Press Room

In a survey conducted after the 2007 Moscow International MICE Forum, MICE business in Russia is set to increase by 200 per cent this year. The busiest time is from Aprilto October with 68 per cent of events taking place within this period. The peak month is in February.

The largest sector of the industry is conferences with more than 29 per cent, incentive tours 16 per cent and seminars
abroad 11 per cent. The MICE market in Russia is expanding fast and the survey indicated a growing interest amongst Russian business of arranging meetings abroad and attending international conferences.

This year, the Moscow International MICE Forum will be held on March 18 at the T Modul Exhibition Centre in Moscow. Specialists looking for MICE business in Russia can expect to meet selected Russian corporate buyers, leading Russian MICE specialists, travel companies specialising in corporate and business travel and several business leaders.

The Forum today has established itself as a leading MICE event in Russia with interests from all over the world. The popularity of this event has grown over the years and this marks its fourth year. It has created a unique environment where there is opportunity for new businesses, contracts and the chance to interact with some high level professionals
in the conventions and exhibition industry in Russia.

It is expected that besides participants from Russian speaking countries, buyers and suppliers from Western Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia will also attend the one day event.

Rasa Sayang is Shangri-La’s first property in Malaysia to incorporate among its facilities and services, Chi The Spa which was developed as part of the of the Shangri-La brand. Chi The Spa at Shangri-La in Penang was inspired by the ancient healing therapies from the Himalayas. The resort has several private spa villas complete with bathing and herbal steam facilities. There is also a yoga pavillion overlooking water pond sand gardens, a swimming pool and treatment villas, each with its own gardens and facilities.

The extensive and meticulous remodeling of the resort included the complete renovation of its meetings and conference rooms. Today, the resort can easily accommodate a banquet of 300 people in its Pelangi Ballroom with 14 other meeting and functions rooms interlinked to the ballroom and one another. All conference and functions rooms feature state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment, including satellite teleconferencing facilities, wired and wireless broadband internet, electronic projectors, simultaneous microphone and PA systems, remote control screens and built-in sound systems.

Within the property, there are three swimming pools, a par-3 executive golf course and floodlit tennis courts. There is also a water sports centre offering a number of activities like water skiing, jet skiing, kayaking, windsurfing and deep-sea fishing. Indoors, the health club has a full range of state-of-the-art equipment, a hydro-pool, sauna and steam room, as well as daily morning tai chi classes.

There are several international flights that connect directly to the international airport of Penang. The island of Penang is joined to the mainland by the Penang Bridge which is one of the world’s longest bridges. Alternatively, a ferry service from the mainland takes 20 minutes to ride across.

The Indonesia Congress & Convention Association (INNCA) Bali Chapter was inaugurated on September 10 by the Governor of Bali, Dewa Beratha. Mice in Asia’s managing editor, Julia Douglas witnessed the ceremony held at the Government House in Denpasar. The magazine was also the co-sponsor for the Bali Education Day for Event Professionals organised by INCCA Bali at the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa from September 11 to 12.

One of Asia’s Leading International Trade Fairs

The marketing team of Mice in Asia was in Hong Kong for the ITE MICE & ITE 2007. The ITE was supported by China National Tourism Administration, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong and Macau Governtion Tourist Office.

Pavillions at the ITE MICE & ITE in the Hong Kong Convention Centre.

Mice in Asia was distributed to exhibitors and trade visitors at the Thailand Travel Mart 2007. It was held from June 8 until June 10 at the IMPACT Exhibition Center in Bangkok.

The event involved 315 sellers from Thailand and other countries which included 224 hotels, five airlines, eight eco-tourism and adventure operators, 18 medical and health tourism facilites, 29 tour operators and 31 companies from the Greater Mekong Sub-Region.

Mrs Julia Douglas, managing editor of Mice in Asia with Mr Thanawat Sittitampichai, managing director of Rainbow Arokaya at Thailand Travel Mart (TTM) 2007.

Mice in Asia recently made its debut at the ‘Malaysia Night’ of the ATF (ASEAN Tourism Forum) in Singapore. The publisher of the magazine was also invited to introduce its inaugural issue to buyers and sellers of TRAVEX and representatives of the international media.

Held at the Ballroom of the Raffles Convention Centre on January 31, the evening was attended by more than 200 guests. The ‘Night’ was in celebration of Visit Malaysia Year 2007 which took off early this year.

With the editorial and production team working around the clock to meet the deadline to produce the magazine in time for the event, it was gratifying to know Mice in Asia, was warmly welcomed by many of the guests who attended the ‘Malaysia Night’. The publication was launched later in the evening by the Minister of Tourism of Malaysia as the first publication on MICE to be produced from Malaysia.

This was followed the next day, with a meeting of sellers participating in the travel mart, TRAVEX at Suntec Singapore which saw the publication making its foray into the MICE and travel organisations of several ASEAN countries.

Mrs Julia Douglas, Managing Editor of Mice in Asia with Datuk Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Minister of Tourism of Malaysia.

Guests at the Malaysia Night of ATF 2007.

A cultural dance from Malaysia.