FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

MICE Thailand

Nov 1, 2013
2013 / November 2013

Thailand, a land of fascinating cultures, bustling cities and spectacular islands, is quickly becoming one of Asia’s hottest destinations for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry. The country of nearly 70 million residents wasn’t hit by the global economic crisis nearly as hard as Europe and the United States, as evident in its recent growth numbers.

In 2012 alone, Thailand’s economy grew 5.5 percent thanks to a combination of public and private monies. The meetings industry was a significant driver in this growth. More than 895,000 visitors flooded into the country in 2012, a figure nearly 19 percent higher than expected, according to the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, or TCEB. That number is on pace to grow by 10 percent in 2013 to around 940,000 visitors.

More than 9.4 percent of all tourism earnings came from the meetings industry in 2012, which accounted for .58 percent of the country’s total gross domestic product. Conventions accounted for the largest share, at 33 percent. Corporate meetings and incentive travel came in a close second and third at 25 percent and 24 percent, respectively. All of this business added the equivalent of more than $2.5 billion into Thailand’s economy.

Around 65 percent of Thailand’s MICE business comes from Asian countries. India leads the pack by having brought 74,941 meetings visitors in 2012, followed by China (63,955), Japan (45,424) and Korea (37,175). The United States is Thailand’s eighth-most frequent MICE customer, sending 21,786 delegates to the Southeast Asian country in 2012.

The effect of MICE meetings on Thailand’s economy is tremendous. Last year, the country hosted more than 7,300 meeting events (a 6.84 percent increase from 2011). Delegates stayed an average of 5.54 days and spent the equivalent of around $515 per person, per day.

BANGKOK IS Thailand’s largest meeting hub and is considered by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau as one of the country’s four “MICE Cities.” With 9.1 million residents, the bustling city offers Suvarnabhumi International Airport just 20 minutes from the city center and reliable mass transit systems via a skyway, subway and bus services. Nearly 300 hotels and 60,000 hotel rooms (just in the Central Business District) reside in Bangkok. The city offers 1.1 million square feet of meeting space; its largest venue is IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center, which houses some 640,000 square feet of group gathering space.

The Challenger Building at IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center, Bangkok © Mooindy | Dreamstime.com

The Challenger Building at IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center, Bangkok © Mooindy | Dreamstime.com

Other major meeting facilities in Bangkok (there are seven convention and exhibition centers in the city) include the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC, for short), which houses 540,000 square feet of useful event space; and Royal Paragon Hall Exhibition & Convention Center, which has 129,000 square feet of space.

Meeting hotels abound in Bangkok. One of the most popular (and largest) is The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, with 1,250 guestrooms and a 14,800-square-foot ballroom. Other popular MICE hotels include the 799-room Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok with 26 function rooms for group gatherings; and the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers, which has 726 guestrooms, sits on the Chao Phraya River and provides groups with 28,000 square feet of conference space.

CHIANG MAI IS ANOTHER TCEB-deemed “MICE City.” It is located about 430 miles north of Bangkok in the country’s northernmost region and offers 33,000 hotel rooms. The city has an international airport (the third largest in the country) and is a serious player in meetings space (especially craft meetings space), having attracted more than 420 events in 2011 alone.

The biggest meetings news out of the city is the spring 2013 opening of the Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Center — formally named The International Convention and Exhibition Centre Commemorating His Majesty’s 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary. The complex houses 1.4 million square feet of space dedicated to MICE-related events.

PATTAYA CITY, LOCATED about 100 miles south of Bangkok on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, is a city of around 1.2 million known as a beachy tourist destination. It has nearly 400 hotels, more than 28,000 guestrooms and more than 100 hotel meeting rooms.

The city’s grandest meeting facility is the beachfront Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel, self-dubbed “The World’s Largest Resort Complex,” which sits on 40 acres and offers 4,210 guestrooms and 74,400 square feet of space for events. The versatile Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, known as PEACH, is another option for meeting planners looking to head to the coast; the property offers views of the Gulf of Thailand.

