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This year’s show opened with over 800 exhibiting delegates comprising of loyal returning exhibitors and new destinations such as Cambodia and Switzerland. The Thai pavilion as usual, remains the biggest at the show, with over 30 new local co-exhibitors on board.

Participation of returning exhibitors in terms of booth space was increased by 18 percent. This year also sees one of the show’s largest sponsors hosting delegates to networking luncheons, dinners and coffee breaks.

It was estimated that more than 10,000 business appointments took place over the two-day exhibition, with over 80 business, education and networking sessions.

CTW Asia Pacific delegates had the opportunity to attend several comprehensive educational conferences with topics ranging from data management, best practices and benchmarking, managing travellers across generations to industry updates and outlooks which were offered by an advisory panel of experienced regional travel managers, together with Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).

At the same time, the two-day Association Days @ IT&CMA was expanded from October 1 to 2 included education forums, destination presentations, business appointments and networking sessions. It was further strengthened by new partnerships with MPI International and World PCO Alliance. While Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (site) joined the supporting association line-up by delivering customised content for the Corporate Performance educational forums.

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau hosted the opening ceremony and welcome reception which was held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. The theme of the evening’s function was ‘Absolute Happiness’.

Welcome reception hosted by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

Country exhibitors at the IT&CMA & CTW held at the Bangkok Convention Centre.

Media representatives worldwide attended press conferences and media briefings of the show.

MICE in Asia is a media partner of the MICE Asia exhibition.

This year, members of Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry or CACCI, are looking beyond 2020 with the region as the engine for sustainable growth. Along this theme, the international gathering of representatives from 20 nations met in Kuala Lumpur for their annual conference, hosted by the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce.

CACCI mentioned the president, Ambassador Benedicto Yujuico, will be approaching its 50th anniversary in 2016, and with some 26 nations as members, can with some justication claim to be one of the strongest private sector voices in Asia and the Pacific; speaking for the wider business community in a way that governments find difficult. This year, marked the confederation’s 28th annual conference which is jointly hosted by the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia.

Topics covered during the three days among others include discovering business opportunities through CACCI, supporting the growth of SME and entrepreneurship, investment opportunites in hydropower and green energy, SME development and women entreprenuership, ensuring food security and the sustainable use of natural resources, the digital economy and empowering of youth in entreprenuership and innovation.

To quote SekWannamethee, director general of the department of information and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand in a press conference, “The situation in Thailand is now peaceful and secure, as reflected in the satisfaction of both ordinary citizens and the business community.”

Taking advantage of the situation of back-to-business for MICE, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways and the Rachprasong Square Trade Association invited several members of the media from around the world to get re-acquainted with the country’s foremost MICE destination – its capital Bangkok. This at the same time to introduce Thailand’s newly designated MICE destination in the North, Khon Kaen as a gateway to Indochina and South of China.

The Thailand CONNECT 2014 – ISAN Indulgence Media Familiarisation Trip began from September 6 to 11 with a tour beginning in Bangkok.

Itinerary in Bangkok:

Welcome Reception ‘Bangkok Happiness Extravaganza’ hosted by Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Thailand CONNECT 2014 – Isan Indulgence International media briefing conducted by TCEB, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways and Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association.

Bangkok Themed Dinner ‘Bangkok Finest’ held at the Issaya Siamese Club hosted by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

Media Briefing by the Airport of Thailand at the CIP Lounge of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Programme in Khon Kaen:

A corporate social responsibility activity ‘Shelves for Child’ was organised for members of the media to assemble do-it-yourself shelves, cupboards and stools for a village school. Books and stationeries were also donated to the school children.

Dinner with the theme ‘A Poem Sacred to the Memory of ISAAN’ held at Suphanniga Home Boutique Hotel and a welcome speech by the deputy governor of Khon Kaen.

A visit was made to a temple and the town’s local museum, the Moon Muang with archeological artefacts and displays related to the history and culture of the people of Khon Kaen.

Return to Bangkok – lunch and cooking class ‘Eat Play Love’ was held at the Peninsula Hotel Bangkok.

A presentation held on the National Convention Centre and the production of the Muay Thai show.

Farewell Dinner at Benihana, Japanese restaurant.

Travel by shuttle boat and visit the popular retail and food and beverage venue of Asiatique at The Riverfront. Members of the media watched the spectacular choreographed live performance of the legend of Muay Thai at the Asiatique theatre.

MICE in Asia would like to thank Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways and the Rachprasong Square Trade Association for the media familiarisation tour of Bangkok and Khon Kaen. Also our appreciation goes to InterContinental Bangkok and Centara Hotel and Convention Centre Khon Kaen for their hospitality.

The exhibition is scheduled to be held from November 6 to 8 at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center. It will bring together exhibitors from 60 countries covering Asia, Africa, Europe, United States and the Americas. Also nearly 10,000 professional buyers are expected to participate in the exhibition.

While the expo area itself is set on a 20,000 square-metre space with the exhibition divided into sections on tourism organisation, tourist attractions, outdoor exhibition, exhibition equipment, exhibition facilities and travel service providers.

For more information on the expo, please visit www.szite.com.cn

MICE in Asia is a media partner of the Shenzhen International Tourism Expo 2014.

Industry response for next year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) has been positive, with over 350 TRAVEX (travel exchange) booths contracted, and some 550 applications for the Hosted Buyers Programme. The TRAVEX sellers, made up of suppliers of ASEAN travel and tourism products and services, come from the 10 member nations of ASEAN – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – altogether will take up 8,000 square metres of space.

