Thailand has embarked on a fresh cutting edge project by establishing the “Thailand MICE Venue Standard” (TMVS), the country's first formal certification for venues in the region. Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) worked with Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Thai Exhibition Association (TEA), Thai Hotel Association (THA), Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University to establish the Thailand standard by studying recognised international standards set up by leading convention industry bodies such as the International Association of Convention Centers (IACC), Convention Industry Council (CIC), International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), etc.
The certification process covers three main components — physical, technological and service aspects — with indicators, factors, and scores varying among different venue types.
The project was initiated in late 2012, and TCEB and supporting parties spearheaded aggressive strategic support to MICE operators that included convention centres, hotels and resorts, and public and private organisation venues, such as the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTAD) and Siam Commercial Bank Training Center. A total of six targeted cities were identified in 2013 to undergo this rigorous certification programme, namely Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, and Had Yai. Meanwhile, over 80 venue operators requested to apply for TMVS certification.
The TCEB held the Thailand MICE Venue Standard Certificate Awarding Ceremony and “MICE Standard Day 2015” function on January 29th, 2015 at Grand Ballroom, Millennium Hilton Hotel, Bangkok. Passing the evaluation process and receiving accolades for their certified venues were 42 MICE venue operators, comprising 3 convention centres, 34 hotels and resorts, as well as 5 public and private organisations. Among those validated were the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Miracle Grand Convention Hotel, the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne International Convention Center in Hat Yai, and the SCB Training Center Pattaya. Targeted cities due for certification in 2015 are Hua Hin, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Nakhon Ratchasima.
The success in Thailand has prompted TCEB to drive for wider adoption within the region to establish the ASEAN MICE Venue Standard project (AMVS). Meetings have been held and ASEAN member countries agreed to use TMVS as a model to develop a regional certification. A workshop is planned to be held in the first quarter of 2015 and will equip member countries with unified knowledge of the MICE industry and the importance of professionally managed venues in all three components. This concerted effort shall initiate a strong foundation towards the integration of ASEAN Economic Community at the end of 2015.
Convention Promotion Seminar (CPS) Objectives
Organised bi-annually, with the aim to educate prospective organisations about MICE in Thailand and encourage their interest, the CPS is an eagerly anticipated event. TICA will be organising the next CPS event, which will take place 3 – 5 of September, 2015, in Chiang Mai. The objectives of the CPS are as follows:
• Show to local organisations (such as associations, government agencies, NGOs, etc.) the benefits of bidding for and hosting an international event in Thailand.
• Provide knowledge and build skills in developing “country” bids as well as how to organise an international event (operational, marketing, public relations aspects, sourcing funding, etc.).
• Introduce TICA and our various supplementary elements, relevant government bodies involved in servicing events, i.e. CPF, TCEB, TAT, TG, TEA, EMA, etc. on their roles and responsibilities, and how they can help “local organising committees” (LOC).
• Stimulate these representatives to take up a proactive role, to represent Thailand to bid for MICE events.
• Introduce the Convention Promotion Fund; founded and managed by TICA, and how it can help LOCs, i.e. provide loans for "bid" attempts as well as event pre-financing.