Germany leads the pack with 6,868, followed by Russia 6,779, and 4,192 from the UK.
TCEB has launched financial incentives for corporate groups and planners to encourage large scale visits to the country. New privileges are available for planners holding an event with a minimum of 100 international delegates who stay in Thailand at least three nights and use a venue recognized by the Thailand MICE venue standard or stay in a TICA member’s hotel.
Alongside major new venue openings, TCEB has launched “7 Magnificent MICE Themes” focusing on the country’s key and unique attractions: history and culture, exhilarating adventures, team building, CSR & green meetings, beach bliss, lavish luxury and culinary journeys. Highlights for delegates include taking part in the restoration of marine life in Pattaya and learning about the production of organic coffee from a local community in Chiang Mai.
Alongside this, delegates can enjoy top notch gastronomy ranging from Michelin-starred restaurants (the country now has 27 as well as 72 Bib Gourmand restaurants), to innovative street vendors. There are also new “mega” attractions—an ultra-luxury shopping complex along the river in Bangkok (ICONSIAM) and King Power Mahanakhon Observation Deck.
“The improved ranking, the constant development of MICE infrastructure and attractions, and overseas confidence in selecting Thailand show our dynamic to redefine business experiences and generate stronger return on investment,” says TCEB President Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya. “TCEB is ready to be a co-creator, partner, collaborator and thought-leader, helping overseas business events maximize our dynamic and our support campaign for their success.”
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has been the country’s official government agency supporting global and regional business events in Thailand since 2004. As a strategic partner and sanctioned liaison, TCEB co-creates successful solutions with companies to realize MICE events of every scale and type. With their new campaign, the bureau seeks to advocate close collaborations to redefine the business events landscape in the Kingdom with new strategies.
