Convention hall readies for tests

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau expects the city’s new convention centre, due soft open  this October, will boost the events business in North Thailand by 10% to 15%. On average, the city’s events industry grows 7% annually. TCEB board member and acting president, Thongchai Sridama, said construction at Chiang Mai Convention Centre has been completed and the centre will be opened for a trial period beginning next month. “TCEB will test the centre with a MICE summit in late November to check the convention readiness.” The summit is part of an effort to promote the province’s MICE industry in the lead-up to official opening of the Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Centre mid next year. It is expected that the convention centre will be fully ready to host international events by next April or May, he added. “The Chiang Mai summit will be convened to gather ideas from MICE professionals, related business and local government agencies to lay out a master plan for province’s MICE business.” Up until the official opening, the centre will test its readiness by hosting local events mainly to bring staff and facilities up to speed and test the hardware before committing it fully to the international market. The convention will be the first all-purpose convention and exhibition centre in the North and should help to open tourism well beyond the province as delegates usually buytour pre and post event, he added. “In particular, the province’s world-renowned traditional handicrafts industry will receive a major boost from the meetings business.” The Chiang Mai Convention Centre has been certified by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry in its’ report on Asia’s Trade Fair industry, 8th edition, 2012 as one of the country’s nine venues that can meet international standards. The complex is located on 335 rai of land,  just 14 km from the province’s airport and city hotels. TCEB Domestic MICE Department director, Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya, said after the Tourism Authority of Thailand auctions the right to operate Chiang Mai’s new MICE venue, TCEB planned to promote the domestic MICE market for the first year of operations. “The bureau will encourage Provincial Local Administration Office and Subdistrict Administration Organisation associations across the country to organise meetings in Chiang Mai possibly hosting 10,000 to 16,000 delegates at each event.” Meanwhile, Thailand Incentive and Convention Association vice president, Sukanya Janchoo, said the year-long delay and lack of a solid marketing plan will make it more difficult to hit targets. “Also, information on the centre is still sketchy.” She added: “Organisors need to know more, for example, the convention capability hall’s weigh per sqm rating and in-depth information for exhibitions particularly for the display of heavy products and transfer to the building.” Fact file Contractor: EMC public Co Ltd and Power Line Engineering Public Co Ltd. Timeline: 1 October 2008 to 16 December 2011 (807 days). Property: 335-rais site. Investment: Bt1,867,150,000. Facilities: Plenary Hall capacity 3,000 people; 34 meeting rooms; space for 476 exhibition booths. Location: Nong Hor, Chang Puak, Muang district in Chiang Mai close to the 700th Anniversary Stadium and Chiang Mai University. Ministry of Tourism and Sports has assigned the Tourism Authority of Thailand to be responsible for the centre’s management to give more time to consider a long-term management solution possibly involving either Thai or foreign partners. From ttrweekly