The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau hosted a workshop to improve the operations for companies offering meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions in its continued drive to make Pattaya a “MICE city”.
Gary Grimmer, executive managing director of consultancy Gaining Edge Co. was the lead speaker at the May 25 seminar held at the Holiday Inn Pattaya.
Gaining Edge was present to collect information and analyze the abilities of MICE providers so they can better compete with international rivals.
Juta Tarachai, senior TCEB manager, also gave insight into the competitive environment and MICE industrial development, using examples from Sarawak, Indonesia.
Moreover, the lecture stressed the need of the MICE industry to strengthen its weak points by boosting the quality of service to support the growing market.
Participants broke into small groups to analyze the structure of the industry in Mice cities, including policies, business development, strategic plans, business promotion, and how to seek support from government and the private sector.
Juta said Pattaya is the second-biggest MICE city in Thailand, behind Bangkok, and has been growing about 5 percent a year.
To continue that trend, she said, it is imperative to have cooperation in organizing events in the city, improving infrastructure and human resources, better promoting the city’s offerings, making a long-term strategic plan, obtain cooperation from the private sector and develop government policies to support the MICE sector.
Following the workshop, TCEB officials talked with Pattaya and Banglamung District officials about strategies focusing on such needs.
