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In a performance update, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau has announced that Thailand has won a total of 23 bids for international conferences from October 2022 to September 2023. These are for events that will take place up to 2028.

The largest among the wins is the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, to be held in Bangkok of which 12,000 delegates are expected.

Two are notable conferences for being the first to be staged in Southeast Asia – the FIFA Congress 2024 and World Diabetes Congress 2025. The FIFA Congress is expected to attract 2,000 delegates from 211 countries and the World Diabetes Congress, 10,000 delegates.

Also noteworthy here is that 14 of the 23 wins, are for medical conferences. They include; the International Society on Thrombosis and Homeostasis Congress 2024, with 8,000 delegates and World Congress on Pain 2026 some 5,000 delegates.

TCEB’s bid strategy, responsible for the production of the bid book, publicity, and securing the backing of the relevant government ministry, is through TCEB’s One Ministry, One Convention (OMOC) programme.

The OMOC programme allows TCEB to tap on the resources and support of a particular government ministry. It was instrumental in securing the Annual Meetings of IMF and WBG, the FIFA Congress and three global medical conferences,

The m&i Fest is the latest events industry festival format created by Worldwide Events, of a large scale gathering where buyers and suppliers in the MICE industry, can do business combining meeting, networking and exhibition with its successful long-running m&I Forums.

While the programme for the event is based along three core pillars of ‘Develop, Discover and Celebrate’. 

It will be held in Marrakesh from March 17 to 21 in 2024. This brand new event format offers a unique experience for buyers and suppliers, with enhanced destination time and opportunities for meaningful connections and face time.

Around 240 buyers and 230 suppliers are estimated to attend with m&I Fest expected, to be the must attend event of 2024, and a landmark event for the MICE industry.

In the mornings there are 1-2-1 meetings where buyers and suppliers will have opportunities to create and develop great relationships. For the first time there will be dedicated branded areas giving businesses and destinations enhanced visibility and a unique platform to showcase their services.

In the afternoon attendees choose their own pathway, creating shared experiences between buyers and suppliers with the time to explore the destination and discover exclusive venues.

Evenings are all about networking in style, with exquisite local cuisine, and high-octane events giving more opportunity for buyers and suppliers to connect in a setting that is more relaxed.

Morocco has long been established as a global MICE destination, and over four days, attendees at m&i Fest will discover stunning venues around Marrakesh, as well as experiencing the top highlights of the destination.

m&i Fest will take place at Palais des Congrès Marrakech: Marrakesh’s largest venue, with accommodation at the Mövenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech a a 5-star luxury hotel located just a few minutes away from the Medina, and only a 15-minute drive from the airport.

For more information visit www.mi-forums.com/mi-fest or email hello@miforums.com

Mr. Hamid’s appointment will be for a three-year term and takes effect October 1 this year.  A Malaysian citizen, Mr. Hamid, 60, has had a distinguished 35 year career in travel and tourism, including the last 13 years in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibition sector.

He was inducted into the Events Industry Council Hall of Leaders in 2022. The most prestigious award in the global business events industry and the only Asian recipient alongside distinguished professionals from America and Europe.

In 2018, he received the China MICE Leaders Award from Meetings and Conventions China for his contributions to the Asia Pacific region.

As the new chief executive officer, his inaugural engagement will be the prestigious PATA Travel Mart, scheduled from October 4 to 6 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India.

He looks forward to connecting with host destination officials and members, chapter and youth leaders, exhibitors and buyers, partners, members of the media, and the entire travel and tourism community.

Left is Peter Semone, Chairman of PATA with Noor Ahmad Hamid, the new Chief Executive Officer of PATA.

At the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and UNESCO organised a side event on the ‘Dive into Heritage’ initiative. This groundbreaking project will leverage digital technologies to explore and conserve UNESCO World Heritage sites and their related intangible heritage.

‘Dive into Heritage’ has been made possible through the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has seen the team develop an online platform that will create unique ways to digitally experience World Heritage.

The platform harnesses the power of digital technology such as 3D models, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), interactive maps and geo location narratives to recreate a truly accurate and immersive digital viewing experience.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Funds-in-Trust for Culture at UNESCO was established in 2019, following a commitment of USD25 million from the government to fund UNESCO projects in support of strategy and actions for the preservation of heritage.

Phase I from 2022 to 2024 of the ‘Dive into Heritage’ initiative will see the development of a platform that allows people to digitally discover World Heritage sites in the Arab States region.

A full public release of the platform is planned by the end of Phase I in 2024, when other regions will benefit from the ‘Dive into Heritage’ programme.

“The endless potential uses of Artificial Intelligence will allow us to transform the way in which people can experience heritage,” said Mr. Ernesto Ottone, assistant director general for culture at UNESCO.

The Centre will now subscribe to the use of renewable electricity supplied by the nation’s largest utility company, Tenaga Nasional Berhad known as TNB. It comes under the Green Electricity Tariff, an innovative and transformative programme launched by the Malaysian government.

The GET programme was created to empower electricity users across Malaysia, to reduce their carbon footprint in electricity consumption.

Through this initiative, the Centre can now power its facilities and events with renewable energy resources, sourced from solar power plants through Malaysia’s Large-Scale Solar (LSS) programme and TNB’s hydropower and renewable energy plants.

