TCEB joins hand with QSNCC to Open Bike Parking Facility to Support Sustainable MICE Industry

Bangkok / September 11, 2013– Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organisation) or TCEB in cooperation with Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) has set up the “QSNCC’s Bicycle Parking Initiative” to embrace the concept of sustainability management, aiming to take the leadership position in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry in Asia.

Mrs Nichapa Yoswee, MICE Capabilities Department Director of TCEB, said, “We aim to drive our MICE industry towards the ‘Sustainability Thailand’ which is the environment-friendly approach. TCEB are now encouraging Thai MICE operators to further develop and obtain the sustainable event management standard ISO 20121. The standardisation will help enable our industry with competitive advantages by sustainability management. Today, environmental awareness has become a vital factor that influences the investment decision in a country.”

Thailand is the second in the world and the first in Asia to implement the international standard ISO 20121: Event Sustainability Management System, the widely approved practice which was deployed for the first time at the Olympics London 2012.

Under the Sustainability Thailand strategy, TCEB has set up the ‘Bicycle Parking Initiative’ to provide an alternative transportation to the MICE venue. This green option can be considered as one of the selling points for MICE buyers to choose Thailand as their business event destination. With the shared sustainability vision, TCEB and QSNCC are introducing the standard bike parking facility today, as a tangible result from collaborative efforts between the two organisations.

“QSNCC’s bicycle parking facility does not only facilitate the visitors but also strengthens our competitiveness by making a statement on Green Meetings. Bicycle is now gaining popularity everywhere. It is good for health and some of our visitors love cycling to the Center,” added Mrs Nichapa.

Mr Sakchai Pattarapreechakul, President of N.C.C. Management &. Development Co., Ltd., the manager of QSNCC, brought up the purpose of bicycle parking initiative and the corporate environmental policy: “We are aware of traffic-related air pollution that affects the quality of urban life and causes the global warming. Cycling is a convenient means of transport. No hectic traffic. No pollution. A good way to exercise.”

Covering the pavement space adjacent to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the QSNCC’s bicycle parking facility can facilitate general cyclists visiting QSNCC or working out in the adjacent Benjakitti Park, giving them both environmental and health benefits.

“This is a good project that goes well with our mission and corporate social responsibility. Under the NCC Committed to Green MICE policy, we have instilled the value of environment conservation in our staff for we firmly believe that the business excellence and social responsibility must go in tandem to bring prosperity into the enterprise and the country,” concluded Mr Sakchai.

From the ‘Green Meetings’ initiative in 2007 to boost the eco-awareness among MICE operators, TCEB made the next strategic move in 2009 by promoting the ISO 50001 standard on Energy Management System, which QSNCC successfully implemented and became one of the two international convention centres in Thailand achieving ISO 50001 certification. On account of this, Bangkok is widely recognised as one of the top two Asian cities in the field of green meetings management according to a survey conducted by MCI Group, the world-class provider of professional congress organiser (PCO) services.

# # #

For more information please contact:

Corporate Communications Division,

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organisation) Tel. 02-694-6000<br/> Ms Arisara Thanuplang

Email: arisara_t@tceb.or.th

Mr. Pishnu Plaikaew

Email: pishnu_p@tceb.or.th