TICA MICE UPDATE

TCEB

TCEB to certify 175 MICE venues

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is set to certify 175 MICE venues to standard this year, bringing the number of certified locations to 490.

The TCEB introduced the Thailand MICE Venue Standards or TMVS certification in 2014 as part of efforts to enhance the image and confidence of the country’s meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector for both service providers and users.

Supawan Teerarat, senior vice-president for strategic business development and Innovation at the TCEB, said the number of entrepreneurs who received a TMVS mark for convention rooms and exhibition venues stood at 315 last year, with a further 175 to be added by the end of 2018.

Of the 175 sites, 150 venues are in the convention room category, five are in the exhibition category and 20 are in the special event category.

Mrs Supawan said the growing number of certified locations will prompt Thailand to reach its ambitious goal to become a MICE destination in Southeast Asia.

TMVS is considered a tool for leveraging the service quality of MICE venues and as a marketing advantage for Thai MICE entrepreneurs.

The criteria for earning the standard were created by the TCEB, together with 17 business associations and educational institutions that included the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), the Thai Hotels Association, the Association of Thai Travel Agents, the Tourism Department, the Education Ministry and Mahidol University.

TMVS certification involves three main procedures: provision of knowledge, assessment and certification.

Sumate Sudasna, president of TICA and chairman of the board of TMVS certification, said the standard plays a vital role in leveraging MICE venues in Thailand to achieve more reliability.

“Each year, we have seen growth in the number of new and existing entrepreneurs who maintain the reassessment,” Mr Sumate said. “This is a promising opportunity for us to assist Thailand’s MICE venues to boost their potential. As a user, before making a decision for MICE venue, particular facilities with certification will be given priority in order to assure our customers of venue quality.” This year, the TCEB has provided workshops in Bangkok, Rayong, Phuket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Songkhla and Pattaya.

The number of attendees and applications seeking TMVS assessment have increased strongly, while requests for reassessment are also on the rise.

Mrs Supawan said venue assessment for the convention room category will be based on consideration of physical aspects, technology and service management, while the exhibition venue category adds the criterion of sustainable venue management.

The special event venue category additionally considers safety, an essential factor. Once an entrepreneur is officially certified, the TCEB issues a certificate with a threeyear validity.

Natthanitcha Singburaudom, an instructor and team member for MICE standards from Mahidol University, said the arrangement of assessment criteria embraces key elements of venues that respond to the needs of domestic and international exhibitors and organisers, with environmental impact at the heart of TMVS.

The certification will create confidence for service providers and users, as well as serve the growth of Thailand’s MICE sector.

Thailand’s MICE activity has played a significant role in attracting foreign visitors and tourism revenue. The MICE sector generated 104 billion baht in revenue last year and is expected to rake in 124 billion in 2018.

Punnee Angsusingha, president of the Management System Certification Institute, said the TMVS standard strictly complies with international benchmarks in terms of physical aspects, services and management, technology, safety, and sustainable support and management.