Participation from host country Myanmar is at an all-time high. U Phyoe Wai Yar Zar, Chairman of Myanmar Tourism Marketing (MTM), said, “The local hoteliers, tour operators and other players in the industry are very much looking forward to next year’s event, this being the first time that ATF is coming to Myanmar. It will be our opportunity to share our country’s rich history and culture with the rest of the world.” MTM is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit organisation that functions as the marketing arm of Myanmar Tourism Federation, under the guidance of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Hosted by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the theme adopted for the show is ‘ASEAN – Tourism towards Peace, Prosperity and Partnership’.

It has also been confirmed that the official venue for ATF 2015 will be the Myanmar International Convention Centre (MICC) 1. While the key components of the official ATF 2015 programme such as TRAVEX and ASEAN Tourism Conference, will be held at the newly completed 60,000 square-metre exhibition and convention centre. The venue has hosted numerous national level meetings and international business events, including the recently concluded 24thASEAN Summit.

The ATF 2015 will run from 22 to 29 January in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar,

For more information on ATF 2015, please visit www.atf-2015.com.

Once again domestic and international corporate travel managers and MICE professionals from around the world were brought together in Delhi for another of the IT&CM series. Exhibitors from Japan were the Sapporo Convention Bureau, Japan National Tourism Organisation, Korea was represented by Busan Metropolitan City, Tourisam New Zealand and India, the ITC Hotels, Taj Group, Creative Travels and Travelite to name a few that participated at the show.

Both exhibitors and buyers had the opportunity to explore business, education and networking opportunities during the three days. Aside from the business-to-business session, the IT&CM education component in collaboration with KW Conferences of the association day opened to a full house of delegates with a series of educational sessions by expert speakers from various industries such as the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India, Indian Tea Association, ICCA and Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts. The Euromic member from India, Creative Travels was represented by Rajeev Kohli who introduced the event and destination partnership to the media at a press conference.

MEET TAIWAN, a pilot programme designed to promote Taiwan as a MICE destination was unveiled in August at the Prince Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event saw representatives from six of Taiwan’s premium MICE suppliers, as well as more than 80 representatives from Malaysia in attendance for a get together, to discuss and explore the highly potential MICE market.

The event was sponsored by Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) and implemented by TAITRA and Taiwan Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. The organisers aim is to promote the MEET TAIWAN brand and to further enhance Taiwan’s reputation as a global destination which will attract more visitors to the island.

Six premium MICE suppliers were in attendance, providing information about MICE Taiwan were; Kuching Travel Service, WOW City, Tian-An International Travel Agency, GIS Group, Asia Concentrate Corporation and the MSL Group.

With regards to gaining ground in the new business market, according to Chang Ming, director of the economic division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, records from Taiwan Tourism Bureau show that some 138 International incentive groups visited the Island in the first half 2014. Japan is ranked first in arrivals, accounting for 10,900 visitors in 83 incentive trips. Malaysia came in third on the list with 1227 visitors in 14 incentive trips.

In addition 8,016,280 people visited Taiwan in year 2013, a year on year increase of 9.64 per cent. Malaysians make up for 394,326 of the visitors and Taiwan has emerged as one of the most preferred travel destinations for Malaysians.

Chang Ming also pointed out that Taiwan’s BOFT has been actively promoting the island as a MICE destination since 2009, and the MEET TAIWAN session this year will foster greater interaction between the Taiwan MICE industry and Malaysian businesses, this to serve as a platform to promote Taiwan to more Malaysians.

According to Lily Su the director of the MEET TAIWAN programme, the initiative is a four year plan undertaken by BOFT, and has made significant inroads since it was launched in 2013. Statistics indicate that last year alone it had successfully facilitated a total of 185 international conventions in Taiwan and had also assisted in hosting 107 corporate incentive travel events to the island, which include Mc Donald’s (China) Group Manager and development Convention 2013, with 2,500 members of management from 27 provinces of China, Amway (China) and Amway (Thailand) sent their 12,000 and 2,000 top achievers respectively to Taiwan for the corporate mega incentive programme 2013.

The international MICE business, education and networking event will be held in Delhi from August 19 to 21. It promises exhibitors the opportunity to sell their inbound and outbound and domestic travel business, as well as for buyers to procure travel products and services from India – promoting India to the world and vice versa.

First launched in 2012, the three-day event comprises of structured business appointments, exhibition showcase, seminar sessions, official networking functions and tours of the country. Luxury travel is also incorporated in the show programme. For more information, please visit www.itcmindia.com

The producer of the show, Ms Tiara Jacqueline, describes the cultural musical show entitled MUD as a performance that showcases the rich culture and heritage of Kuala Lumpur, reflecting the history of how this beautiful city came to be. Staging the show according to her, also goes to the long-term commitment of the development and promotion of arts and culture in the city, and also a move to host a permanent show in one of the city’s oldest architectures in Kuala Lumpur.

Performance is held daily beginning at 3.00 pm and 8.30 pm with tickets available at the Panggung Bandaraya.

In the meantime, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall plans to hold cultural shows regularly at venues in the city as part of the tourism offering of its Tourism Master Plan for 2014 to 2015. In 2012, the City Hall has recorded tourist receipts of 9.3 million and in 2013 at 9.4 million – is expected to continue to grow by 8 percent in 2014 – with the goal of hitting 16 million international tourists by 2025.

Entrance of the 110 year old Panggung Bandaraya theathre.

Talented performers of the MUD musical show.

Opening night of Mud:Our Story of Kuala Lumpur.