October 2017

APAC / October 2017 31 Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau Heightens MICE Marketing in the US g gateway airports (BKK and DMK), a substantial upgrade of U-Tapao International Airport located near the resort city of Pattaya. Additional terminals have opened at Phuket Island’s international airport. High-speed rail projects linking the Thai capital with secondary cities, the expansion of cruise ports and terminals, as well as improved airline access, top the development agenda. They will significantly improve access to leisure activities, across the country that can be included in MICE event programs. New Chapter of Collaboration Between the four Asian bureaus This year’s IMEX America is also the launch pad for a new joint collaboration by four of Asia’s leading MICE destinations. “This is a first for the region as the MICE bureaus of Malaysia, Seoul, Singapore and Thailand unite in this collaborative effort to inspire the US MICE market,” said Supawan. “Clients will glean a better understanding of Asian destinations to stimulate interest in organizing corporate meeting, incentive travel and association events in Asia,” said Supawan. Described as a game changer, the collaboration involves TCEB, MyCEB, SECB and Seoul Tourism Organization, joining hands for the first time ever to showcase connectivity between Asian destinations and offering options to combine destinations for incentive travel or to link destinations with post event tours. “It will deepen awareness and catalyze interest in Asian destinations. Apart from highlighting our connections, another key takeaway is the readiness of key Asian CVBs to partner with US clients, to navigate and anchor events in Asia.” “We see opportunities for more Asian destinations to come on board, to curate better offerings for key target audiences and encourage clients to position events in an Asian circuit. The Asian CVB night at IMEX America, ‘An Evening with Asian Destinations’, presents this new chapter of collaboration between the four Asian bureaus,” said Supawan. International events head for Thailand: The marketing campaign aims to raise the industry’s profile draw more international events and increase visits. TCEB expects that by the end of the year 2018, there will be 1,192,000 international MICE visitors, generating 112 billion baht (USD 3.2 billion) of revenue to the country. International events which will be held in Thailand in the coming years include: • 2018 MDRT Experience and Global Conference, 1 to 8 February 2018; • Bangkok Entertainment Fest, March to June 2018; • Sport Accord Convention 2018, 15 to 20 April 2018; • ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week 2018, 6 to 9 June 2018; • ProPak Asia 2018, 13 to 16 June 2018; • The 31st Congress of Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (APACRS 2018), 19 to 21 July 2018; • Beyond Beauty ASEAN Bangkok 2018, 20 to 22 September 2018; • Metalex 2018, 21 to 24 November 2018