PHUKET PROVINCE is Thailand’s fourth “MICE City” and is located in the southernmost part of the country. It is Thailand’s largest island and is home to around 500,000 residents. Meeting delegates can access the destination by road, water (there are more than 30 ports, piers and jetties) and air; the Phuket International Airport welcomes 6.7 million passengers each year.

Groups looking for sand and sun head to Phuket and are welcomed by more than 600 hotels and some 37,000 guestrooms. Most of Phuket’s meeting space can be found within its hotels, such as Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort, which offers 14,100 square feet of meeting space for indoor and outdoor events; and the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, which features 15,600 square feet of space.

Set among landscaped parks and gardens, the Royal Phuket Marina also offers space for groups to meet, with a 26,900-square-foot indoor exhibition space and a 43,000-square-foot outdoor exhibition space.

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Daily
Feb 21, 2025

Ireland’s First Radisson RED Opens in Galway

Last December, Radisson RED Galway opened its doors, making it the first Radisson RED brand in Ireland. Located in Crown Square, an impressive new neighborhood between Moniva Road and Joyce’s Road, and just 10 minutes to Galway city center, the upscale Radisson RED Galway incorporates excellent culinary venues, along with art, music and design to create a very comfortable stay, a great fit for this Irish city where music, arts, food and sports are such important cultural traits.

United Airlines First to Purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel for ORD

Chicago O’Hare International Airport will soon receive sustainable aviation fuel, all thanks to United Airlines, which became the first airline to purchase SAF for use at the airport, one of the largest in the United States. Neste, a producer of SAF, will provide up to 1 million gallons of its Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The first supply arrived in August.

Daily
Feb 21, 2025

Aman New York Offers New Winter Experiences

Aman New York is excited to offer a new and unique program to guests. Building on the success of past programming, like Adventures on the Water that invited guests to explore the city aboard Aman New York’s motorized dayboats, the hotel now introduces a new winter excursion. Adventures on the Slopes continues the tradition of crafting one-of-a-kind hospitality experiences to offer guests the unique opportunity to combine their passion for skiing with the luxury of Aman New York.

Daily
Feb 21, 2025

Waimea Plantation Cottages Kauai Introduces Premium Cottage Collection

On the shore of West Kauai, Waimea Plantation Cottages recently announced its Premier Cottage Collection, comprising four homes among the resort’s 59 vintage cottages. The one- to five-bedroom cottages sit on 43 oceanfront acres.

Extraordinary Egypt

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS

Daily
Feb 20, 2025

Islander Resort in Florida Keys Reveals Extensive Renovations

Thanks to an extensive renovation, everything old is beautifully new again at Islander Resort in the Florida Keys. All 114 bungalows and suites, plus the property’s 25 two-bedroom townhome villas, resort grounds, amenities, programming, events spaces and dining venues have been refreshed.

eFlyer News
Feb 19, 2025

New Palace-Style Hotel, Branded Residences Come to Paris in 2027

In 2027, Maybourne opens its newest development in the Parisian quarter of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The Maybourne Saint-Germain brings a palace-style hotel with 101 keys and 23 ultra-luxury branded residences to Paris for the first time.

Sailing the Ionian Sea: Explore Greece’s Nautical Gems

Sailing the Ionian Sea is an enchanting way to experience Greece's breathtaking islands and pristine waters. Known for its favorable winds, calm seas and stunning landscapes, the Ionian Sea offers a paradise for both experienced sailors and those looking to explore for the first time. From lively beaches to secluded bays, these waters have something for every traveler seeking adventure and relaxation.

eFlyer News
Feb 19, 2025

United Airlines to Begin Direct Flights Between Newark and Faro, Portugal

This May, United Airlines debuts a new direct flight between Newark (EWR) and Faro (FAO) following a delay. Originally set to launch in 2024, the new route will operate four times a week until Sept. 23.