Thailand’s burgeoning MICE, or meetings, incentives,
conventions and exhibitions sector was amply showcased during the IT &
CMA/CTW Asia Pacific 2005 exhibition and conference staged at PEACH, at
the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, from October 11-13.
Darren
Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd at the press conference.
The event, which brought together MICE and corporate
planners, buyers and exhibitors from the region and beyond, along with
worldwide media, is one of the fixtures on the travel industry calendar,
although this is the first time it has been held at Pattaya. Bangkok has
been the venue on three separate occasions before.
A press conference was staged on October 11 with
speakers including Darren Ng, managing director of organizers TTG Asia
Media Pte Ltd, Malinee Kitaphanich, director of the Thailand Convention
& Exhibition Bureau, and Pridi Boonsue, vice president for marketing
development at Thai Airways International.
Veng
Sereyvuth, chairman of Cambodia’s National Tourism Authority opens the
dinner at Dusit Resort Pattaya.
Pridi said that Thai Airways is determined to promote
Thailand tourism by implementing group package tours and will place
emphasis on low periods such as during the rainy season. Once Suvarnabhumi
Airport does open then it is anticipated more tourists will flock to
Pattaya.
Peerapong Oeusoonthornwattana, director general of the
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau said that the exhibition and
conference was being attended by an estimated 1,500 representatives from
39 Asia Pacific countries that were focused on the MICE sector, and that
consequently Thai business operators had an excellent opportunity to meet
key overseas players.
United
Airlines received the Best North American Airline Award from TTG Asia
Media Pte Ltd.
MICE business in Thailand has been growing strongly in
recent years, with a large increase in venue capacity, better
infrastructure, and more high quality hotel rooms becoming available.
Although the focus is naturally on Bangkok, there is now a very strong
interest in Pattaya, which has been growing alongside the capital in terms
of what it can offer visitors.
Industry estimates are that the MICE sector will see a
25 percent increase in Thailand in 2006, with large conventions covering
professions such as medicine and scientific specializations in addition to
the organization of large trade fairs.
The official opening ceremony of IT & CMA/CTW Asia
Pacific 2005 took place at Alangkarn Theatre with Deputy Prime Minister
Suwat Liptapanlop presiding. Pisit Boonchuang, deputy governor of
Chonburi, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, and Peerapong
Oeusoonthornwattana, director general of the Thailand Convention &
Exhibition Bureau also attended.
Other than the official opening ceremony, hotels readied to welcome the
attendees. Hard Rock Pattaya and Dusit Resort organized major parties, and
a surprise guest at a presentation staged by Cambodia was the nation’s
Princess Norodom Rattana Devi.
Vanida
Tulalamba (left), executive vice president of NCC Management &
Development Co. Ltd. and Kietisak Tulalamba enjoy the hor d’ouvres at
the Alangkarn Theatre.
(From
left) Nathalie Pedestarres of Spain Travel & Business Magazine, Pridi
Boonsue, vice president marketing development and support department of
Thai Airways International, and Sascha Horn, Anzeigenleitung director
sales and marketing of CIM Conference & Incentive Management at the
Alangkarn Theatre.
(From
left) Peerapong Oeusoonthornwattana, director general of Thailand
Convention & Exhibition Bureau, and Suos Yara, deputy secretary
general senior task force coordinator of Cambodia National Tourism
Authority (CANTA) at the dinner at Dusit Resort.
(From
left) Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd, and So Mara,
under secretary of state, Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia.
(From
left) Paul Jensen OAM, principal of Jensen Consulting, Selina T W Chan,
director Asia Pacific Kuala Lumpur Malaysia of Jensen Consulting, and
Kerri McNamara, publisher’s representative of BT Publishing, are all
smiles at Alangkarn Theatre.
(From
left ) Prapee Buri, deputy managing director of BITEC, Charu Bhatnagar,
manager of incentives & conferences for KTC Grand Tours, and Shivangi
Yadav, associate editor of Durga Das Publications Private Limited at the
Alangkarn Theatre.
Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn (middle left) with Darren Ng, managing director
of TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd (next to the mayor) presents 14 Travel Agent
Awards for Best Travel Agency.
(From
left) Anthony Lim T W, managing director of Anthony Tours & Travel
Agency Sdn Bhd, Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohamed, director of Brunei
Tourism, and Maung Maung SWE, president of SM Tours & Transport Co
Ltd. chat at the Alangkarn Theatre.
(Middle
right) Suwat Liptapanlop, deputy prime minister presided over the official
opening ceremony with Peerapong Oeusoonthornwattana, director general of
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau at the Alangkarn Theatre.
Sunthorn
Suree, Emirate Airlines general manager for Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia
and Laos, accepts the Best Airline Award from Darren Ng, managing director
of TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd.
The
drum show from Cambodia moved the audience.
The
Pisces show, part of the 12 zodiac predictions for 2006 held at Dusit
Resort Pattaya, organized to welcome attendees.
The
beautiful Apsara dance from Cambodia.
Cancer,
one of the 12 zodiac predictions for 2006 show at Dusit Resort Pattaya.