Currently, the Centre stands as the first business events venue in Malaysia to be approved for participation in this environmentally conscious initiative.

This subscription to GET marks a significant stride towards the Centre’s ambitious commitment to become a net-zero carbon venue by 2030.

Positioned as the exclusive platform for Qatar’s travel and tourism industry, Qatar Travel Mart 2023 anticipates the participation of up to 200 exhibitors, and over 9,000 visitors from more than 60 countries.

Attendees can look forward to engaging in the event’s illustrious three-day international conference, global village, gala dinner and awards ceremony with business-to-business opportunities of the Hosted Buyers’ Program. There also media familiarisation trips and cultural tours of Qatar.

Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) 2023 is organised by NeXTfairs for Exhibitions and Conference under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar.

Qatar’s status as a flourishing tourism destination has been solidified with the recognition by The Arab Tourism Organization (ATO) – designating Doha as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2023. This notable title is poised to draw innovative investment projects aimed at harnessing the potential of Qatar’s natural, cultural, and historical resources while also elevating human capital capabilities in the region.

While selecting Doha as the Arab Tourism Capital is a testament to Qatar’s progress; exemplified by its exceptional development, luxurious hotels, resorts, pristine beaches, vibrant entertainment hubs, and inviting public parks.

For those attending Qatar Travel Mart three days of international conference, will be able to look forward to a gathering of a diverse lineup of experts and industry leaders to share invaluable insights and best practices. The conference attracts senior-level executives and decision-makers from the tourism sector, including academics, researchers, policymakers, consultants, government officials, students, and professionals from complementary industries in the tourism sector.

The Hosted Buyer Program organised in collaboration with Qatar Tourism, offers exhibitors and visitors the opportunity to meet with over 100 international buyers. Through pre-arranged face-to-face meetings, participants can explore potential investments and forge joint ventures with tourism experts, paving the way for numerous fruitful business deals.

Highlight of the event is the prestigious QTM Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, celebrating excellence within the travel and tourism and hospitality industry – recognising and rewarding professional and corporate achievements.

The Global Village at QTM serves as a melting pot of diverse cultures, connecting different parts of the world under one roof, showcasing heritage, traditions, and philosophies. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in Qatar’s rich traditions and heritage through entertaining cultural tours, providing a deeper appreciation of the country’s unique offerings.

Qatar Travel Mart 2023 takes place from November, 20 to 22 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.

If  you would like to reserve exhibition space at QTM 2023 or for more information, please visit www.qtmqatar.com or call 00974 5514 1188.

Asian incentive meeting planners and corporations are choosing Melbourne, with Melbourne Convention Bureau securing 17 Asian incentive groups across China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and India since the start of the new fiscal year of the bureau.

These wins will bring 2,345 delegates to Victoria, filling 4,033 room nights across the city’s hotels and injecting AUD9.6M into the economy.

The chief executive of Melbourne Convention Bureau, Ms. Julia Swanson stated, the bureau has always had a strong presence across the Asia Pacific region, with team members in China, Malaysia and India working with planners to create unique programs.

“MCB’s efforts to grow this market back to its full potential, has been rewarded with 19 per cent of wins in this segment to date hailing from China,” Ms. Swanson added.

Australia has once again join China’s list of Approved Destination Status (ADS) nations. At the same time, Melbourne’s aviation capacity expanded with seven out of eight carriers from Mainland China has resumed operating to Melbourne.

Across the 17 incentive groups arriving, delegates will visit an array of attractions in Melbourne and regional Victoria. The exciting line-up includes some of Victoria’s most popular regions, the Yarra Valley, Goldfields, Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island Nature Park for the iconic Penguin Parade as well as, enjoy a trip across the splendour of the Great Ocean Road.

Installation of the system is expected to be completed end of July and are, conducted in phases with 10 accessible toilets in the convention centre, already equipped with the system,

The system can detect a toilet user’s posture (active or static; seated or lying down) and collect motion value for AI-enabled analysis to identify if a fall or accident has taken place or the toilet user has become motionless.

In the event of an identified accident, the system will send out an alert within five seconds via hand-held devices such as mobile phones or tablets. Staff will be able to locate the toilet and get there as soon as possible.

At the same time, the security control room will also receive the alert to allow for rapid additional manpower deployment.  The system will facilitate provision of assistance to visitors in need within the critical life-saving golden timeframe. The AI Life Sense Alert System has already been introduced in public hospitals in Hong Kong.

“Investing in and applying technology to upgrade HKCEC’s hardware and software has been a continuous focus of HML. With safety of our visitors being our first and foremost priority, we have taken the precautionary move to introduce the AI Life Sense Alert System so that our staff can provide timely assistance to visitors in distress during an emergency. The key is to reach the visitors in need as soon as possible so as not to miss the golden hour between life and death,” said  Ms Monica Lee-Müller, managing director of HML.

The AI Life Sense Alert System also provides humidity, temperature and air quality readings, facilitating monitoring of the environment in the accessible toilets and adjustment of cleaning frequency to enhance visitor experience and efficiency.

HML has been pioneering the application of artificial intelligence and robotics to continuously enhance its operations and service. In addition to offering 5G service with 100 percent coverage of the entire HKCEC, HML has introduced 5G smart security robots and smart cleaning robots also a green measure in light of its water conservation feature.