TCEB’S 10TH CONNECTIONS PLUS BOLSTERS THAILAND’S MEETINGS AND INCENTIVES SECTOR

Bangkok, 26 June 2015 – The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB announced its plan to reinforce Thailand’s meetings and incentive travels sector with the ‘Connections Plus 2015: 10th Anniversary, Exclusively Yours’ familiarization trip. Aiming at strengthening existing markets among ASEAN+6 countries, while bridging long-haul business events success with the key strengths of Thailand as a premiere destination for business events in Asia, TCEB’s annual corporate programme for corporate buyers, meeting planners and organisers will serve as an effective platform for connections among business events professionals to meet and gain exclusive experiences from top-notch hotels, venues, attractions in Chiang Mai – the Rose of the North, and Bangkok, the MICE Capital of Connections.

Mrs Supawan Teerarat, Vice President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB revealed that, “This year Connections Plus is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and to mark this very special milestone, our theme is ‘Exclusively Yours’- tailored made to client’s “Unique requirement”. The programs provide buyers the opportunity to experience first-hand why Thailand is considered a premiere business events destination and rich with a culture that is perfectly suited to inspire meetings and incentives trips”, where this year, we select the Unique way of Lanna in Chiangmai and way of life along the river of Kings in Bangkok.

During the 2014 fiscal year (October 2013 – September 2014) – a total of 919,164 business events visitors were attracted by Thailand’s endless choice of business destinations, global standards of service, and diverse business opportunities, generating revenue of US$2.69 billion. Accounting for 473,282 visitors and US$1.35 billion revenue, the meetings and incentive travels sector alone comprised more than 50 per cent of a total number of international business events in Thailand in 2014 fiscal year.

Moreover, the positive momentum continued to grow in the first half of the 2015 fiscal year – October 2014 to March 2015 – when Thailand welcomed a total of 476,079 high quality business events travellers, generating more than US$1.23 billion for the Thai economy. Of which, 274,783 travellers were from the meetings and incentive travels sector, contributing to the Thai economy US$693.4 million. The top 10 source markets included India, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, US, China, Philippines, Korea, Indonesia and France.

“At TCEB, we believe that experiencing new destinations means forming new connections. The TCEB team is passionate about building connections between meetings and incentives organisers, and Thailand’s best and professional MICE industry operators. The Connections Plus 2015 is one of many examples that best representing the TCEB’s 4P strategic direction highlighting public-private-people partnership through the collaboration for the 1st time with our counterpart from the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS). Mrs Supawan added.

TCEB join forces with SACEOS as an integral part to the Asia Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchange (AMITE) and Singapore MICE Forum 2015, selected high quality buyers from long-haul markets to participating in the 10th anniversary celebration of the Connections Plus in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, prior to both events in Singapore. The collaboration between TCEB and SACEOS will serve as a tool to help promote intra-ASEAN business events travels and raise awareness of ASEAN as a forefront business events region as a whole.

The majority source markets for business events in Thailand are from Asia and the ASEAN+6 countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand. However, TCEB also expands outreach towards long haul markets from maintaining markets including US, Canada, Germany, UK, France, Switzerland, and other emerging markets such as Poland and Eastern Europe.

Backed by strong government support, a strong handicrafts sector, and cultural and eco-tourism, Chiang Mai – Thailand’s ‘Rose of the North’– captivates visitors thanks to its cosmopolitan nature, moderate climate, and thriving arts and culture scene. The city offers not only a respite from Bangkok’s urban bustle, but with its abundance of exhilarating outdoor activities, pristine settings, easy accessibility, and creative local suppliers, it has also become a top destination for business events in Thailand and the ASEAN region in its own right. In addition, Chiang Mai boasts efficient transport infrastructure development with Chiang Mai International Airport expansion plan which upon completion will be able to serve 13.2 million passengers by 2034, and also the high speed train connecting Bangkok and Chiang Mai in three hours is expected to begin service in 2026.

Bangkok – ‘the Quintessential Asian Metropolis’ and the region’s leading aviation hub thanks to modern and efficient transport links that reach seamlessly into AEC markets and beyond. As the Asia-Pacific top MasterCard Global Destinations Cities Index, and a regional centre for business, finance, shopping, fashion and culture, Bangkok’s MICE credentials are being enhanced with an array of new developments, which portrays Thailand’s capital city in both aspects of modern metropolitan city, and diverse majestic riverside retreat on the Chao Phraya river, known as River of the King, where a district now become a fast growing accommodation hub of the city.

“By the end of this trip you’ll appreciate that whatever your activity of choice and wherever you’d like to hold it, Thailand can tailor a meeting or incentive program to your unique requirements both in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Not only providing an exclusive opportunity to experience the best and latest of business events products and services Thailand has to offer, but the Connections Plus 2015 familiarisation programme will also help reinforce Thailand’s leadership position as a premiere meetings and incentive travels destination in Asia.” Mrs Supawan concluded.

To drive the growth and to boost international confidence in Thailand’s business events industry, TCEB will continue to invest in strategic market outreach programmes, such as the Connections Plus, along with the promotion of attractive packages key source markets initiatives with collaboration among the private and public sector in order to achieve the target of 1,036,300 business events travellers, generating revenue of US$3.55 billion in the 2015 fiscal year.

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The ‘Connections Plus 2015: 10th Anniversary, Exclusively Yours’

During the 5-day familiarisation programme, participants of the ‘Connections Plus 2015: 10th Anniversary, Exclusively Yours’ will be able to experience what Thai meetings and incentives sector has to offer in truly unique and exclusive manners in a wide variety of unforgettable personal experiences including exploration of elephant parks, excitement from adventurous activities such as tree top zip lining, exotic ATV and white water rafting, or touring along Chiang Mai Old Town in tuk-tuk caravan or just simply opt for relaxation at five-star luxury resort.

While in Bangkok, the grand celebration of the Connections Plus awaits. In addition to the carefully-chosen itinerary, table-top sessions will be prepared to provide participants with opportunities to expand business connections and explore meetings and incentives options, and inspiring CSR opportunities in Thailand.

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For further information, please contact: Corporate Communications Division,

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization)

Ms Arisara Thanuplang    Tel: +66 2 694 6095    Email: arisara_t@tceb.or.th

Mr Pishnu Plaikaew Tel: +66 2 694 6000    Email: pishnu_p@tceb.or.th

Ms Kanokwan Kadeedaeng    Tel: + 662 694 6006    Email: kanokwan_k@tceb.or.th

Ms Kwanchanok Otton Tel: + 662 694 6096 Email: kwanchanok_o@tceb.or.th